Before we begin this topic, let’s take a moment and talk about the licorice root itself. What is it? Well, it’s a root of course, of a plant known as Glycyrrhiza glabra. Apart from that fact that this sounds like a name of a villain from Thundercats, the licorice root has a bunch of healthy properties and benefits, which makes it so popular for daily use today.
Over the centuries, the Egyptian, Chinese and Greek nations, as well as numerous other Asian nations have utilized the medicinal properties of licorice root for the many benefits it brings.
As you obviously know, licorice is an ingredient in a number of confectionary items, too.
The applications of licorice root are widespread: for flavoring and in confectionary items, as well as in a wide range of medicinal applications. In Chinese folklore, the licorice root was termed as “Gan Zao,” which literally means sweet root.
If you haven’t tasted licorice ever before, we don’t know what you were doing in your childhood. We loved the licorice strips that were sold at candy shops. Pretty much everyone else who ate them loved them, too. It has a peculiar, sweetish-salty flavor, and is definitely sweeter than standard sugar.
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Even though licorice was a very common feature in a bunch of candies, it has been phased out and was replaced with the flavor of anise.
Anise is a spice. But that doesn’t mean licorice root is not common today at all.
It’s widely popular in tobacco-based products and medicinal or herbal teas. It also serves as a sweetener in herbal medications, as well as herbal cough candies.
By now, you probably have a good idea what we are raving about: this root is healthy. It has a ton of different health benefits. You should seriously consider adding it to your diet.
Also, rather than simply consuming it raw, there are now a bunch of different processed types of licorice root pills available on the market. So, you can purchase them easily, too.
But hey, you wouldn’t want to take us on face value. You are a rational person, so you want proof of what we are saying. Here are nine of the most surprisingly pleasant benefits you can get from licorice root.
1. Say Hello To Licorice Root And Good Bye To Itchy, Inflamed Skin
First off, let’s begin by talking about the topical applications of licorice root.
There is widespread evidence available now in the world of medicine that applying the licorice root on inflamed or itchy skin can actually relax it and soothe the area.
Usually, when the skin becomes itchy and inflamed, eczema is likely to develop in that region.
Licorice root can help with that: just apply a bit of the licorice gel on the sensitive area for three times in a day for two weeks and you will see a visible difference in your skin.
Licorice root reduces redness and itching, as well as swelling of the skin. However, since this is a natural substance, it does take a bit of time to work, which is why regular application is important if you want the best results.
Now, most of you may be wondering where to get licorice gel these days. No worries – it is widely available in pharmacies, and even in departmental stores. Try it out next time, and you’ll find it to be a more effective solution than most allopathic creams.
2. Licorice Root Helps Combat Depression
Well, who’d have thought of that? Licorice root helps people who are suffering from depression, as well.
The research was conducted a while ago, and reveals that glycyrrhizic acid, which is found in the licorice root is able to help people who are suffering from anxiety and depression by increasing the function of the adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands are responsible for regulating the stress hormones, like cortisol.
A person begins to suffer from anxiety, chronic fatigue and depression as the stress hormone levels begin to deplete. Over the passage of time, this translates in to a decreased resistance to infections, as well as other allergens.
Secondly, licorice root also contains the asparagine amino acid, which is important for maintaining equilibrium in the nervous system. So, how much do you need to take? One to two cups of licorice root daily are more than enough to help you combat depression and lower your anxiety levels.
3. Have A Healthy Heart With Licorice Root
There’s no end to the benefits of licorice root. Numerous studies have shown that licorice root is capable of regulating the levels of cholesterol in a person’s body by bringing about an improvement in the flow of bile.
Since bile acids have a major impact upon the cholesterol metabolism, improvement in bile flow allows for the removal of all excess cholesterol within a person’s body.
Similarly, the antioxidants present in licorice root prevents the growth of arterial plaque, improving the health of your capillaries.
