Licorice root: medicinal properties and contraindications

The healing properties of licorice rhizome have been known for thousands of years. For example, in Ancient China it was used to preserve youth and to strengthen the health of the elderly and children. And in medieval France, licorice root was used for coughs due to bronchitis and pneumonia, or for pain caused by gastritis or colitis. In our country, this herbal remedy has long been prescribed along with powerful hormonal drugs: scientists have officially confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of licorice.

And just recently, Japanese researchers discovered components in the rhizome that can suppress the human immunodeficiency virus.

However, in this article we will consider the most common area of application of the plant - this is the treatment of cough with licorice root, the medicinal properties of which are diverse and do not raise doubts among specialists.

Medicinal properties of licorice root

Licorice root is a multi-component plant, so it has quite a lot of useful properties. The ability to treat many diseases is due, first of all, to the presence of such components:

• Glycyrrhizic acid – stops the development of the inflammatory process, activates the function of the adrenal glands, prevents allergic reactions. The acid is able to block the biological synthesis of cholesterol, forming an insoluble compound with it (this is what causes the anti-sclerotic effect of the product).
• Flavonoids help reduce smooth muscle tone, eliminate spasms, stop the inflammatory reaction, and stabilize the permeability of vascular walls.
• Saponins (foaming agents) – improve the secretion of sputum mucus, have an astringent property, facilitate the process of coughing, disinfect, stop the development of inflammation.

In addition to medicine, licorice root is also used in cosmetology. For example, the plant is often included in the composition of "anti-aging" creams. Licorice is recommended for those who have problematic facial skin, pimples, acne, age spots and wrinkles.

Licorice root will also help your hair: the use of the plant is especially relevant for thinning, hair loss, and weakness.

Indications licorice root

Licorice root is widely used in clinical medicine due to its expectorant, enveloping and softening effect. First of all, the plant is used to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract, mainly with poorly separated, thick and viscous sputum, or with advanced inflammatory processes (which is typical for elderly patients).

Licorice root for cough is not the only use of the remedy. It can be prescribed for the treatment of stomach ulcers, gastritis with high acidity. Together with other medications, licorice is part of the treatment regimen for insufficient function of the adrenal cortex, Addison's disease (hypocorticism), systemic lupus erythematosus, allergic dermatitis.

Licorice root for dry cough promotes the fastest formation of secretion and ease of breathing, stopping debilitating coughing fits. The main indications for the use of licorice root in such situations are tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis. Treatment of such cough should be started as early as possible: licorice-based preparations will relieve irritation of mucous tissues, promote effective coughing, and speed up recovery.

Licorice root for wet, damp cough helps to speed up the evacuation of phlegm: mucus becomes more liquid and is removed faster and easier. Breathing becomes cleaner, wheezing and coughing disappear.

Licorice preparations are often used to treat bronchial asthma: the plant is able to eliminate bronchospasm, restore the function of external respiration, and reduce the number of eosinophils in the blood.

There are also known cases of non-standard use of the herbal remedy. For example, some women take licorice root for weight loss. This approach may be justified, because licorice is able to stabilize metabolism, improve metabolism, and normalize cholesterol levels in the blood. In addition, it has a mild laxative effect. It is recommended to use the plant in small amounts, and only in the form of infusions and decoctions: licorice syrup contains quite a lot of sugar, so it is not suitable for weight loss. It is also not recommended to use the drug for 3-4 degrees of obesity.

The use of the plant for cosmetic purposes should be considered separately. Licorice root helps with pigment spots on the face, first wrinkles, acne, acne rash: the action of the rhizome is due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and restorative properties. Pigment spots that appear on the body due to hormonal imbalances or during pregnancy can be successfully eliminated with licorice. This effect is explained by the hormone-like (corticosteroid-like) effect of the plant.

