Source one

Liquorice was known and grown in the region of Mesopotamia, which is regarded as the cradle of civilisation. Archaeologists discovered stone tablets near Baghdad describing how it was used to treat their Royal masters, seven centuries before Christ. Natural liquorice root was found in the recently opened Tomb of King Tut. Alexandra the Great's army and the Romans chewed the root as a thirst quencher. Early Greek physicians like Theophratus and Hippocrates used natural liquorice to heal wounds and sore throats and it is an extremely important herb in Chinese and Homeopathic medicines. Manuscripts dating from 360AD, of Buddhist origin, talk of natural liquorice helping eye ailments, skin diseases, coughs and loss of hair. In the Middle Ages it became very popular as a sweet medicine and general pick-me-up. Its other past uses have included a beautifying agent, an aphrodisiac and elixir of life.

Source two

It is a luxury and in a way also a medicine. Obtained from rootsap of the licoriceplant Glycyrrhiza glabra (papilion flower family). The roots are cleaned, grinded and then boiled. The curdled very strong tasting extract is dried again. This is again dissolved in water and founded in moulds. The taste is obtained by adding natural flavours. The licorice was thickenedThe plant where licorice is obtained from is mainly found in the countries surrounding the mediterranean see. Robust plants with feathered leaves, which can grow to one and a half meters. Well known in Holland and Belgium is the cultivated violet papilion flower, of which the dried roots are known as a goodie. It is also used as an element in the preparation of medicines against pain in the throat and as an ingredient for cough mixtures. licorice is a benefit for your throat!

Source three

The liquorice root is well established in ancient history. The ancient Pharaohs of Egypt were buried with pieces of liquorice root, and liquorice has been found in a grave dating back to 1350 A.D. In China, the root's history traces back even further. A Chinese legend has it that over 5000 years ago Emperor Shen Nung, who wrote the oldest botanical text known to man, tested over one hundred types of roots and herbs for their health-giving qualities. He found several that were poisonous, but also a good number of beneficial remedies that are still used today. The Emperor claimed that the liquorice root could be used as medicine for the heart and spleen as well as for healing wounds and skin care. At that time, liquorice root was used primarily for its medicinal properties. It is still used in this way, but today liquorice root is employed in many other industries. Liquorice root is added to certain tobaccos, teas, and of course candy in all of its forms - black, small, long, flat, sweet, sour, and salty ... liquorice!

However, if we look back in time we find that liquorice has played an important role in world history over the years. A certain Greek philosopher named Theophrastus (c. 372 - c. 286 BC) who studied under Aristotle has left us texts that mention the use of liquorice in combating asthma, dry coughs, and lung diseases.
In 1305, Edward the First of England levied a tax on the importation of liquorice root. He used the money to repair London Bridge, which had fallen into disrepair. Centuries later, Napoleon Bonaparte could be seen chewing on liquorice root while devising his military strategies. In Chinese medicine today, liquorice root is second in popularity only to ginseng. In Denmark we enjoy the taste of liquorice root in cough syrup and often see people of all ages chewing liquorice root, which can be purchased in supermarkets. And of course, everyone loves the taste of liquorice in candy of all shapes, sizes and flavours.

Source four

Licorice: (Liquorice) (Glycyrrhiza glabra)- What is it?
Licorice is a botanical, a shrub native to southern Europe and Asia, the roots of which have two primary desirable qualities: first, some varieties of licorice root are fifty times sweeter than sugar and may be chewed or eaten as a sweet and making it a useful component of candies and flavorings; second, licorice has been for thousands of years sought after for its reputed medicinal qualities. Licorice grows wild in southern central Europe and Asia. It is used for its roots and its rhizomes (underground stems). Glycyrrhizic acid is extracted from the root and used as a flavoring in food, tobacco, alcohol, and cosmetics.

Does all licorice taste the same? No, indeed not. There are over a dozen varieties of licorice, the roots vary in degrees of sweetness to a sharp almost peppery flavor. If you don't like one, try another! What are these beneficial medicinal qualities claimed for licorice? It has proven useful in the treatment of coughs, where it serves a mild expectorant, and of sore throats, where its soothing properties bring relief. Licorice increases the production of protective mucus in the stomach, and may reduce the acid secretion, making it a useful treatment of inflammatory stomach conditions.

