Licorice:Glycyrrhiza Glabra,Licorice Root Extract.

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Therapeutics and Pharmacology:super antibiotics,anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic,anti-arthritic.

Licorice Root Extract INCI Name GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA EXTRACT EINECS ELINCS No 283-895-2 CAS 84775-66-6 photo picture image Besides treating ulcers along the digestive tract including the mouth, licorice may be used for viral infections like a cold, inflammation as in arthritis, menstrual and menopause disorders, herpes, eczema and psoriasis, allergic disorders, asthma, chronic fatigue, depression due to hormonal imbalance, emphysema, and hypoglycemia. It has a sweet taste, a neutral energy and a moistening action.

 Glycyrrhizin is changed in the liver to glycyrrhetinic acid. Both these compounds promote the activation of interferon, a potent, naturally produced antiviral compound. Once interferon is activated, white blood cells are also called into play along with killer T cells to help fight against the virus. This is how licorice exerts its effect on cold viruses, herpes simplex I and possibly even HIV. Licorice also shows some antibacterial effects, but these are due more to the flavonoids than glycyrrhizin.

 Licorice is also known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. This is due to the effect it has on the adrenal glands which are responsible for producing cortisol, the body's own natural corticosteroid. Once again glycyrrhizin is responsible. This agent exhibits adaptogenic properties by stimulating cortisol production when there is not enough and promoting the breakdown of cortisol when there is too much. Because of this, licorice is useful to take after stopping prescription corticosteroids to boost the natural production of cortisol. It is also given in cases where the adrenal glands are weakened from constant over-stimulation, as in many autoimmune diseases. Glycyrrhizin also inhibits prostaglandin production, another component of the inflammatory process. Diseases like asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and eczema may benefit from this herb.

 Another adaptogenic effect from licorice involves estrogen. Licorice shows mild estrogenic properties similar to other phytoestrogens. It has the ability to promote estrogen production and to interfere with the effects of too much estrogen, especially from outside sources. The flavonoid constituents are thought to be responsible for the estrogen-like effects, while glycyrrhetinic acid antagonizes estrogen where there is over-stimulation of estrogen receptors in the body.All this makes licorice useful in controlling the menstrual cycle and in relieving PMS and menopausal symptoms.

 Licorice has an expectorant effect, which will benefit people with asthma or chest colds with tight coughs or difficulty breathing. It is also a mild laxative.Licorice tea is pleasant tasting and needs no added sugar. It can be made by simmering a few pieces of the root in a pint of water for 15-20 minutes. This can be done 2 or 3 times before new pieces are needed. DGL tablets are available in health food stores and some pharmacies. Licorice may also be found as a tincture. Most licorice candy today is artificially flavored and is not a true source of licorice.

 One of the downfalls of licorice is water retention with a loss of potassium and sodium, which may lead to hypertension. This effect occurs with long-term use or high doses. For people with Addison's disease, however, this is exactly the type of effect needed. In Addison's disease, the body collects sodium and promotes water loss leading to a serious imbalance of sodium, potassium, and other minerals and water. For most others, though, licorice should be used in moderation with resting periods in between to avoid increasing blood pressure. DGL does not cause this problem because it is the glycyrrhizin that is responsible. Licorice should not be taken by people who already suffer from high blood pressure, edema (fluid retention), glaucoma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, with the prescription medication digoxin, or by pregnant women.DGL may be used in these instances except when inflammation is the focus of treatment. Without the glycyrrhizin, licorice is not effective for this.

 As time goes on, there may be other uses found for licorice. It is still being studied, and one of the areas is in HIV research. It helps cover the bitter taste of some herbs and may be used by itself or in formulas. It has a wide range of uses and its pleasant taste makes it one of the easier herbs to take. It is much more than just a candy.

 Licorice root is one of the most biologically active herbs in the world. Licorice root is an effective treatment for stomach ailments, because it exerts a soothing action on the muscosal surfaces of the GI tract, and it is frequently used to help these tissues heal. The licorice root derivatives, glycryuhetinic acid (GLA), deglycrihyinated licorice (DGL), and carbenoxolene sodium (CS) have all been proven to be among the best anti-ulcer medications available. Whole licorice and its derivatives appear to have the ability to inhibit gastric acid secretion with the advantage of being devoid of other adverse anti-cholinergic properties.

 Licorice root helps prevent and heal skin problems. The conditions that increase the occurrence of acne-like symptoms during certain stages of the menstrual cycle may be affected by the consumption of licorice root.

