Licorice Root (20% Glycyrrhizic Acid)

History:

Licorice is a woody-stemmed perennial plant found wild in southern and central Europe and parts of Asia that thrives in deep, rich, moisture-retentive, slightly-alkaline, sandy soil in full sun. It is a cultivated crop in many places that grows slowly from seed (generally from two to six feet in height), but is difficult to eradicate when well established. Licorice is a very important commercial crop that is a mainstay in herbal medicine, as well as a flavoring for confectionery, snuff, foods, cough syrups and tobacco. As a matter of fact, although Licorice is best known in the United States as a flavoring and candy, ninety percent of Licorice imports are actually used to flavor tobacco products. Licorice has been used as one of the key herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for over three thousand years, and its use was associated with longevity. It was (and is) considered a tonic for heart, spleen, lung and digestive health and was mentioned in the Shen Nong Canon of Herbs listings of more than 365 plants and medicines that was compiled in China about two thousand years ago. In the West, the Greeks learned about Licorice from the Sythians as a therapy for throat and lung health as long ago as the third century B.C., the very same application for which it is still used today. Alexander the Great supplied his troops with rations that included Licorice sticks to support energy before battles. Both Hippocrates and Pliny the Elder described the therapeutic benefits of Licorice, as did Dioscorides, who gave the plant its botanical genus name, Glycyrrihza, which is derived from the Greek words, glukus, meaning "sweet" and riza, meaning "root," referring to the sweet flavor of the dried roots, which may be chewed like candy. Some of the chemical constituents in Licorice include the saponin, glycyrrhizic acid (the chief active ingredient that is fifty times sweeter than sugar cane), plant sterols, other sugars (glucose, mannose, sucrose), starch, resin, a trace of tannin, essential oil, amino acids, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, coumarins, lignin, mannitol, phenol, quercetin, salicylic acid, thymol, calcium, choline, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium selenium, silicon, zinc, beta-carotene, B-vitamins and vitamin C. Interestingly, archaeologists recently discovered a piece of Licorice from the eighth century that still possessed its active chemical principles. In addition to all of its historic therapeutic applications, modern herbalists also commonly use Licorice as a digestive aid for adrenal support, and for the liver and blood (this must always be used under the auspices of a knowledgeable health care provider). The roots are widely used in European herbal preparations.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules,two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Pregnant women, diabetics and those with high blood pressure should avoid this herb. People suffering from heart disease should not use Licorice Herbal Supplement unless under a physician's care. According to the German Commission E monograph, Licorice supplements are contraindicated in people with liver and kidney disorders, and thus, people with kidney disease, gallbladder disease and cirrhosis should avoid this herb. Large doses of Licorice may induce sodium retention and potassium depletion and can lead to hypertension and edema. Use of Licorice should be done under the supervision of a health care provider or qualified practitioner. The herb is not meant for long term use and should not be taken for more than seven days in a row. Long-term intake of products containing more than one gram of glycyrrhizin (the amount in approximately ten grams of root, which is far in excess of the daily dosage recommended by this product) is the usual amount required to cause these types of effects. Do not take Licorice without speaking with your physician if you take potassium, laxatives, the heart medication, Digoxin (Lanoxicaps®, Lanoxin®, Lanoxin Pediatric®) or prescription diuretics (which may lead to loss of potassium, which may cause fatigue, muscle cramps, headaches, swelling, increase urination, breathlessness or high blood pressure). Other possible drug interactions with any Licorice product include potentiation of anticoagulants and possible interference with hormonal therapy due to estrogenic activity of Licorice (including decreased testosterone and birth control pills).

Capsule Information:
Our Licorice Root (20% Glycyrrhizic Acid) supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.

Special Note:
If any medical terms on our website are confusing or unknown, we have compiled a small dictionary of terms for you. Click here for our Definitions, and go directly to the word in question for further information.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.