Common Uses?
In the confectionery industry, water extracts of licorice roots are mixed with sugar, corn syrup and flour to make many types of licorice candy. In the U.S., however, anethole, a major constituent in the anise plant, is a popular substitute-flavoring agent for licorice. Licorice is also commonly used as a sweetening/flavoring agent to counteract the unpleasant taste of many drugs or added as filler in capsules. In the United Kingdom liquorice (syn. licorice) is used as an emulsifier to create foam in drinks and alcoholic beverages. Licorice root can be chewed or made into tea. It is frequently found in cough preparations and candies, often combined with anise seed. Consumption of licorice is believed to aid in healing stomach ulcers. Tea made from licorice and other anti-spasmodic herbs is often taken for menstrual cramps.

Health Aspects
Licorice Root has been used as a laxative; to adjust blood sugar, reduce pain from ulcer and arthritis. Do not use if you have hypertension, hypokalemia edema, cirrhosis of the liver, cholestatic liver disorder, and diabetes. We did get a message that chewing liquorice root has been most helpful in giving up smoking as it gives the hands something to do and has the shape/texture of a cigarette. Also it tastes like tobacco (because cigarettes are flavored with licorice).

Used for generations in China, ancient Greece and the British Isles, Licorice is cultivated around the world. The sweet taste of its yellow root prompted its use in the manufacture of candies. It contains vitamin E, B-complex, biotin, niacin, pantothenic acid, lecithin, manganese and other trace elements. Although Licorice has been used as a flavoring for hundreds of years, many people don't know that it also has very beneficial medicinal qualities. Licorice root has gained a reputation for strengthening the body during times of stress. Since the 14th century, Licorice has been used to soothe coughs, colds and bronchitis. It can be made into a licorice extract, concentrate or infusion, It is still used for these reasons today and it is one of the ingredients found in many European cough preparations. Research has shown that Licorice helps treat and relieve the pains that accompany certain types of ulcers. Although common practice in Europe, its use in treating ulcers is not as prevalent in North America. However, with more and more researchers gaining positive results with its use as an ulcer treatment, Licorice may soon become more popular in North America. Finally, Licorice also has anti-inflammatory properties and may therefore help relieve the discomforts that accompany arthritic conditions.

Source five

We have come to associate licorice as a flavor, at once loved by many and disliked by others. The flavor that conjures "licorice" in our minds is not what it seems. What we have come to associate as licorice flavor is actually anise. Formulations for licorice candies contain anise oil as the primary flavor, with licorice root itself used as a sweetener, a sort of background flavor. Licorice is one of those herbs that crosses the lines among fragrance, flavor and medicinal herb. The source plant is a member of the pea family. The most familiar licorice is European licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra. On medicinal markets Chinese licorice Glycyrrhiza uralensis is also commonly used. It is probably the most abundant species in the American market given that the Chinese commercial licorice root is cheaper than its European counterpart.

Origins and History
The genus Glycyrrhiza includes about 20 species native to Europe, Asia, North and South America as well as Australia. The English name licorice is derived from "liquiritia," itself a corruption of the ancient name Glycyrrhiza, which now serves as the scientific generic name for the plant group.

American licorice
Only one species is native to the United States, Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Our wild licorice has a broad range from western Ontario to Washington, south to Texas, Mexico and Missouri. Eastward, there are scattered populations. It is a plant of prairies, meadows and the western shore. It has never been developed as a commercial source of licorice. Surprisingly, the plant is little studied. The Teton Dakota used the leaves for treating sores on the backs of horses. The leaves were chewed and applied as a poultice. Toothaches were treated by chewing the root, holding a piece of the root in the mouth. The root was also used for treating fever in children. It has a strong bitter taste, which then becomes sweet. In Texas, it is called amolillo, which refers to the foaming produced by stirring the root in water. In Texas folk tradition, the root tea was used to reduce fever in women after childbirth and to help expel the placenta. Other than a few relatively obscure folk uses of the plant by European settlers and indigenous groups, the plant is little known in the United States.

