Glycyrrhiza Glabra: Best Remedy for Liver and Kidney Problems (Licorice)

Table of Contents

“Liquorice has been described as the grandfather of the Herbs, (ODY 2000), it has been used for more than 4,000 years. Hippocrates (400BC) mentioned it used as a remedy of ulcers and quenching of thrist.”

1. Introduction

Glycyrrhiza Glabra is derived from Glycyrrhiza and Glabra. Glycyrrhiza (Glykas means sweet and Rhiza means root) and Galbra means smooth and hairless. It plays an important part in the Ayurvedic system of medicine and is one of the principal medicines mentioned by Susruta. Liquorice is mentioned highest times (11 times) in dashemani of Charak Samhita.

The drug is best for eyesight promoter, aphrodisiac and fertility promoter, hair growth promoter, voice and complexion promoter, antiseptic and healing actions. It has Medhya rasayana action when powder of this drug is given with milk.

Bhavamishra recorded analgesic activities of Liquorice on administration in the form of nasyakarma to relieve all types of headaches. He also described that Liquorice relieves cough immediately. Sodhala described its aphrodisiac activities, and Chakradutta suggested its application on ulcers due to injury for relieving pain.

It is the most prescribed herb after Ginseng in Chinese medicine used for aliments related to spleen, liver and kidney. Licorice has been known to pharmacists for thousands of years. In ancient times China was used for its long-term rejuvenating properties. It was used to quench thirst, allative feverishness, pain, youth, and distress of breathing.

You may also like

2. Vernacular Names

• Bengali – Jaishbomodhu, Yashto madhu
• Assamese – Jesthimadhu, Yeshmadhu
• Kannada – Yashti madhuka, Atimadhura
• Bihari – Muraiti
• Burmese – Noekhuju
• French – Racinedouce
• German – Lackrizen, suesshdz
• Gujrati – Jethimadha, Jethimard
• Kannada – Yashti Madhuka,
• Kashmiri – Mulethi
• Marathi – Jeshtamadha
• Punjabi – Jethimadh
• Tamil – Atimadhuram

3. Synonyms

• Klitaka – It cures male infertility.
• Klitanaka – It is found in terrestrial.
• Madhuka – It is sweet like honey.
• Yashtimadhu – The stem and roots are sweet in taste.

4. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Jivaniya, Sandhaniya
• Sushrut Samhita – Haridradi, Anjanadi, Brihatyadi, Ambasthadi
• Ashtanga Hridaya – Vamana, Anjanadi, Brihatyadi
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Abhayadi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Pipalyadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Haritakyadi varga

5. Distribution

It is distributed in the subtropical and warm temperature regions of the world chiefly in the Mediterranean countries, south Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt, Turkistan, Iran, Siberia, Persia, Arab countries and Afghanistan. In India, it is reported to be cultivated in Baramulla, Srinagar, Jammu, Dehradun and Delhi.

6. Morphology

It is a tall erect herb, and without compounded leaves, the flowers are lilac or light violet. The fruit is densely covered with small spinous outgrowths. The dried roots and underground stems or rhizomes of the plant constitute the drug.

Root

Long, straight, cylindrical, slightly tapering, smooth, flexible, about ½ inch in diameter, red or orange-brown on the surface, pale yellow within.

Stems

2 to 4 feet or more high, erect, stiff, solid, strongly striates, shortly pubescent and branched.

Leaves

Alternate, spreading, large, stalked, with very minute deciduous stipules, leaflets opposite in four to seven pairs and a terminal one, shortly stalked, oblong-oval or ovate, obtuse, entire, smooth, expect when young, dark green on both sides.

Flowers

Very shortly stalked, erect raceme, which is 1 to 3 inches long but falling short of the leaves, bracts linear, acute, cut about halfway down into five unequal teeth. The lowest one is longest and the upper two are connate, pubescent, glandular, green. Petals papilionaceous, pale lilac, the wings darker.

Pods – Linear-oblong, compressed, about 1 inch long pointed, smooth, pale brown indehiscent, containing 2 or 5 seeds.

Seeds – Roundish-quadrangular, compressed, about 1/8 inch wide, smooth and dark brown.

7. Types of Glycyrrhiza Glabra

Acharya Charaka described two types of Glycyrrhiza Glabra, Jalja liquorice (aquatic) and sthalaja liquorice (terrestrial). Jalja has three types of variety:

• Mishri – It is considered as best variety, sweeter in taste.
• Arabi – Medium variety - medium sweetness.
• Turki – Worst/poor variety – lesser sweetness.

As per botanical sources it is of three types:

• Glycyrrhiza Glabra Regel & Herd – Also known as Spanish liquorice.
• Glycyrrhiza Glabra Var, Glandulifera Waldst – Russian liquorice.
• Glycyrrhiza Glabra var. violacea Bioss – Persian liquorice.

8. Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste): Licorice is primarily sweet (Madhura) in taste.

Virya (Potency): It is cooling in nature (Sheeta Virya).

Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is sweet (Madhura Vipaka).

Virya – Sheeta

Guna – Guru, Snighda

Explore More Herbs

9. Chemical Constituent

The herb contains glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid, licoagrone, 7-methaoxy, licuraside, liquoric acid, glyzarin, glyzaglabrin, glycyrin, sugars and asprin.