For a person who doesn’t know much about biology, this might sound like gibberish. But let us tell you that a single tablet of deglycyrrhizinated licorice root daily for a month will bring down your cholesterol levels significantly, and reduce the chances of heart diseases.
4. No More Menstrual Cramps, Thanks To Licorice
We understand that being a woman can be a tough job, to say the least. Every month you have to bear excruciating pain and have to go through a lot of discomfort, not to mention some really heinous sights down there.
But, not all has to be so bad. Licorice roots contain anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties, along with invoking mild estrogenic activity in a woman’s body, allowing them to get relief from menstrual cramps.
Start drinking licorice root tea at least three days before you expect your period and you will feel a lot more relaxed afterwards.
5. Licorice Root Helps With Herpes, Too
Well, the all-encompassing healing properties of licorice root apparently also include herpes simplex, often spread as a sexually transmitted disease.
Since the licorice root has anti-viral properties, it works to suppress the viral activities of herpes, providing relaxation to the body and soothing the pain.
In certain cases, the topical application of a licorice root cream is an excellent idea for those who are going through extreme itching and pain due to herpes, while others can take a licorice root tablet in order to relax their bodies from within.
All you have to do is to take one capsule of the licorice root extract two times in a day, or apply the gel or ointment on the affected area to get positive results.
6. Relieves Sore Throat And Cough
There’s no end to the healing properties of the licorice root, is there? From sexually transmitted diseases to curing a sore throat and cough, this crazy looking thing can do it all.
This natural, all healing medical marvel is an excellent choice for people who are suffering from a sore throat or a bad cough, and are looking for some relief.
Remember how you sometimes keep downing cough syrups, but there’s no visible improvement in your condition?
We all have been there at some point in life. However, according to some intense research that was conducted recently, the saponin glycosides in licorice root promotes activity within the body that helps people who are suffering from bronchitis, a dry cough and even asthma. Basically, what the elements in the licorice root do is simple.
They break down the thick phlegm stuck inside, ultimately making it much easier for people to cough it out, hence clearing the airways. To do that, however, you need to drink licorice root tea at least twice or three times a day.
7. No More Suffering From Stomach Problems
Suffering from flatulence or improper digestion?
Stomach and gastric problems are now a staple in society due to the wide variety of different types of foods that are available. However, this need not be the case.
Many people suffer from gastric infections that are caused by different bacteria, which is in different foods, but especially fast foods and even restaurant meals.
There’s a reason why the wellness industry is so big on healthy eating nowadays. Licorice root can help nullify that bacteria and strengthen your stomach’s digestive capabilities. All you need is to take in licorice root tea at least two times in a day.
8. Effective Menopausal Benefits
Licorice root also provides a lot of benefits to women who are going through menopause.
For starters, the antioxidant and phytoestrogenic activity that is caused by licorice root is considered to be helpful for women who are suffering from excessive fatigue, hot flashes and mood swings.
Menopause can be a tough time, not only for the woman of the house, but also all others living within it.
So, if you are reading this and have a menopausal woman in the house, suggest she try a capsule of licorice root daily in her drink, as that will help regulate the production of hormones and allow for further relaxation.
9. Remedy For Weight Loss
And now, to top it all off, let’s end the amazing benefits of licorice root with the prime benefit: weight loss. Yes, there are numerous studies out there which confirm that drinking licorice tea at least two times a day on a daily basis can also help with the fat burning process, ultimately reducing your weight.
Since it improves the metabolism and helps the body extract essential nutrients from the food you eat in a much easier manner, weight loss becomes extremely easy as a result.
There are capsules of the licorice root extract available in the marketplace as well, so you can check them out, too. However make sure you consult with a nutritionist or herbalist beforehand.
Undoubtedly, licorice root is an effective remedy for many diseases. If you want to enjoy the all-round benefits of this amazing ingredient, you should try a natural supplement from provestra.com. This efficacious supplement is a blend of numerous herbs along with licorice root.
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