Liquorice root

Description

A perennial herb with a deep, powerful root system. The leaves are regular, compound, non-pinnate, with ovate-lanceolate leaflets. The flowers are pale purple, moth-like, collected in axillary dense spike-shaped racemes. The fruits are leathery brown beans. Height 50 – 100 cm.

The time of flowering. June-August.

Distribution. It is found in the steppe and semi-desert zones.

Habitat. It grows on sunny steppes and banks of steppe rivers, forming dense thickets in places.

The part used. Roots.

The time of collection. Late autumn.

Chemical composition

The roots contain a glucoside glycyrrhizin (up to 23%) sugary-sweet taste (40 times sweeter than sugar), which is potassium and calcium salt of glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetic acid (triterpene saponin), flavonoid — glycoside yellow -liquiritin, glycyrrhetic acid, β-sitosterol, zerisenay bitterness (to 8.1%), asparagine (up to 4%), pectin, yellow pageant, various sugars (glucose, sucrose), starch (30%), gums, calcium salts, potassium, magnesium and essential oil (0,03%), ascorbic acid-vitamin C( 30 mg). The therapeutic effect of licorice root depends on glycyrrhizin.

Application

Licorice as a medicinal plant has long been known. It is widely used in folk medicine in various countries. The plant has a good expectorant, enveloping, softening, wound healing, diuretic and light laxative effect. It is proved that licorice regulates the water-salt metabolism of the body and has antispasmodic properties. Decoction of roots is taken as an expectorant and a softening agent for coughs, bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, and as a mild laxative and diuretic.

In Chinese folk medicine, licorice is used for whooping cough, pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchitis, stomach ulcers, and as an antidote for mushroom poisoning. In scientific medicine, licorice preparations are used for various respiratory diseases for example: for chronic constipation and to improve the taste of medicines. Licorice is a part of breast, stomach, laxative, anti-hemorrhoid collections and a complex liquorice powder. Licorice sirup and extracts are prepared from licorice root. Crushed malt root with water forms a foam and is used in fire extinguishers. Malt root is used when urinating apples.

Method of application

15 g of licorice root boil in 1 glass for 10 minutes, infuse for 1 hour, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 4-5 times a day.