Licorice naked (licorice) is a herbaceous perennial plant, growing mainly in the steppe. Sometimes it can be found in river basins, in valleys. From the multi-headed and rather thick rhizome of the plant in different directions depart sparse shoots under the ground shoots, ending with buds, and almost no branching root of about a meter or more in length. The fact that the licorice root has application in both industry and medicine is due to its composition. It contains, flavonoids, glycoside, vitamin C, glucose, yellow pigment, essential oil, sucrose, starch, asparagine, bitterness, mucous, extractive, pectin and other substances. A sugary specific taste of the root gives glycyrrhizin, which is sweeter than sugar fifty times. He gives the plant a foaming property. The action of glycyrrhizic acid resembles the hormone deoxycorticosterone and cortisone.
Licorice root: application in folk medicine
The plant was used in ancient times in India, Greece. It is mentioned in ancient treatises of China called "hunchir", that is, "sweet grass". He was injected into the majority of medicines, it was believed that this remedy preserves beauty and youth. The ancient Greeks found that the root of licorice has a positive effect in diseases such as asthma, bronchitis. In medical treatises, in the list of medicines of that period, he is mentioned starting from the Middle Ages. Modern herbalists offer to use the root of licorice in bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis. If you take his broth courses (5-6 per year), he will help with prostate adenoma. For this, a tablespoon of dried and pre-crushed raw materials should be filled with half a liter of water. After 10 minutes of boiling, cool and strain. Drink each time before meals (but a day not more than three times) for 150 ml of the prepared product. To be treated this way it is necessary three weeks, then for two weeks to take a break and again to repeat a course.
Licorice root: application in scientific medicine
In pharmaceutical practice, it is used to improve the taste and smell of other medicines. But not only. Also produces the pharmaceutical industry and several preparations based on it: syrup, powder, dry and thick extract, thoracic elixir. They are prescribed as an expectorant and relieve inflammation in many diseases of the respiratory system, which are most often affected by children. They are prescribed to drink licorice root syrup. Reviews testify that this drug is readily accepted by children, effectively cures an uncomplicated cough and does not cause allergic reactions. Thanks enveloping and antatsidnomu action plant is a part of drugs used in diseases of the stomach.
Licorice root: application in industries
It is known that the plant contains glycerinic acid. In this connection, the root of licorice is used by industry for the synthesis of steroids. Its powder or extract is used in the production of soft drinks, sweets, in brewing; For the manufacture of ink, watercolor paints, inks, creams for shoes. Use it and in fire extinguishers, because in conjunction with water it forms a foam. Many mistresses during the salting of apples, cucumbers, cabbage put in them the crushed roots of licorice. They slightly sweeten foods, slightly changing their taste. A part of the extracted licorice root is exported to other countries for the production of chewing tobacco.