7 Awesome Benefits of Licorice Root

Licorice Root Elixir

Mucilaginous

Licorice root is high in mucilaginous polysaccharides. When you eat drinks or foods containing these, the mucilaginous polysaccharides turn into sort of a gooey substance in your stomach. This slimy stuff is good for your body because it helps with hydration, digestion and keeps things moving smoothly in your intestines.

Not only is the mucilaginous effects beneficial for your digestive system, but it’s equally effective for your respiratory tracts (think soothing for dry irritated coughs) and skin (see skin conditions below).

Hepatoprotective

Licorice root is pretty super when it comes to its hepatoprotective effects. Hepatoprotective means preventing damage to the liver. Licorice root has strong effects that protect the liver. So much so that it’s said to play a part in restoring damaged liver tissue and reduces inflammatory irritations.

Adrenals Tonic

A tonic is simply a natural boost or medicinal substance that can restore or improve health. Usually people refer to tonics as drinks. People are often familiar with ‘tonic water’. Tonic water is a fizzy drink that’s often used as a mixer for cocktails. It has a slightly bitter taste and contains a natural compound called quinine, which gives it a unique flavor. So an adrenal tonic would be a drink or herbal remedy made specific for the adrenals and licorice root is perfect for this.

Since licorice root has been demonstrated to stop the body from “using up” its cortisol reserves, it may be especially helpful for people with adrenal fatigue. It accomplishes this by decreasing the kidneys’ ability to convert cortisol into inactive cortisone, which raises cortisol levels in the body. Thus, it is believed that glycyrrhizic acid increases adrenal gland function.

Harmonizer

Licorice root is said to work as a harmonizer. If a person were a harmonizer it would mean they were someone that helps others get along. Licorice root is that harmonizer with other herbs. It helps all the other herbs in the blend to ‘get along’ or work together.

Gut Healing

Licorice’s demulcent and mucilaginous effects make it perfect for gut healing. This herb is often worked with as a remedy for ulcers, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome and other gut health issues. Other herbs to blend together for this application include marshmallow and/or slippery elm.

Skin Conditions

The same demulcent and mucilaginous effects that benefit the inside of your body also benefit the exterior – your skin. Infusing oil or even water with licorice root makes a perfect liquid to soothe your skin from such conditions as dry skin, eczema or even psoriasis. Apply the oil several times through the day or make a compress with a ‘licorice elixir’ and apply often. The key with herbs is usually frequency.

Anti-Viral

It has been noted that licorice extract has the potential to be effective in helping the immune system because of its established antiviral properties due to its triterpenoid concentration.

Licorice root was defined as having “antioxidant, free-radical scavenging, immunostimulating” qualities in a research published in Food Chemistry.

Borrowed from My Wellness Basket