 The anti-inflammatory properties of the root have been considered responsible for its effectiveness in the treatment of numerous skin disorders, including eczema, dermatitis, impetigo, and traumatized skin.

 It should be mentioned that the antipyrelic (fever reducing) effects of GLA have been shown to be equal to those of the widely used sodium salicylate.

 Fever reduction is important to hepatitis C patients. My experience for several years was that I was always at about 99.8 degrees. My fever would rise after eating. It was extremely uncomfortable to live day after day, year after year, just a little bit hot.

 Every time a doctor would record my slightly elevated temperature, I would ask why it was high. The usual answer was, "you probably just have a bug." Taking licorice really helped this problem.

 Licorice root is used to remove buildup of toxic metabolic substances in the body, because it increases the liver's ability to filter out these wastes.

 In the treatment of liver diseases (e.g. hepatitis and cirrhosis), GLA has proven extremely promising. In Chinese medicine, licorice is often used as a remedy for jaundice and is considered a great liver detoxifier. According to Dan Mowry:

 Experimental work has validated the usefulness of licorice in the treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and related liver disorders. Licorice is a good tonic for the adrenal glands and Addison's disease.

 This is very important for the hepatitis C patient because you need to support your adrenal gland in many ways in order to conquer the virus.
 Licorice Root Extract INCI Name GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA EXTRACT EINECS ELINCS No 283-895-2 CAS 84775-66-6 photo picture image

 Licorice appears to both mimic and potentiate the action of the adrenal-caiticosteroids, though it also differs in action from these chemicals in several important ways.

 Licorice components have been found to exert a positive effect on the course of several adrenal insufficiencies, even in Addison's Disease, which is characterized by near total adrenal exhaustion.

 The anti-arthritic properties of GLA and the aqueous extracts of licorice have also been shown. Comparisons of licorice root to hydrocortisone are frequently made in the medical literature in England, China, and countries other than the USA

 In relation to the immune system, (which hepatitis C patients must become obsessed with boosting), licorice root and its derivatives have recently shown extremely promising results as interferon inducers, which is especially good news for the treatment of hepatitis C. (When was the last time your hepatitis C doctor told you that)?

 At concentrations well tolerated by uninfected cells, glycyrhezic acid inhibits both growth and cytopathic effect of vaccinia, as well as herpes simplex, Newcastle disease, and vesicular stomatits viruses while being ineffective on polio virus.

 It is suggested that glycyrhezic acid interacts with virus structures (conservable proteins) producing different effects according to the viral stage affected: inactivation of free virus particles extracellularly; prevention of intercellular uncoating of infecting particles; impairment of the assembling ability of virus structural components. Dr. Mowry further states:

 Licorice root has acquired the name in China of "the Great Detoxifier." It is considered to be one of the primary detoxifying herbs in the Chinese herbal arsenal. Its reputation for this action goes back to the time of Shen Nong. It is widely believed that low level consumption of Licorice root will rid the body of poisons that would otherwise accumulate and cause disease or functional disorder if not cleaned out. In particular, it is believed to clean the blood and the liver. Though there are many detoxifying agents used in Chinese herbalism, most of them are harsh. Licorice root, on the other hand is mild and devoid, for most people, of side effects. It can of course be used preventively, which makes it more generally useful than medicinal herbs.

 Many people use Licorice root internally as a general anti-inflammatory. It is used for redness and swelling anywhere in the body. Of course, if inflammatory conditions exist, one should consult a physician, but for low grade inflammations, Licorice root may prove to be extremely effective. It is also used as an antispasmotic. When combined with White Peony Root, it is a superb antispasmotic. These two herbs combined work synergistically to relax both smooth muscle and striated muscle. It is especially famous for relieving cramps in the gastrocnemius and feet. However, it is almost equally as useful for cramps and contraction anywhere in the body.

 Another condition for which Licorice root is famed is for the relief of gastric and duodenal ulcers. It has been used to relieve hyperacidity for thousands of years and is a superb anti-ulcer agent. A small quantity in tea can quickly help heal ulcers in most cases. It is especially effective when combined with herbs like Gynostemma and White Peony, which themselves help relieve ulcers.

 Licorice root is an indispensable component of the Chinese herbal system. It has powerful tonic benefits and at the same time has a wide range of healing effects that have been time proven innumerable times. The trick in using Licorice root lies in watchful moderation. Don't use too much,it's unnecessary and excessive quantities can have the side effect of causing water retention. Small doses are very unlikely to have any results but excellent ones.

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citations1.Licorice:Glycyrrhiza Glabra,Licorice Root Extract.

last edit date:22th,May.2009.