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Release form

Licorice root is produced in various forms:

• syrup, packaged in bottles (100 ml, 125 ml);
• crushed rhizomes in cardboard packages (50 g or 100 g);
• filter bags for brewing and making infusions (10 or 20 pieces per package).

In addition, licorice root for coughs can be taken in the form of infusions, decoctions, and tinctures prepared at home.

Licorice root in the form of cough syrup is the most common medicinal form based on this plant. The syrup is made from a thick extract of licorice root and sugar. Some manufacturers add an alcohol base to the composition. The product has a yellowish-brown color, a specific aroma and a peculiar cloying taste.

Cough tablets may contain licorice root only as a biologically active supplement. There are currently no medicinal preparations with licorice in tablets. Biologically active supplements (BAS) are not medicinal products, but they can be part of a comprehensive treatment for various disease states, at the discretion of the attending physician.

Licorice root tincture for cough is also not a drugstore product, but it can be easily prepared at home: the crushed root is poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1:5, kept in a dark place for three weeks, filtered. Store in glass bottles. Take as prescribed by a doctor, with a course of treatment of no more than 7-10 days.

Cough mixtures with licorice root can also have a combined composition, for example:

• Arida dry cough mixture (with licorice, marshmallow, ammonium chloride, anise oil);
• Bronchoflox tea (with licorice, elderberry, mint, plantain, thyme);
• Bronchophyte tincture, collection (with licorice, sage and chamomile, thyme and elderberry, nettle and calendula, linden and mint, calamus and marshmallow).

A decoction of licorice root for cough is prepared at home from raw materials collected by hand or purchased at a pharmacy. Crushed licorice root is sold in pharmacies in the form of collections (mono or complex mixtures), as well as in filter bags for brewing.

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Pharmacodynamics

Licorice root has gained popularity for coughs due to its many beneficial properties:

• promotes expectoration;
• stops the inflammatory process;
• restores damaged tissues;
• fights viruses and microbes;
• stimulates immune defense;
• relieves spasms.

When coughing, the anti-inflammatory and expectorant effects of the rhizome are especially important. Licorice is successfully used for respiratory diseases, the course of which is accompanied by poor secretion: in such cases, the root softens and liquefies phlegm, improving expectoration.

In addition to cough, licorice root can be prescribed for the treatment of stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, colitis (for these pathologies, the use of complex drug therapy is mandatory).

The cough effect of licorice root is explained by the presence of glycyrrhizin in the plant, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sugar. It is this substance that causes the specific sweetish taste of the plant's rhizome: its main function is to activate the ciliated epithelium in the respiratory tract, increasing secretion in the upper respiratory tract. Hydrolysis of glycyrrhizin is accompanied by the release of a special acid that has the ability to block the development of the inflammatory process.

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Pharmacokinetics

The kinetic properties of licorice root have not been studied.

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Dosing and administration

If you plan to take licorice root for cough, then syrup from the plant is best suited for this purpose. It is taken orally, after meals, up to 4 times a day. It is not advisable to dilute the product with water, but it is allowed to drink liquid (water, tea).

Adults and children over twelve years of age take 15 ml of licorice syrup at a time.

For younger children, the following dosages of the product are recommended:

• children 1-3 years old – 2.5 ml at a time;
• children 4-6 years old – up to 5 ml at a time;
• children 7-9 years old – up to 7.5 ml at a time;
• children 10-12 years old – up to 10 ml at a time.

The duration of treatment is determined for each patient individually: the nature, complexity and other characteristics of the course of the disease, as well as the tolerability of such treatment are taken into account.

• How to prepare licorice root for cough at home and how to drink it?

To prepare the decoction, you will need 2 tbsp. of crushed plant rhizomes and 200-250 ml of boiled water. Place the roots in a saucepan, add water, cover with a lid and heat in a water bath for 30 minutes. Let it brew for 15 minutes, then filter and top up the decoction with boiled water to 200 ml. Adults drink this decoction 2 tbsp. 30 minutes before meals, four times a day. Children can take the remedy 1-2 tsp. three or four times a day, depending on age.