European licorice
European licorice, on the other hand, is a plant with a rich historical tradition. In Europe it is found in dry open habitats in the south and east, and has been cultivated throughout the continent where it is naturalized in almost all countries, except Scandinavia. Licorice was always harvested from the wild until the first European plantings of the herb were established almost a thousand years ago. The first century Roman naturalist Pliny mentions that licorice is native to Sicily. Theophrastus notes the sweet flavor of the roots and says it is used for asthma, dry cough, and all diseases of the lungs. Though not native to Germany, it was well-known there by the eleventh century and extensively grown in Bavaria by the end of the sixteenth century. Cultivation is recorded in Spain by the thirteenth century. Edward the First of England placed a tax on licorice imports in the year 1305 to finance the repair of the London Bridge. Licorice stick is the sweet, earthy- flavored underground stem of the plant, which may travel up to twenty feet from the main root. Cut into sections about 8 inches long, these underground stems or stolons are widely available in the herb market. They can be chewed to impart their sweet flavor. Napoleon chewed licorice sticks and that's what is said to have turned his teeth black.

Chinese licorice
Chinese licorice mainly comes from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. It is found in dry grassy plains, and sunny mountainsides from much of northern China, especially the Asian steppes to the west. Most of the supply comes from northwest China. While it is the main species used in Asia, European licorice also occurs in wild desert regions, dry plains, grassy plains with salty alkaline soil, and fallow wastelands that were once used for producing rice, wheat, and millet in northwest China. These two species along with another Chinese native, Glycyrrhiza inflata, are official drug plants in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The Chinese call licorice gan-cao, which means "sweet herb." An ancient Chinese herb, it is mentioned in one of the earliest Chinese herbals attributed to the Divine Plowman Emperor, Shen Nong, surviving from the first century. The work is known as Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing. Virtually all of the important Chinese medicinal herbs of today were mentioned in this important work, which has never been translated into English.

In Chinese medicine, licorice is one of the more widely used herbal drugs. Unlike European herbal medicine, in which herbs are often used alone, in traditional Chinese medicine most herbs are used in prescriptions with 3 or more herbs, sometimes 10 herbs, or even 50 or 100 herbs in a single prescription. According to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, the prescriptions are separated into the monarch or main drug, minister drugs, assistant drugs, and guide drugs. The monarch drug is the "king" of the prescription and has the primary effect on the health condition. Many "assistant" drugs cooperate with a major ingredient in a prescription to produce a better effect on one particular organ or condition. The minister drug helps to synergistically increase the effect of the monarch drug. The "guide drug" is added to enhance the effectiveness of other ingredients, reduce toxicity or improve taste. Licorice is used in many Chinese herbal prescriptions as a guide drug to enhance the activity of other ingredients, reduce toxicity, as well as improve flavor. It is said that licorice is used in as many as half of all traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Modern Research

If we look at use of licorice from a western perspective, we see that its use has changed little over 3,000 years. It is considered demulcent (soothing to irritated membranes), expectorant (loosening and helping to expel congestion in the upper respiratory tract), and stimulates mucous secretions of the trachea. Other well-documented activities include significant antiinflammatory effects, a protectant effect on the liver against toxic substances and antiallergic activity. As a very important medicinal plant on a worldwide basis, the chemistry and pharmacology of European and Chinese licorice have been well studied. Up to 24 percent of the root weight is glycyrrhizin, the plant's major active component. Glycyrrhizin (also known as glycyrrhizic acid) is an extremely sweet glycoside, which foams in water. Other components called flavonoids are also responsible for some the root's attributed actions. Glycyrrhizin is said to be from fifty to two hundred times sweeter than sugar, hence the sweet taste associated with licorice root. Licorice root itself has a very sweet musty flavor, rather than the "anise" flavor we have come to associate with licorice.

Studies have shown that glycyrrhizin stimulates the excretion of hormones by the adrenal cortex. Some researchers have suggested it as a possible drug to prolong the action of cortisone. Glycyrrhizin has a similar chemical structure to corticosteroids released by the adrenals, and further studies have suggested that it might one day prove useful in improving the function of hormone drugs, or be used as an aid in helping to reduce withdrawal symptoms from dependency on some corticosteroid hormones. Glycyrrhizin has also shown estrogenic activity in laboratory animals, and is experimentally antiinflammatory, antirheumatic, and antibacterial. In China, licorice root is used as an antacid.

