Liquorice for your digestions: how to use it safely

Few of you will be what you have not enjoyed as children savoring a liquorice twig, the sweet stick or palodul. Even less those who have not ever taken pills or candies that contain this sweet plant.

Licorice is often an essential ingredient in infusions to counteract the bad taste of other plants, as well as in products for bad breath. Also used as a sweetener in confectioneryin drinks and liquors, and even to flavor tobacco.

But liquorice also has its own medicinal properties and they are not few. It is worth knowing them and knowing how to use them, with their indications and contraindications.

A sweet and medicinal root

You may be surprised to learn that licorice is a legume, just like legumes. Its scientific name Glycyrrhiza glabrais explicit: it derives from the Greek name glucos (sweet and rhizos (root). The sweet taste of the root is so powerful that it marks the name of the plant.

You may be very familiar with what the root looks like, but not so much with what the liquorice plant, a slender shrub, up to a meter tall, with compound leaves, bluish flowers, gathered in dense clusters. It grows near watercourses, in the Mediterranean area and in western Asia.

The root is, speaking more precisely, a long, smooth rhizome, of yellowish after cleaning.

For medicinal purposes, the rhizomes of three or four years of life are harvested in October or November. In many cases they undergo a transformation process, cooking them over low heat or in steam chambers, until they form a black and consistent mass.

Licorice properties

In the composition of licorice, a saponoside stands out, the glycyrrhinwhich is considered up to fifty times sweeter than sugar. Licorice also contains glycyrrhizinic acid, flavonoids such as glycirol, isoflavones, coumarins, malic and salicylic acids, proteins, mineral salts, and vitamins C and B, among others.

The glycyrrhin it is the substance responsible for its sweetening power, but also for its anti-inflammatory, balsamic, antiviral, antiallergic, antacid and antiulcer effects. Certain flavonoids also act as antispasmodics, digestive, carminative and antiulcer.

What does this all mean? Well, licorice is indicated in numerous disorders and discomforts, especially digestive. Thus, it is recommended first as a remedy:

in digestion disorders to combat acidity or heartburn to relieve annoying gastroesophageal reflux in hyposecretory dyspepsia, that is, difficult digestions due to a lack or decrease of gastric juices against gastrointestinal spasms against gastritis to relieve stomach heaviness after a heavy or strong meal, gases, meteorisms and flatulence as a good support in case of gastric and duodenal ulcers

By exerting an intense anti-inflammatory function, licorice also becomes the best herbal remedy for gastric ulcer. In combination with certain medicinal plants of laxative effect helps reduce constipation.

On the other hand, it has ability to make bronchial secretions more fluid and stop infection. For this reason it is recommended in case of flu processes, colds, laryngitis, bronchitis and as support in mild asthmatic attacks.

How to take licorice to take advantage of its benefits

There are two types of licorice:

He standard It is mainly intended for the treatment of respiratory disorders, allergies and viral processes such as herpes. deglycyrrhinated licorice, which is marketed by some laboratories, has a lower or zero glycyrrhin content to avoid possible risks, as we will see. It is suitable for treating gastric ulcers and other digestion disorders.

The most common way to take it varies depending on the presentation:

Powderedup to 10 g in three daily doses.in decoction, generally associated with other plants. Below you will find two examples: an infusion for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux and an infusion for heartburn and stomach ulcers.In liquid extract, tincture and capsules. The extracts should be taken in amounts that do not exceed 500 mg daily in three doses. In herbalists you can also acquire pieces of licorice to suck onchewable tablets and the famous lozenges to soothe the throat.in external usethe infusion or decoction of licorice can be used to soak compresses and apply them on small wounds and ulcersin mouth rinses, gargles and eye washes for conjunctivitis and on inflamed eyelids.

These are two effective infusions to relieve very common digestive disorders:

Infusion for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux

You need licorice, mallow, cattail (Sideritis tragoriganum) and green anise in equal parts.

Preparation:

Separate 1 tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water. Boil for about 3 minutes, let it rest for another 10 and strain. Drink a glass of the herbal tea after meals.

Infusion for heartburn and stomach ulcer

This herbal tea helps to alleviate and heal stomach ulcers. You need licorice, pennyroyal, horsetail and shepherd’s purse in equal parts.

Preparation:

Separate 1 tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water. Boil one minute, let stand another 10 and filter. Drink a cup after meals.

To neutralize the acidity, you can also salivate a stick of licorice or sweet stick several times a day.

Some precautions and contraindications

Some precaution should be taken into account when consuming licorice. In 2004 the European Commission recommended do not eat more than 50 g of untreated licorice for more than seven days followed.

It is difficult to ingest that amount if consumed in the form of herbal tea or in some other herbal presentation, but perhaps yes when candy, pills, sweet sticks or chewing bars are abused.

Excessive and continued consumption of licorice, due to the action of glycyrrhin, causes fluid retention and it can even inhibit the enzymatic activity that acts in the kidney, eventually leading to low levels of potassium in the blood and causing or aggravating a picture of arterial hypertension.

Liquorice is not recommended, because, if it exists kidney failure and heart disease, liver disease, and type II diabetesas well as when taking medications with which it can interact.

In all these cases, you have to consult your doctor.

liquorice and pregnancy

The use of licorice also is contraindicated in pregnancy and during lactation. Taking licorice during pregnancy has been associated with miscarriage and premature labor. It also has estrogenic and antiprolactin effects, so it could decrease milk production during the first weeks of the puerperium.

However, it is safe consumed as a treat by childrenas a throat softener and as a sweetener in moderate amounts.

How to use licorice to sweeten

Licorice is used to flavor infusions, confectionery and bakery. In infusions it is normally used to improve the flavor of other plants, as it provides sweetness and neutralizes bitterness. For this, use the chipped licorice which is sold in herbalists.

At home can be used to sweeten and flavor exquisite ice creams, for example strawberries and licorice. or prepare a chocolate cream with licorice and pieces of fruitbiscuits with licorice, or strawberries with vegetable cream, licorice and rose petals.

For this it is used licorice powderwhich must be dissolved in a bain-marie.