Botanical Index No. 624

Licorice

glycyrrhiza glabra

Medicinal Actions

emmenagogue, galactagogue, Isoflavonoids are antiseptic against bacteria, antiviral activity against Epstein-Barr, Oral dose of glycyrrhetinic acid as antitussive orally as codeine, Glycyrrhizin has antiarthritic, antiedemic, and antiinflammatory activities, Potentiates the antiarthritic activities of hydrocortisone, GA was comparable to sodium salicylate as an antipyretic, Adrenal Stimulant, Aldose-Reductase Inhibitor, Alexeteric, Alterative, Amebicide, Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antiallergic, Antiangiogenic, Antiasthmatic, Antibacterial, Anticariogenic, Anticomplementary, Anticonvulsant, Antidepressant, Antidiuretic, Antidote, Antierythemic, Antiencephalitic, Antiestrogenic, Antiexudative, Antihepatosis, Antiinflammatory, Antiherpetic, Antihistaminic, Antimelanogenic, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antithrombic, Antitumor, Antitussive, Antiulcer, Antiviral, Candidicide, Chemopreventive, Choleretic, Contraceptive, COX-2 Inhibitor, Cyclo-oxygenase Inhibitor, Decongestant, Deodorant, Depurative, Desmutagenic, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Estrogenic, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hepatoprotective, Hypertensive, Immunostimulant, Interferonigenic, Lactagogue, Laxative, Lipoxygenase Inhibitor, Mucogenic, Mutagenic, Peroxidase Inhibitor, Phospholipase-A2 Inhibitor, PKC Inhibitor, Protisticide, Secretolytic, Sedative, Sialagogue, Tonic, Tyrosinase Inhibitor, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

In India licorice has been used as a sweetener aphrodisiac Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits EBV activation by tumor promoters Candida Mycobacterium and Staphylococcus herpes Newcastle vaccinia and vesicular stomatosis virus Isoliquiritigenin inhibits aldose reductase Inhibits sorbitol accumulation in human red blood cells in vitro and in red blood cells the sciatic nerve and the lens of diabetic rats Glycyrrhizin reduces morbidity and mortality of mice infected with lethal doses of flu virus Glycyrrhizin inhibits inflammation and prostaglandin synthesis Blocks estrogen effects binding to estrogen receptors Estrogenic activity Exhibits an alternative action on estrogen metabolism causing inhibition if oestrogen concentrations are high and potentiation when concentrations are low Oral DGGL equaled antacids or cimetidine in 169 patients with chronic duodenal ulcers Potentiates prednisolone in five patients with pemphigus Drops of glycyrrhetinic acid were helpful in a clinical study of allergic conjunctivosis GA inhibits growth of the ulcer bacteria Helicobacter pylori Antacid Aphrodisiac Bitter Collyrium Demulcent Emollient MAOI Mineralcorticoid Pectoral Vulnerary Abscess Addison’s Disease Adenopathy Adrenal Insufficiency Allergy Alzheimer’s Ameba Anemia Anorexia Anxiety Appendicitis Arthrosis Asthenia Asthma Atherosclerosis Bacteria Biliousness BO Boil BPH Bronchosis Bug Bite Burn Cancer abdomen bladder breast colon gland kidney liver neck spleen stomach throat uterus uvula Canker Sore Carbuncle Caries Cardiopathy Cataract Catarrh CFS Chickenpox Cholecystosis Cirrhosis Cold Condyloma Congestion Conjunctivosis Constipation Convulsion Cough Cramp Cystosis Cytomegalovirus Depression Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Diphtheria Duodenosis Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dyspnea Dysuria Earache Eczema Encephalosis Enterosis Epigastrosis Epilepsy Fatigue Fever Fibromyalgia Flu Fungus Gastrosis Hay Fever Headache Heartburn Hemicrania Hemophilia Hemoptysis Hemorrhoid Hepatitis C Hepatosis Herpes Hiccup HIV Hoarseness Hot Flash Hyperphagia Hyperthyroid Hysteria IBD Immunodepression Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Itch Kidney Stone Laryngosis Lichen planus Low Blood Pressure Lupus Malaria Malaise Melanoma Mucososis Mycosis Nausea Nephrosis Nervousness Neuropathy Ophthalmia Otosis Pain Pemphigus Pharyngosis PMS Pneumonia Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Polyp Psoriasis Pterygium Respirosis Retinosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Senility Shingles Snakebite Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Staphylococcus Sting Stomatosis Strangury Sunburn Swelling Tetanus Thirst Thrombosis Trichomonas Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer Urethrosis Urogenitosis UTI Vaginosis Vertigo Viral Hepatitis Virus Voice Water Retention Wound Yeast Catarrh of the upper respiratory Gastric/duodenal ulcers

General Dosage

Use as flavoring in doses providing no more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizin per day is also allowed. Oral DGGL. 2–4 tbsp fresh root; 3–6 g dry root; 4.5 g dry root:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water; 1–2 g root; 1–4 g root, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1.5–9 g root; 2–4 g root; 1.5 g root/cup; 5–10 g root/day; 5–15 g root/day = 200–600 mg glycyrrhizin; 0.6–2 g powdered root extract; 2–5 ml liquid root extract; 0.6–2 ml liquid root extract; 2–5 ml root tincture 3 ×/day; 2–6 ml/day fluid extract; 1.2–2.4 g/day deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract; 200–300 mg DGL 3 ×/day; 200–600 mg glycyrrhizin/day; 1–3 capsules 1–3 ×/day; 5–15 g root/day corresponding to 200–800 mg glycyrrhizin.

Safety & Contraindications

Adverse effects reported in M30: amenorrhea, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, headache, hyperprolactinemia, high blood pressure, hypokalemia, muscle weakness, myoglobinuria, myopathy, and paralysis. As prolonged use/higher doses may give mineralcorticoid adverse effects/interactions, the root should not be used for more than 4–6 weeks without consulting a physician. Cantelli-Forti et al. note that “serious side effects related to glycyrrhizin ingestion, including headaches, edema, body weight increase, and disturbances in body-electrolyte balance were observed either after daily high LE personal consumption or in clinical use.” CAN cautions that excessive ingestion can cause hyperaldosteronism. Because of estrogenic activity and reputed abortifacient activity, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Class 2b, 2c, 2d. “Contraindicated in heart disease, diabetics, hypertensives, hepatoses, and nephroses”. Commission E reports contraindications: cholestatic liver diseases, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, hypokalemia, severe renal insufficiency, and pregnancy. May potentiate thiazide diuretics, stimulant laxatives, cardiac glycosides, and cortisol. Too much can raise the blood pressure, cause sodium and water retention, and lower potassium levels too far. May result in pseudoaldosterianism. Adverse effects reported in M30: amenorrhea, cardiac arrest, congestive

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