Licorice and ulcers.
One of the better known folk uses of licorice in Europe has been in the treatment of gastric ulcers. Based on this historical use, in European herbal medicine, licorice has been widely used as a treatment for gastric ulcers. Modern use began in 1946, when a Dutch physician, F. E. Revers demonstrated that licorice was the active ingredient in a domestic medicine used in the Netherlands, then reported good results obtained in the treatment of stomach ulcers in 32 patients. In the 1950s new research showed that licorice-derived compounds can raise the concentration of prostaglandins in the digestive system that promote mucous secretion from the stomach, as well as produce new cells in the stomach lining. It was also shown that licorice prolongs the life span of surface cells in the stomach and has an antipepsin effect. The combined effect leads to the healing of ulcers. A recent study from Iranian researchers used aspirin coated with licorice and found that it helped protect against ulcers induced by aspirin, reducing the size and number of ulcers.

Licorice - the Down Side
About 20 percent of patients treated with licorice in the 1950s experienced side effects such as water retention, upper abdominal pain, headache, shortness of breath, and stiffness. At first scientists thought this was an allergic reaction. Treatment with antihistamines brought no relief. The symptoms usually disappeared when the dose was reduced, though sometimes it was necessary to stop licorice use all together. Similar symptoms have been reported from ingestion of large amounts of licorice-containing candy, as well as by users of tobacco products flavored with licorice. This litany of side effects left medical practitioners with little interest in using licorice in the past thirty years.

More experience has been accumulated in the clinical use of licorice. Recognized side effects of prolonged use of licorice can include hypertension, water retention, sodium retention and loss of potassium. Therefore, the German health authorities warn that licorice should not be used for more than four to six weeks in therapeutic doses, without medical advice. During this period of time, a diet rich in potassium (such as bananas and dried apricots) is recommended. The potassium loss can also produce interactions with other drugs. The water loss-producing effects of conventional thiazide diuretics can be increased. In addition, if the individual is on digitalis glycoside heart medications (derived from foxglove), the potassium loss can actually increase the effect of the digitalis glycoside drugs by up to 50%. Since the toxic and effective doses of digitalis glycosides are in close balance, physicians should be aware of this potential drug interaction. In addition, various European health authorities, including the German and French health agencies warn that licorice should not be used in cases of high blood pressure, potassium deficiency in the blood, or chronic liver inflammation and liver cirrhosis.
According to the German health authorities, the dose of licorice is about 1 teaspoonful of the cut and sifted root (equivalent to 2-4 g), in a cup of boiling water. After the water is poured over the root, it is allowed to simmer for an additional five minutes. It is then cooled and filtered. One cup of the tea is taken after a meal. Use is limited to four to six weeks without a physician prescribing further use.

New Potential
Scientists have shown that licorice has an effect on the adrenals, helping to stimulate glucocorticoid production. In excess, this leads to the side effects now recognized for licorice. Recognizing these effects described for and related to licorice, Riccardo Baschetti of Padova, Italy, sent a letter to the New Zealand Medical Journal reporting his own success in treating his own case of chronic fatigue syndrome with licorice root. Citing the work of Dr. Mark Demitrack of the University of Michigan Medical Center who had published a number of papers related to mild glucocorticoid insufficiency in chronic fatigue syndrome patients who don't have symptoms of Addison's disease. Mr. Baschetti, put two and two together. If his theory is correct, it occurred to him that licorice consumption, which potentiates glucocorticoid hormone action, might be useful in chronic fatigue syndrome. His chronic fatigue syndrome had persisted for 20 months with unsatisfactory results with various treatments. He then started taking licorice at a dose of 2.5 g/ 500 mL/d in milk. After a few days of his licorice therapy, his physical and mental stamina returned (though his lymph nodes did not reduce significantly in size). The author warned that the symptoms of depression are similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, and that licorice could be detrimental to depressed patients. Physicians, he warned, should make sure that patients have chronic fatigue syndrome and not depression before trying this regimen. It is important to note that this report is only the experience of one individual and is not a cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. Rather, it provides a significant research lead, and possible approach that other practitioners may wish to monitor in patients using licorice.

Licorice is more than a flavor. While in small doses over a short period of time, licorice can help in reducing ulcers, and is used traditionally as a cough suppressant, expectorant, and other uses, its future perhaps lies in taking what is currently known about the herb, and applying that to new applications. We shall see what the future will bring.

