What is Licorice?
Licorice is from the latin word 'liquiritia', is known for its sweetening characteristic. It is a perennial herb indigenous to Greece, Italy, Spain, Syria, Iraq and southern China. The root yields a substance known as glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhizic acid which is 50 times as sweet as sugar cane. The root penetrates deeply into the ground and is the part of the herb that contains an abundance of valuable properties as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals:
Vitamins:
A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, E
Minerals:
Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Chromium, Cobalt, Selenium, Silicon and Zinc
What is it Good for?
Liquorice is a very special herb with many healing properties. The rejuvenating and nutritive properties have made it one of the most universally consumed herbs. It is widely used by practitioners of Eastern and Western Herbalism. It has been valued as an aphrodisiac, beautifying agent, used for vitality and longevity.
Most common uses of the herb is for:
- Licorice is used in Europe as medicinal support for people suffering from ulcers. Licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, which helps heal stomach ulcers and soothes inflammation.
- Benefits of licorice can also be used in HIV related diseases. Licorice helps to slow the progression of HIV to AIDS. Licorice helps to trigger the production of chemical compound interferon which is the body\'s virus fighting agent.
- The benefits of licorice also extend to internal and external skin diseases. Licorice has similar effects to hydrocortisone when applied topically and can be used to help fight dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Licorice can also be used to help speed up the healing process of cold sores and has also been known to reduce the pain associated with cold sores.
- Research indicates that the use of Licorice can be effective in treating both chronic and acute hepatitis.
- Liquorice has a mild estrogenic effect. A high oestrogen level can cause many menstrual problems; liquorice may help to balance the oestrogen levels in the body by reducing oestrogen.
Licorice speeds healing of stomach ulcers.
- The juice is also used for viral liver inflammations, and, in Asian medicine, the root is used for boils, diarrhea, headache, excessive thirst, sore throat, and swellings from infections.
- Licorice loosens and thins mucus in the lungs and acts as a decongestant.
For more information on Liquorice tea and where you can buy some of the finest teas visit www.teaworld.co.uk/liquorice-teas.php
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com
About the Author
Uma Mays
Having been an IT Project Manager for 10 years it was time to do something different and work from home with my young family. To that end I have recently started an online tea business selling and promoting the wonders and benefits of high quality specialist teas. Interests and Hobbies: Love the gym, play badminton and tennis. Also ski 2- 3 times a year. Homepage: http://www.teaworld.co.uk
