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Licorice root is one of our more commonly recognized alternative health treatments. Although Licorice is now most often used as a flavoring in an array of today's commercial food products, it is still purchased by some, strictly for the health benefits that it imparts. The medical and scientific communities now know considerably more about Licorice's benefits and detriments than when it was first introduced as a health aide thousands of years ago and yet Licorice's attributes, and many side effects, still remain very misunderstood by the vast majority of people who consume it.

The Licorice plant or Glycyrrhiza glabra is a low growth bush, perrenial in nature that grows wild in select areas of Europe and Asia. Most commercially grown licorice is exported from Greece, Turkey and Asia. A flavorful ingredient known as Glycyrrhiza found within the roots and underground stems of the plant is what accounts for its taste and sweetness. Glycrrhiza is about fifty times sweeter than sugar, its name comes from Ancient Greece, and it appropriately translates to mean "Sweet Root".

Ingredients within the Licorice plant's roots are used to make a popular black candy that we know, or refer to as, licorice. Licorice root is also commonly used as a sweetening or flavoring agent in a variety of today's commercial food products. It is often added to herb teas, cough soothing lozenges, cough syrups, or found used as a flavoring within a wide assortment of candy. It is used as a filler within drug capsules and even as a flavoring to offset a drugs unpleasant taste. In the United Kingdom licorice is used as an emulsifier to create the foam in drink products and alcoholic beverages. Yet among the people who consume it, many are completely unaware of licorice's health benefits, and detriments.

Licorice root or Glycrrhiza is primarily used as a treatment for inflammation of the stomach or for ailments of the upper respiratory tract. It is used as an aide for constipation, gastritis, stomach ulcers, canker sores or mouth ulcers, and also for relief of menstrual cramping. As well it is frequently used to relieve symptoms of bronchitis or the common cold, and can be found in many over the counter cough syrups, and lozenges. Studies are currently being conducted to see if Glycrrhiza could prove beneficial in the treatment of HIV and Genital Herpes. So far the results are showing positive results.

Licorice is not without its negative properties however, and eating as little as fifty grams of

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