Source six

Herb Library, Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
The roots of this plant are widely used, not only in European herbal medicine but also in the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia.
In China and parts of Russia, the species used is G. uralensis; it is known in Chinese as gan cao. The scientific name for the genus refers to the sweet taste of the root.

Licorice has been popular for flavoring foods and other medicinal herbs for many centuries. Hippocrates described its medicinal use, as did Pliny the Elder. A piece of licorice from the eighth century was recently discovered still to contain active principles. Licorice has been used to treat coughs and colds, and also as a digestive aid.
Although licorice is best known in the United States as a flavor for candy, by far the majority (up to 90 percent) of the licorice imported into the country is actually used to flavor tobacco products. Just to add to the confusion, some of the licorice candy made in the United States does not rely on licorice for its flavor. A recent case of licorice overdose, however, demonstrated that the popular candy Twizzlers (the black, not the red) contains some licorice, and natural candies imported from Europe often contain licorice rather than anise or other flavoring agents. The parts of the plant used are the dried roots and rhizomes, either peeled or unpeeled.

Active Ingredients:
Between 6 and 14 percent of the root is the glycoside glycyrrhizin. This calcium or potassium salt of glycyrrhizinic acid is fifty times sweeter than table sugar. Licorice contains a number of other triterpenoid saponins, along with plant sterols including sitosterol and stigmasterol. The root also contains several other sugars, including glucose, mannose, and sucrose. More than thirty flavonoids and isoflavonoids have been identified, including liquiritin and its derivatives. Some coumarins and an immunosuppressant called LX have also been isolated.

Uses:

In Europe, the primary medicinal use of licorice is to treat coughs, colds, and other respiratory infections. Glycyrrhizinic acid seems to stop the growth of many bacteria and of viruses such as influenza A. It also stimulates the production of interferon. Chinese researchers agree that licorice is effective against cough and soothes the inflamed tissues of a sore throat. In fact, ancient Chinese texts summarize the uses of licorice rather well: "improve the tone of the 'middle Jiao' [digestive system] and replenish qi, to remove 'heat' and toxic substance, to moisturize the lungs and arrest coughing, and to relieve spasms and pain." Modern practitioners use different terminology, but the therapeutic benefits are quite similar. Licorice has also been used extensively as a treatment for ulcers. It prevents the secretion of gastric acid, reduces the activity of pepsin, and inhibits enzymes that dismantle prostaglandins. This leads to higher levels of prostaglandins in the stomach and upper intestine, allowing ulcers to heal more quickly. The activity of licorice on prostaglandin-regulating enzymes may explain why this herb protects stomach tissue against aspirin-induced damage in rat studies. A semisynthetic compound (carbenoxolone) derived from licorice has been compared to cimetidine in clinical trials and found less effective (52 percent improving compared to 78 percent on cimetidine). This agent does act to protect the colon, however, and is used to treat ulcerative colitis in China. Carbenoxolone also protects against colon cancer. Serious side effects that occur with licorice and with carbenoxolone led researchers to develop a deglycyrrhizinated licorice, DGL. In some studies, DGL (under the brand name Caved-S) was just as good as cimetidine at treating ulcers, but not all studies have shown consistently good results.

In Japan, physicians use licorice to treat chronic hepatitis B. Glycyrrhizin interferes with hepatitis B surface antigen and is synergistic with interferon against hepatitis A virus. It is also used at times to treat hepatitis C. Researchers have also demonstrated that licorice helps protect the liver from damage due to chemotherapy. At low doses, the herb stimulates the liver to manufacture cholesterol and excrete it in bile. This can help lower serum cholesterol levels. Licorice root has an effect on the organism similar to that of a steroid. It slows the conversion of cortisol to cortisone, which increases and prolongs the action of this steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. This physiological activity can explain many of its undesirable effects as well as its medicinal benefits.

In Russia, however, this property is put to use by administering licorice together with prescribed cortisone. This allows for a lower dose of the medication. Physicians in China may prescribe licorice alone or with cortisol to treat mild cases of Addison's disease, in which the body produces too little of this hormone. Glycyrrhizin also inhibits an enzyme that inactivates aldosterone, and its chronic use can mimic the serious condition of aldosteronism. In China, licorice is considered a powerful antitoxin and is used as an aid in the treatment of pesticide poisoning. It may also curb Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria. Through its effects on adrenal steroids, licorice exerts anti-inflammatory activity. The licorice constituent known as LX immunosuppressant is also able to reduce hypersensitivity reactions and prolong the survival time of transplanted tissues.

