Licorice (Glycyrrhyza Glabra) Yastimadhu

Licorice is the sweet root of a plant that has been used for thousands of years as food and medicine. It is an outstanding gift of nature given the plentiful medicinal properties it has. Many ancient civilizations including the Indians, Chinese, Greeks and Egyptians used licorice for its powerful healing effects on multiple body systems. In the classical Ayurvedic texts and day-to-day Ayurvedic practice, licorice is praised and employed as “Jivaniya”, a rejuvenating medicine; “Sandhaniya”, a wound healer; “Medhya”, a tonic for the intellect; and “Kasa Swasaghna”, an effective remedy for cough and asthma. It is also frequently employed in Panchakarma therapies, for internal cleansing purposes

What does it look like? The licorice plant is a perennial shrub that grows 30-150 cm in height. Licorice roots are long, wrinkled, fibrous branches, with an inner yellow colour, that grow horizontally underground, creating an extensive system of root connections.

Where does it grow? Licorice is cultivated in Southern Europe (Spain, Italy and Greece), Russia and parts of Asia such as China. It grows best in deep, fertile, well drained soils with full sun. Last summer it was announced that licorice fields are back in the UK.

Licorice is popular for all the widely available types of candy, beverages and syrups flavoured with it. Please note that the information on this post does not refer to fabricated licorice sweets, but to the roots of the licorice plant, which are dried, cut and made into a fine powder to be used as a remedy.

What are its properties and uses? Ayurvedic pharmacology describes licorice roots having an intrinsic sweet taste, cooling potency, and oily and dense properties. The synergistic effect created by these qualities results in a sweet root distinguished for its effectiveness in treating infection, inflammation, pain, burning and lack of strength.
Whilst it does its healing work, it excels in building up the immune system, Kapha, and balancing the activities of Vata and Pitta, which regulate the nervous, digestive and endocrine system. It is thus helpful for balancing women’s hormones and menstrual cycle.
The classic Ayurvedic work known as Bhava Prakash describes licorice as an excellent herb for:

• Improving visual acuity.
• Restoring physical strength and skin complexion. Licorice energizes the body from within, and is also effective in taking care of the skin, as it aids in the removal of pimples, discolouration and acne. Licorice mixed with ghee, turmeric and rose water is very effective for this.
• Rejuvenating the reproductive system in men and women
• Fortifying the hair and voice. A licorice brew can be externally applied for hair fall and premature greying. Gargling and drinking licorice tea can relieve sore throat and hoarseness of voice.
• Treating wounds. A paste of licorice powder and ghee can be applied on them to promote healing

• Relieving amongst others conditions, respiratory disorders including tuberculosis. Its nurturing and soothing properties make it a demulcent and emollient, meaning that it softens and soothes tissues and mucous membranes. Licorice mixed with honey and ghee can be licked to decrease phlegm, treat persistent cough and weakening of the respiratory passages.
• In hyper acidity, gastritis and peptic ulcers it controls and heals the irritating effects of acids. It is a good anti-toxic through liver support and protection, and it offers adrenal support as it contains estrogenic chemicals, that make it an anti-stress (Vata) herb.

What does modern research say about it? Licorice’s extensive records have engendered a great amount of research The root has been studied for its effects on skin diseases, and as an immunity regulator, as well as in diabetes, gastritis, hepatitis and vascular changes. This research has yielded a good amount of positive results.
Many clinical studies have focused on licorice’s anti- inflammatory and anti-viral effects, where its active constituent, glycyrrhizin, has shown to be a good anti inflammatory. It has also shown to be protective against influenza, HIV, Hepatitis B and Herpes

Dr Svoboda explains that ” after long-term use licorice can cause salt and water retention and potassium loss, comparable to the effects of Cortisone”. Taking high amounts of licorice over a long period of time can therefore increase blood pressure. Some people are more sensitive to this effect than others, nevertheless, excessive consumption of licorice must be avoided.

