Difference between revisions of "Liquorice"

Revision as of 05:53, 4 March 2011

Special Precautions of Liquorice :

• Do not use if you have hypertension, hypokalemia edema, cirrhosis of the liver, cholestatic liver disorder, and diabetes.
• Long-term use of licorice can lead to fluid retention, increased blood pressure, loss of potassium and lowered libido as it contains isoflavones (phytoestrogens). It might lower the amount of serum testosterone slightly.
• Pregnant women should not use licorice at medicinal doses. There is a danger of high blood pressure or of a hormone imbalance that would harm the fetus.
• Anyone with a heart problem should use licorice only under medical supervision. Potassium depletion caused by licorice is especially hazardous for such patients. Anyone with pre-existing hypokalemia (low potassium) should not take licorice.
• People with kidney disease, especially the elderly, may be at increased risk of side effects from this herb.
• Gallbladder disease and cirrhosis are considered contraindications for licorice.

The benefits of Liquorice are:

• Licorice Root has been used as a laxative; to adjust blood sugar, reduce pain from ulcer and arthritis.
• The compound glycyrrhizic acid, found in liquorice, is now routinely used throughout Japan for the treatment and control of chronic viral hepatitis.
• May be used as a topical antiviral agent for shingles, ophthalmic, oral or genital herpes
• In herbalism it is used in the Hoxsey anti-cancer formula, and is a considered adaptogen which helps reregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It can also be used for auto-immune conditions including lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and animal dander allergies.
• Useful in irritable conditions of mucous memberane of Urinary organs. Useful in sore throat, cough, anorexia and persistent low fever.
• Recent studies indicate that glycyrrhizic acid disrupts latent Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)