10. Identity, Purity, and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 10%
• Total Ash – Not more than 2.5%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 5%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 10%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 20%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1989)

11. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Actions

Its actions are, reduce burning sensation, hair tonic, analgesic, reduce swelling, nervine tonic, intellect promoter, antivomitting, antithrist, carminative, laxative, diuretics, beneficial for throat, complexion promoter, vitality, reunion of bone, rejuvenate, strength promoter, beneficial for eyes.

• Doshakarma - Vatapittashamaka
• Dhatukarma – Striptics, spermatogenesis
• Malakarma – Laxative, normalize to urine color.

Pharmacological Actions

Antiulcer, antioxidant, wound healing, antimicrobial, smooth muscle depressant, antiviral, hypotensive, choleretic effect, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and expectorant.

12. Health Benefits

It is used in eye disease, asthma, cough, hemorrhage, hoarseness of voice, baldness, premature gray hairs, hyper acidity, neuromuscular disease, gout, disease of head, vomiting, thirst, constipation, abdominal pain, hic-cough, anemia, epilepsy cause by pitta, wound, poisoning, dysuria, diabetes caused by pitta, itching, skin disease, chronic fever and general debility.

13. Therapeutic Uses

External Uses

Piles – After application of Kshara, ghee and Glycyrrhiza Glabra should applied on piles.

Accidental wound – Pain of the accidental wound is removed by applying locally warm ghee mixed with Glycyrrhiza Glabra.

Wound – Paste of Glycyrrhiza Glabra with neem leaf acts as wound cleanser.

Premature Gray Hair - Glycyrrhiza Glabra is used as a hair pack to stop premature gray hair.

Eye Disease – Amal and Glycyrrhiza Glabra pacifies Pitta and alleviates defects of vision.

Internal Uses

Baldness - Take 30 grams of Mulethi root powder, and a pinch of saffron and mix both in milk and make a paste. Apply this paste over bald patches at bedtime. This remedy is very effective in the initial stages of baldness.

Constipation - Take 10 grams of Licorice root powder with jaggery and water and take it after meal twice a day, helps to treat constipation.

Corns - Take 15 grams of Liquorice root powder mixed with sesame or mustard oil and apply this on hardened skin at bedtime. Helps to decrease corns.

Dry cough - Make a decoction of Licorice root powder mixed with honey, which gives relief from a dry cough.

Joint & muscular pain - Take Licorice root and infuse in sesame oil overnight, use this oil for joint pain and muscular pain.

Mouth disorders - Taking 5 grams of Licorice root powder and mixing it with sugar candy is helpful in mouth disorders.

Oral inflammation - Take 1 glass of hot water and infuse the Licorice root overnight, Use the soaked water for gargle, which gives quick relief from oral inflammation.

Take ½ tsp of Mulethi root powder, the same quantity of honey, and half the quantity of ghee mixed well. Take this mixture twice a day with milk on an empty stomach.

Inflammation - Chewing raw Licorice root helps cure sore throat and soothing inflammation.

Ulcers - Take dry roots of Licorice and soak overnight in water; the infusion taken with rice gruel helps cure ulcers.

Scalds - Licorice root powder mixed with ghee and honey is beneficial in healing wounds and cuts. Leaves are useful to treat scalds of the head and body.

Hoarseness of voice – Rice-milk prepared with Licorice and mixed with ghee should be taken.

Heart disease – Paste of Licorice and Katuka should be taken with water.

Hic Cough – Licorice mixed with honey or Pippali and sugar should be used.

Anemia – One should take a decoction of Licorice with honey.

Gout – Goat milk with half oil and Licorice 10g should be given.

Menometrorrhgia – Take 10gm licorice root powder mixed with 10gm sugar and pounded with rice water.

As Aphrodisiac – Licorice powder 10gm mixed with ghee and honey followed by intake of milk makes a man sexually potent.

Intellect promoting – Take Licorice root powder with milk.

Explore Herbal Tea

14. Official Part Used

Root

15. General Doses

Powder – 3 to 5gm

16. Toxicity and Side Effects

Consumption of Licorice 10-45gm a day is reported to cause a rise in blood pressure, together with block of aldosterone/ renin axis and electrocardiogram changes.

• Lethargy
• High Blood pressure
• Weight Increase
• Puffiness
• Decrease sexual desire.

17. Licorice Tea Recipe

Licorice Root Tea

You can add Licorice to your tea and make flavored and delicious tea, here are simple and easy recipes for Licorice Tea.

Ingredients – for 2 cups

• Licorice root powder – 1 tsp
• Green Tea – 1 tsp
• Green Cardamom – 1 bud
• Water – 2 ½ cups

Method

• Take a pan and boil water.
• Add remaining ingredients and boil for 1 minute.
• Turn off the gas and cover the pan for 2 minutes, so that the herb can infuse in water.
• Strain the tea in a cup and add honey.

Licorice Herbal Tea

Ingredients – for 2 cups

• Licorice root powder – 1 tsp
• Green Tea – 1 tsp
• Water – 2 ½ cups
• Clove – 2
• Black peppercorns – 5
• Fennel seed - ½ tsp
• Ginger Powder – ½ tsp

Method

• Take a pan and boil water.
• Add clove, peppercorns, fennel seed, and ginger powder, and boil for 1 minute.
• Add green tea, and licorice root powder and boil for another 2 minutes.
• Strain the tea in a cup and add lemon and honey.

Enjoy this masala tea, it is very effective to give relief from cough and cold, boosting immunity, and reducing inflammation.

Note: This post is about educating about the benefits and uses of Licorice, consult the Ayurvedic doctor before starting.