Where is it available? Raw licorice roots are available in some health food stores here in the UK. These roots can be cut and boiled to make a tea or infusion. Pukka herbs also offers a nice licorice blend. To yield all medicinal effects of a herb however, it is important to taste it. For best results you may want to take the content out of the capsule before ingesting it.

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Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Kumari

Aloe Vera is a fascinating plant with many healing properties. It is also an Ayurvedic remedy widely available in the UK, and is therefore ideal as the first plant in this monthly series.

Aloe Vera is a very short-stemmed plant that grows up to 100 cm tall. It has thick and fleshy leaves with serrated margins that open up like a flower from its centre stem.

Where does it grow? Aloe Vera thrives in dry and hot climates, and is found in India, Africa, Australia and the Caribbean, where it grows in the wild, and where its cultivation is also widespread. In the UK you can grow it too, as long as you keep it in a warm, sunny environment like a greenhouse.

What are the parts used? Aloe Vera leaves contain a transparent sticky gel that is taken out for use.

What are its properties and uses?Aloe Vera has a long history of use throughout the East and West, which has made it quite popular to this day. It is traditionally used externally, to improve skin tone and complexion and to treat burns and skin conditions; but also internally, for digestive ailments and purgative purposes. Women of the East, including India, hold Aloe Vera in high regard for its rejuvenating and healing properties on their reproductive system. The plant is often used by Ayurvedic practitioners to effectively relieve menstrual disorders.

According to the Sanskrit text Bhava Prakash, Aloe Vera is:

1. A purgative, effective in breaking down intestinal waste.
2. A cooling, bitter plant that is good for the eyes and rejuvenating for the body and mind.
3. A sweet, nourishing and strengthening plant for all body systems. It corrects imbalanced vata (the vital principle governing movement in every cell, tissue, organ and system).
4. A cure for digestive disorders, being particularly good for treating the liver and spleen.
5. An effective treatment for tumours, burns, skin diseases and blood disorders.

How does it work? The greatness of Aloe Vera lies in its ability to balance all vital principles of the body. Aloe Vera is a natural cleanser. When taken internally it gives a gentle bowel elimination, and in doing so restores the natural downward movement of vata. It corrects women’s menstrual disorders also by removing accumulated toxins and restoring a healthy flow and pattern. Its bitterness and cooling potency make it useful for managing pitta (the vital principle that governs all metabolic activities in the body) and its disorders, such as inflammation, ulcers, skin diseases, blood and endocrine disorders. Its nourishing properties make it an invigorating tonic that restores diminished kapha (the vital principle that holds together all structures of our body and mind).

How is it prepared? The whole plant can be crushed and then filtered to extract bulk quantities of Aloe Vera juice. This can be bought in the market. Pukka herbs is a good provider in the UK. For small quantities of juice, Aloe Vera gel can easily be extracted from the plant’s thick matured leaves by cutting them across the side. This gel can be applied directly to the skin or taken in a glass to drink, by mixing it with warm water, a bit of honey and black pepper.
Note that for some individuals, Aloe Vera can cause increased bowel movements if consumed in excess.

What does modern research say? There is extensive modern research on Aloe Vera, starting from as early as the 1800s right up to today. Much of this research corroborates the plant’s traditional applications, demonstrating the following about Aloe:

1. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, making it effective in wound healing and infections.
2. It is effective in treating ulcers of the mucous membrane lining the digestive tract.
3. Its effects of lowering blood sugar have been confirmed in placebo-controlled human studies, making it useful for diabetes cases and for treating diabetic wounds.
4. It is useful in cases of constipation, acting as a natural laxative.

Dr Peter Atherton M.B. G.P. extensively researched the medicinal effects of Aloe Vera at the University of Oxford. In his book “The Essential Aloe Vera” (Mill Enterprises 1997), he presents his findings which corroborate the excellency of Aloe Vera.

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