by Shannon Farlouis

Created on: May 03, 2010

The Health Benefits of Liquorice

From the root of the liquorice plant comes a very sweet flavor. The liquorice plant is a member of the legume family. It is a relative to peas and beans. Liquorice may also be spelled as "licorice." The meaning of this word is "sweet root." Liquorice is native to Asia and Europe. The extract that is derived from the root of the liquorice plant has a sweet flavor. Herbs and spices that are similar in flavor to liquorice are anise and fennel, but they are of no relation to liquorice. The flowers of this plant may be white, purple, or pale blue. The fruit of the liquorice plant is a pod that contains several seeds. The sweetness comes from a substance in liquorice anethole. This plant is harvested in Autumn.

Liquorice extract is made by boiling the root of the liquorice plant. The extract is used in the flavoring of many candies. It is a popular flavoring that is used in many regions of the world. This flavoring is often added to soft drinks, candy, cakes, herbal teas, and some medicines. The use of natural liquorice is popular in Spain and Italy. In Spain and Italy, people dig up the root of this plant and it is often washed and chewed. It is used as a breath freshener, The natural taste of liquorice without sugar being added is very bitter and intense. Black liquorice contains about one hundred calories per ounce. In Chinese food, liquorice is used as a spice. In Egypt, liquorice is the main ingredient of a popular soft drink.

Liquorice is very popular in herbal medicine. It is often used as a natural medicine for peptic ulcers and mouth ulcers. Liquorice is considered to be a mild laxative. It is also used as a topical antiviral agent for shingles and other skin irritations. In Japan, liquorice is used in the treatment of viral hepatitis. This is due to a substance that liquorice contains that has very strong antiviral effects. Liquorice may be used in treating irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease. Caution, large doses of liquorice can have some effects on the endocrine system in the body. Large amounts of liquorice is known to increase blood pressure. In Chinese herbal medicine, liquorice is mixed with other herbs to treat spasmodic coughing. In herbalism, liquorice is mixed with other herbs in a formula to treat some auto-immune conditions such as Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Caution, large amounts of liquorice or liquorice candy can be toxic to the liver and the heart. These problems can be reversed when the use of the herb is stopped. Liquorice is often mixed with certain tobacco products. It is very mellow and adds a sweet woody flavor to the tobacco. When using any herb as a remedy or for medicinal use, please seek the advice of an expert before using.

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