Glycyrrhizin has antioxidant and antitumor activity, but because of serious side effects it should not be used on a regular basis. Licorice has been used to ease symptoms of menopause. In one study, licorice attached to estrogen receptors. It did not, however, promote the growth of uterine cells as estrogen does, and it is not frequently used for this purpose in the United States. Topically, glycyrrhizin has been used in shampoo to treat excess oil secretion of the scalp. It has also been included in ointments used to treat skin inflammations.

Dose:
For coughs and colds: approximately 5 g per day (approximately 1 teaspoons licorice root made into tea).
For ulcers and stomach problems: up to 15 g per day. In China, gan cao extract is given in doses of 5 to 15 ml three times a day. DGL: 380 to 760 mg twenty minutes before each meal (three times daily).
Licorice should not be used for long-term self-treatment. At low doses, four to six weeks should be the maximum duration. At higher doses, as for treating ulcers, the time frame is correspondingly shorter. As little as one ounce (approximately 30 g) of natural licorice candy daily may be enough to trigger side effects over a period of weeks or months. Regular daily intake of 50 g licorice root (corresponding to 100 mg glycyrrhizin) is known to trigger high blood pressure and other problems (see Adverse Effects).

Special Precautions:

Pregnant women should not use licorice at medicinal doses. There is a danger of high blood pressure or of a hormone imbalance that would harm the fetus. People with high blood pressure should avoid the use of licorice, which could aggravate their condition. Anyone with a heart problem should use licorice only under medical supervision. Potassium depletion caused by licorice is especially hazardous for such patients. Anyone with pre-existing hypokalemia (low potassium) should not take licorice. People with kidney disease, especially the elderly, may be at increased risk of side effects from this herb. Gallbladder disease and cirrhosis are considered contraindications for licorice.

Adverse Effects:
The consequences of high doses or long-term use of licorice are severe. This herb can cause high blood pressure, low levels of potassium, fluid retention and swelling of the face and limbs, hormonal imbalance, and muscle destruction leading to pain and weakness. At least one woman experienced loss of libido. Another woman ate too much licorice candy and lost a great deal of potassium; her heart stopped. Licorice can also change heart rhythms, prolonging QT and PR intervals on an electrocardiogram. Lethargy and fatigue as well as weakness are part of the picture of licorice toxicity.

Many of the negative symptoms associated with licorice are due to its ability to inhibit the renin-angiotensin system. Elderly people in particular are susceptible to kidney problems as a consequence of licorice. Paralysis of the legs (and in one case, of all of the limbs) has been reported. A sixty-four-year-old man developed pulmonary edema, signaled by fatigue and trouble breathing, after eating four packages of black Twizzlers licorice candy in three days. This case demonstrates how quickly a serious reaction can arise.
Licorice can reduce thyroid gland activity and lower the basal metabolic rate. It appears that individuals vary considerably in their susceptibility to adverse reactions from licorice. Some people experience negative symptoms within days, while others may ingest excessive licorice in candy, chewing gum, chewing tobacco, or herbal medicine for months or even years before they realize that they are suffering damaging effects. Women appear to be somewhat more susceptible than men, and oral contraceptives may increase this sensitivity.

Possible Interactions:
Licorice can greatly increase potassium loss due to medicines such as hydrochlorothiazide, Lasix, Hygroton, Lozol, Bumex, and other potassium-wasting diuretics. Severe potassium loss greatly increases the risk of heart rhythm irregularities, especially in people taking Lanoxin. Amiloride, a potassium-sparing diuretic, is not recommended to counteract the potassium loss caused by licorice. Because it binds to serum albumin, licorice may interact with other medications that bind to serum albumin as well: ibuprofen, aspirin, and Coumadin. The coumarins in licorice may also potentiate the action of this anticoagulant, possibly leading to unexpected bleeding.
Because of its impact on the thyroid gland, licorice may alter the required dose of levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl). Likewise, its impact on cortisol may alter the effectiveness and appropriate dose of cortisonelike drugs. Aldactone (spironolactone) is likely to be affected by the action of licorice on aldosterone. Oral contraceptives may make women more vulnerable to hypertension, potassium loss, fluid retention, and other adverse effects of licorice.

