Sugar substitute: licorice root

Sugar substitute: licorice root

Licorice root(Glycyrrhiza glabra)– Liquorice root (the component of black licorice) is a substance that is known to virtually everyone. Licorice is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region. Oriental cultures recognize licorice for its sweetening properties.Glycyrrhizin, the active ingredient in licoriceis between 50 and 100 times sweeter than sucrose.

Used parts of the licorice: You can use the whole root (skinned or peeled), dried powder, or extract to naturally sweeten the things you eat and drink. It takes very little to achieve sweetness. Many over-the-counter herbal teas sweeten and flavor their formulas with licorice.

The blue-flowering plant, which looks like a pea vine, grows wild across much of southern Europe and Asia. Licorice is one of the most commonly used medicinal herbs and is found in numerous traditional formulas in many cultures as it also masks the harsh taste of other herbs.

Use of licorice root: Licorice root has been used since ancient Egypt to treat upset stomach, ulcers, asthma, chest infections, bronchitis, and coughs. It is also good for clearing throats, supporting adrenal function, arthritis, and as a mild laxative. Licorice roots and stolons (peeled or unpeeled) can be used in their unadulterated, ground form as a primary sweetening compound. Licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid (also known as glycyrrhizic or glycyrrhizin.

Glycyrrhizic acid is often touted as an ulcer remedy(Even though my clients hated it, I no longer send it home. I also don't ask them to chew the tablets.) In a clinical trial, licorice root liquid extract was used to treat 100 patients with early peptic ulcer disease. Eighty-six cases that had not responded to conventional treatment were treated at a dose of 15 ml (about one tablespoon of extract) four times daily for six weeks. Positive effects were reported in 90% of cases.

Overdose of licorice: The bad thing about licorice is that it causes sodium retention, which then increases blood pressure and causes hypertension. Licorice is used to retain water in the body. For this reason, it can be a good herb for patients with diabetes insipidus, where the person does not seem to drink enough water.

Other side effectsThese include edema, headaches, lethargy and a mild potassium deficiency, which can lead to heart problems if consumed in excess. Adverse symptoms of excessive glycyrrhizin consumption generally disappear shortly after a person reduces their dietary intake of products containing the sweetener.

Contraindications: Licorice root should not be used in people or pets suffering from cholestatic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, hypokalemia, and severe renal insufficiency. It should not be used in pregnant women as it may cause an increase in blood pressure. However, it can be used during breastfeeding.

Case study: I had just learned from one of the herbal distribution companies how good licorice root was for ulcers when I started practicing natural medicine. So I ordered a few bottles of deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which is said to have fewer side effects if an overdose occurs. Within a week, I had two cases of ulcers this week, which is usually the synchronous way things happen in my life.

I didn't hear from the first customer, but the second customer returned almost all of her bottle to me.

“Have you ever tried that?” She asked. "Well, no, I don't have ulcers, but I try everything I send home with cats since they can't tolerate much and you need to know exactly what you sent home with them."

“Well, you’ll try now.” She said confidently as she opened the bottle and pulled out one of those smelly little pills.

I put one in my mouth and chewed. "Shot!" I said as I ran to the sink to wash my mouth out. "I had no idea!"

I refunded her money and learned a lot from this woman. I think you need to use licorice root in very small doses! I'm not so keen on sending terrible tasting things home with customers anymore. I would rather send home capsules and homeopathic formulas that taste better. Some herbalists say capsules don't work that well, but if you can't choke something down and it stays on your shelf all month, it won't do you any good at all to correct the challenge you came to see me in the first place! I think I'll just stick with the occasional piece of black licorice candy! I like the organic brand Panda, which you can get at the local health food store.

Here's an interesting licorice fact: Millions of pounds of licorice are imported into the United States each year, about 90% for use in flavoring tobacco products. Bizarre, huh? I wonder if smoking causes high blood pressure...