Posts Tagged ‘glycyrrhizin’
Digestive Plants: Licorice
Licorice has taken place in more than one occasion on our blog. Asthma or herpes can be combatted with this plant, along that this is a useful herb to boost defenses or reverse the symptoms of menopause.
But there are those uses which concern us in this post. In this special weekend on medicinal plants for digestion and having already talked about some of them, today we focus on the description of licorice and digestive its medicinal uses, perfect to combat problems associated with poor digestion.
The secret of this herb is glycyrrhizin, a saponin contained in licorice at a rate of about 5%, and that gives many of its properties, including those associated with good digestion, but also is responsible for increasing toxicity of the plant in cases of misuse or reckless.
Licorice is a plant that has inflammatory properties, which justify its use to combat indigestion, especially when intestinal spasms of all intensity and gastroduodenal ulcer. But not only these properties of licorice.
Furthermore it is known for its expectorant properties, which softens the bronchial secretions and its antibacterial action, which indirectly also exerts a positive influence on the process of digestion.
The infusion is made using licorice root 50g freshly boiled water, letting stand 15 minutes. The water is applied as a compress or eye wash.