Source seven

Overview
Licorice is traditionally used for coughs and as a soothing remedy for the skin. People also take it for inflammation, for bronchitis, arthritis, and constipation. Health care providers, such as naturopaths, may prescribe licorice root products for peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, and to treat primary adrenocortical insufficiency. Licorice root extracts are active against bacterial infections such as staph and strep and may have antiviral properties. Licorice root may also destroy the yeast that causes Candida infections. Despite the many medical effects described, licorice also has potential side effects; please see sections entitled "Precautions" and "Possible Interactions."

Plant Description
Spanish licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) grows wild in some parts of Europe and Asia. A perennial that grows 3 to 7 feet high, licorice has an extensive branching root system. The roots are straight pieces of wrinkled, fibrous wood, which are long and cylindrical and grow horizontally underground. Licorice roots are brown on the outside and yellow on the inside. Glycyrrhizin, an active ingredient in licorice root, is 50 times sweeter than sugar.

What's It Made Of?
Licorice products are made from the roots and underground stems of the plant. Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid are the most important substances in licorice. The roots also contain coumarins, flavonoids, volatile oils, and plant sterols. Licorice must always be used with caution because glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid can harm the adrenal glands.

Available Forms
Licorice products are made from peeled and unpeeled dried root. There are powdered and finely cut root preparations, as well as dried and liquid extracts. Some licorice root extracts have had the harmful compounds removed. These extracts are known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), and do not seem to harm the adrenal glands or have the undesired side effects of other forms of licorice. DGL may be better for gastric or duodenal ulcers. Scientific studies show that DGL reduces inflammation and is as effective as some prescription drugs for gastric ulcers. In fact, DGL may offer protection against ulcer formation when taken with aspirin. In addition, it may enhance the effectiveness of antiulcer medications such as cimetidine.

How to Take It
Pediatric
For sore throat treatment in older children, a piece of licorice root may be chewed or licorice tea may be used. The appropriate dose of tea for a child should be determined by adjusting the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20-25 kg), the appropriate dose of licorice for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.

Adult
Licorice can be taken in the following forms:
Dried root: 1 to 5 g as an infusion or decoction three times per day Licorice tincture: 2 to 5 mL three times per day DGL extract: 0.4 to 1.6 g three times per day for peptic ulcer DGL extract 4:1: in chewable tablet form 300 to 400 mg 20 minutes before meals for peptic ulcer

Precautions
You should be very careful if you are taking large amounts of licorice products or if you chew licorice-flavored tobacco or use other licorice-flavored products. If so, you are at risk for licorice side effects and toxicities.
If you take more than 20 g of licorice a day, you might have a bad reaction. Too much glycyrrhizin causes a condition called pseudoaldosteronism, which makes you overly sensitive to a hormone in the adrenal cortex. This condition can lead to headaches and fatigue. It may also cause water retention, which can lead to leg swelling and other problems. An overdose of glycyrrhizin can lead to harmful conditions such as high blood pressure and even heart attack. These symptoms can show up within one week if you're taking more than 100 g of glycyrrhizin every day.
Although the most dangerous effects generally only occur with high doses of licorice or glycyrrhizin, side effects may occur even with average amounts of licorice. Some people experience muscle pain and/or numbness in the arms and legs. Too much licorice can also cause weight gain. These problems can probably be avoided if dosages are kept within the recommended guidelines. It is safest, though, to have use of licorice monitored by your health care provider.
Licorice should not be used in the case of high blood pressure, or a kidney, heart, or liver condition. Licorice should also not be used during pregnancy or while nursing. Finally, use of any licorice product is not recommended for longer than four to six weeks.

Possible Interactions
If you are taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or diuretics (except potassium-sparing diuretics) to regulate blood pressure, do not use licorice products. Licorice could interfere with the effectiveness of these medications or could worsen possible side effects.
Because licorice may dangerously increase the risk of toxic effects from digoxin, this herb should not be taken with this medication. any corticosteroids.
There have been reports of women developing high blood pressure and low potassium levels when they took licorice while on oral contraceptives. Therefore, you should avoid licorice if you are taking birth control medications.