To prepare the infusion, take 200 ml of boiling water and pour 1 tbsp. of licorice, keep under the lid for about 30 minutes, then filter. Adults can take the infusion 1/3 cup (50-60 ml) between meals, 3-4 times a day. Children are advised to take 1-3 teaspoons of the remedy three times a day.

It is even easier to prepare an infusion using special filter bags with crushed licorice root. It is enough to pour boiling water over 1-3 bags and leave for 20 minutes, then take the remedy according to the instructions.

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Application for children

Licorice root is actively used to relieve cough in children. The norms of use and the duration of treatment depend not only on the child's age and the characteristics of the disease, but also on the medicinal form in which licorice is supposed to be used.

A doctor should decide whether licorice root can be given to children for cough. If the drug contains alcohol additives, then its use in children under 1-2 years of age is highly undesirable. Syrups that do not contain alcohol can be offered to a child starting from the age of one year.

Licorice root can be offered to children under one year of age for cough in the form of a decoction or infusion, after conducting an allergy test. Only after making sure there is no hypersensitivity, begin treatment with licorice root-based products. The method of administration and dosage for small children should be discussed with a pediatrician.

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Use licorice root during pregnancy

Licorice root is absolutely contraindicated for use by pregnant patients. There are several reasons for this:

• Firstly, licorice root can affect the water-salt balance in the body, which is especially undesirable during pregnancy: it increases the risk of edema and such a dangerous complication as gestosis.
• Secondly, licorice root has quite pronounced hormonal activity, which is fraught with the threat of premature spontaneous termination of pregnancy.

Today, medicine has a sufficient number and variety of drugs that are allowed to be used to treat cough in pregnant women. However, licorice root, alas, is not one of these approved drugs.

Contraindications

Like any other drug, including those that have a plant base, licorice root has a number of contraindications for use:

• persistent increase in blood pressure, tendency to hypertension;
• frequent swelling of the body, insufficient kidney function;
• acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, other severe liver pathologies;
• heart failure;
• third-fourth degree obesity.

Any preparations containing licorice root should not be taken during pregnancy, as the plant affects estrogen levels, which can trigger hormonal imbalance. The same advice applies to the use of licorice root during breastfeeding.

Side effects licorice root

Licorice root can cause allergic reactions that manifest as rashes, itching, redness and swelling.

Long-term use of rhizome-based products, as well as the use of excessive doses of drugs, can lead to a disorder of water-salt balance. Signs of such a disorder are edema, hypokalemia, and in some patients, blood pressure increases, hypokalemic myopathy and myoglobinuria develop.

Harm from licorice syrup can manifest itself if taken in large quantities or uncontrollably. Some laxative effect of the root is often found in children: frequent stools are noted without any other painful symptoms. Due to the hormone-like effect of the plant, small patients may experience swelling (inflammation) of the mammary glands. And if the baby has problems with the endocrine system, then taking licorice root can aggravate them.

Sometimes patients complain that licorice root causes coughing. In fact, this is not entirely true. Due to the expectorant effect, the respiratory system activates the production of sputum, which has an irritating effect on the walls of the bronchi. This is what causes a slight increase in coughing: after all, the body needs to get rid of mucus, and with it, the infection. After some time, the condition returns to normal. If taking licorice root is accompanied by a rise in temperature, aggravation of other symptoms, then treatment should be suspended and you should consult your doctor.

Overdose

There are no reports of overdosage with licorice root for cough treatment. It is assumed that such a condition may manifest itself as an exacerbation and aggravation of side effects.

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Interactions with other drugs

In cases of hypokalemia, the condition may be aggravated if licorice root for cough is used together with cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic drugs, and quinidine.