Source eight

Crazy for Drop: Licorice candy is a national obsession in the Netherlands
It is found from row houses in Amsterdam to cottages in the Dutch countryside. Sometimes it's tucked away in cupboards, though often it's kept in plain sight on the coffee table. It is sold everywhere from pharmacies to corner stores and shipped by mail everywhere else. Most Dutch like to sneak a little after dinner, and when they travel outside the country, they're always sure to bring enough to last the entire trip.
Drop, the Dutch licorice candy, is the Netherlands' national addiction. Coming in more than 100 different shapes, tastes and textures, and made by at least 10 different companies, it is the one thing Dutch expatriates seem to miss most from their homeland. In Holland, Drop (rhymes with rope) is eaten by about 80 percent of the country's 16 million residents, who consume about 31 million kilograms, or 68 million pounds, every year. Drop does not at all resemble or taste like American red or black licorice and the repertoire of unusual flavors, such as honey, menthol and even salt, make Dutch Drop a somewhat acquired taste.

In the Netherlands, many believe that Drop's popularity has to do with the fact that people are exposed to it as toddlers, when their palates are open to new tastes. Making dropwater, by dissolving pieces of licorice in water, is something Dutch kids do for fun. And the soft, chewy dropjes (plural for drop), especially those shaped like coins or farm animals, form the beginnings of a lifelong obsession.

"Drop is addictive," said Ernst Schrama, who lives in Rotterdam with his wife and two children. "There is no way out once you've started." Schrama says he can easily put away a pack of Drop while driving or watching TV. But avoiding the temptation altogether is nearly impossible: throughout Holland, there are about 80,000 places to make a purchase.

During visits home, Barends, like many expatriates, always returns with a big bag. Drop is sold in many different countries, such as England, Sweden and South Africa, but in the United States, the only places to buy drop are from the 8 or so mail order companies that specialize in Dutch licorice. One of them is selling over eighty sorts. For the Dutch living abroad it's a real pleasure to visit this online shop www.hollandsedrop.com.
No matter where you shop, though, no mail order company carries as many different kinds of drop as found throughout the Netherlands, nor do any carry the fresh, bag-your-own varieties found in Dutch pharmacies.
The Drop journey begins with dried licorice root, which has a higher concentration of sweetness than sugar cane. The roots are mixed with water to form a pulp that is then heated, processed into a syrupy extract and poured into molds. The result is block-Drop, the main ingredient of Drop, which is also used to sweeten cigarettes and pills.
Block-Drop is processed into many different textures of Drop, from very soft, almost paste-like Drop to jaw breaker-hard pieces, and into six main flavor categories. First, there is the pure licorice flavor, which is naturally sweet. Then, there are sweet flavors of Drop, such as a honey-flavored Drop that is shaped like a beehive or one coated with granules of sugar, like a gumdrop. Salty Drop comes three ways, mild, medium and double-salted. Barends said that some people really get hooked on the double-salted Drop, as it tends to curb their appetite for sugar.

Drop is not just consumed for pleasure, but for its supposed healing properties as well. Doctors in the Netherlands have been known to prescribe salty Drop for patients with low blood pressure. And aficionados claim that a little salty Drop, much like gargling with warm salt water, will sooth a sore throat "like nothing else" and is also great at stopping a cough.
When Wybert International, an oral care company, became a sponsor of Joop van de Ende theater productions (producers of the "Big Brother" TV series), they started handing out little bags of Wybert Drop lozenges before the performance and during intermission. The result, producers claim, was a completely cough-free audience.
Since the times of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, licorice root has been known to aid digestion, which is why Barends likes to have a little at night. Be it medicinal or, most likely, just habit, it's a rare Dutchman who doesn't reach for the Drop as the nonalcoholic nightcap.

Source nine

Research has demonstrated that good results can be obtained when using licorice as a strengthening and blood purifying treatment, and one of it's ingredients is successfully used in treating Addison's disease. The licorice and it's ingredients can also help in treating inflammations and infections of the stomach and the intestines, especially ulcers. Researchers are also interested in the use of licorice as a stimulant for the adrenal gland to secrete cortisone to treat rheumatism, asthma, eye diseases, and skin diseases, thus saving money, since cortisone is an expensive substance. It was recently discovered that licorice is a very active medicine against the Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

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National library of Medicine, Search for licorice or Glycyrrhiza glabra.
Botanical Garden, About licorice
Health Central, Peoples pharmacy.

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