It is not advisable to combine licorice root with medications that can cause hypokalemia. Such medications include thiazides, loop diuretics, adrenocorticosteroids, and laxatives. The combination of these medications can lead to electrolyte imbalance in the body.

When using other medications while taking licorice root, it is recommended to wait 30 minutes between taking different medications.

Is it possible to mix licorice root with mucaltin for cough? Theoretically, such a tandem is allowed if the licorice remedy does not contain alcohol additives (for example, a decoction, infusion, etc.). If you plan to take licorice root alcohol syrup with mucaltin, or an alcohol tincture, then it is advisable to maintain a half-hour interval between taking the two remedies.

You should not take licorice preparations at the same time as medications that suppress the cough reflex (for example, codeine-containing drugs).

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Storage conditions

Syrups with licorice root can be stored at normal room temperature, not exceeding +25°C. Infusions and decoctions that are supposed to be drunk during the day are preferably stored in the refrigerator.

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Shelf life

Licorice root in syrup form can be stored for up to 2 years. If the syrup does not contain alcohol, then after opening the bottle it must be consumed within six months. Alcohol syrup is stored until the expiration date indicated on the package.

Decoctions and infusions prepared at home are stored in a cool place for no more than 24 hours. A new fresh remedy should be prepared for each day.

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Analogues

The modern pharmaceutical industry sometimes surprises with the variety of different medications designed to fight cough. Even if the patient is confused when choosing a drug, the pharmacist will always be able to prompt and direct the person to the right medicine. Of course, you should not make such a choice on your own: it is better to get competent advice from a doctor.

But sometimes there are situations when it is not possible to take licorice root for a cough. And then you have to look for analogues of this remedy. What can replace it?

Herbal medicines are always preferable, because they are safe and well tolerated by patients of any age. In addition to licorice root, the following herbal preparations also have excellent expectorant properties:

• Medicines based on the ivy plant can also be used for any type of cough and at any age. The most famous drugs with ivy in the composition are Gerbion syrup, Prospan and Gedelix.
• Plantain has a good expectorant effect: it is prescribed even to pregnant women. Such drugs are presented in the pharmacy under the names " Eukabal ", Gerbion syrup with plantain, Doctor Theiss syrup of plantain.
• Thyme preparations have antimicrobial properties, soften and facilitate the secretion. The most popular preparations are Bronchicum, Doctor Theis Bronchosept, Tussamag. There are also combination preparations: Bronchipret (a combination of thyme and ivy), Gerbion primrose syrup (a combination of thyme and primrose), Pertussin (a combination of thyme and potassium bromide).
• Many remember the Althea preparations from childhood: this is the familiar to many Mucaltin and the similar Althea syrup. Such products are not only effective, but also economical for the family budget. Mucaltin can be used by both adults and children.

In addition, other time-tested remedies can be mentioned. For example, Pectusin, a combination drug based on eucalyptus oil and racementol, has good expectorant and antiseptic properties. It not only alleviates coughing, but also helps relieve pain from an irritated throat.

The course of treatment with the indicated medications can be calculated for several weeks. But if the cough does not stop within a week, or even gets worse, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Reviews

As the patients themselves claim, licorice root helps against cough faster if it is used at the very first signs of a respiratory disease. By the way, licorice is one of the most popular cough remedies used in pediatric practice. The plant can be called a universal drug, since it is used for dry cough - for the fastest transformation into a wet one, and for a wet one - to facilitate the separation of mucus.

Treatment of cough must necessarily include a set of drugs, in accordance with the cause of the disease. After all, we must not forget that licorice root helps to eliminate or alleviate an unpleasant symptom, but it is not able to suppress the infectious focus: additional help from an antibacterial or antiviral agent is required.

According to many parents, you should not be afraid to offer licorice root for a child's cough. However, the treatment should not be chaotic, long-term, and the dosage should be agreed upon with the pediatrician in advance. If everything is done correctly, the child will recover faster, and unpleasant consequences or complications can be avoided.

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