Licorice, a herbaceous plant, is very beneficial for health and skin. Licorice, also called Glycyrrhiza glabra in scientific language and mulethi in common usage gives a sweet flavoring smell. Found in northern Africa, southern Europe and western Asia, licorice is extracted from the Fabaceae flowering plant. It has several medicinal properties, due to which it is used in several medicines. This article will tell you all the benefits of licorice for health, skin and hair and how to use it for maximum benefit.
Benefits of using licorice:
Licorice can give several benefits to your health, which are mentioned below:
- It has several antioxidants, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties:
Licorice is very beneficial for health because it has several antioxidant and antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to all these properties, it is called Yashtimedhu in Ayurveda and used for various ailments. Mulethi or licorice is also rich in proteins, carbohydrates and antibiotics.
- Helpful in curing skin problems:
Licorice is beneficial in curing skin problems due to its antiviral and antibacterial properties. It can significantly reduce acne and eczema problems. It can reduce sunspots on the skin and brighten your skin. If you apply licorice daily on sunspots and pigmented areas, you will get smooth and bright skin.
It is also helpful in reducing wrinkles and early aging. If you use licorice, the free radicals that harm the skin are blocked, leading to a youthful appearance.
- Helpful for hairs
Licorice prevents various hair problems like dandruff, hair fall, frizziness etc. Licorice boosts blood circulation to the scalp and nourishes it, which adds shine to your hair. It can treat dandruff with its antibacterial properties. By promoting oxygen supply to the hair, licorice can also help hair growth and early greying of hair. So, if you want, shining long black hair, licorice is a one stop solution.
- Helpful in the digestion problems:
According to studies, licorice is helpful in the digestion problems. It can significantly help in curing excessive acid in the stomach and indigestion. According to one research, it can help in preventing peptic ulcers in the stomach. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can help in curing this dangerous problem.
- Helpful in respiratory problems and contain anti-cancer properties:
Licorice is advantageous in certain kinds of cancer due to its various properties. Licorice slows down the growth of cancer cells and therefore prevents cancer in the body.
Similarly, it can aid in various respiratory problems due to its antimicrobial properties. According to research, if it is used with asthma treatment, then asthma attacks can be reduced to a greater extent. If anyone has a cough problem, elders often give them licorice to chew because it can relax the sore throat.
- Role in preventing tooth cavities:
Licorice is also beneficial for preventing tooth cavities caused by bacteria. This is why some people chew licorice, and toothpaste brands use licorice powder as its antibacterial properties treat cavities. This also gives a good breath by preventing bad odor from your mouth.
- Other benefits: Besides all the benefits as mentioned above of licorice, it can be helpful in the below-mentioned problems:
- Curing diabetes: one study claims that licorice intake can normalize blood sugar level and help cure diabetes.
- Weight loss: It can also help in weight loss by lowering body mass Index as you feel full after consuming it.
- Treating Hepatitis C and menopause symptoms:
The antiviral properties in licorice reduce the HEPATITIS C virus spread in the body. It can also help in reducing the severity of menopause symptoms like hot flashes.
Uses of licorice:
Licorice has been used since Egyptian times for treating several health problems.
Licorice can be consumed in the form of liquid supplements or capsules available in the market. You can also use licorice tea (a combination of water, licorice and grated ginger). Being a sweet flavoured herb, some people also use it for adding sweet flavor to beverages and food items.
To use in routine, one can make a mulethi or licorice powder through the following steps:
- Purchase some mulethi roots from the market
- Clean them properly so that all dust and impurities are removed.
- Break these mulethi roots into smaller parts.
- Please keep them in the sun for at least a week and let them dry.
- Check if all the moisture is gone. If there is no moisture left, you can easily convert it in powder form by grinding.
- Put this powder into a sieve and strain all the impurities out.
- Once you have prepared this powder, store it in an airtight container and keep it in a cool place. Use it at your convenience.
Using it for skin:
Apply this powder to the skin, mix it with honey and add lemon juice to this thick paste. You can also add rosewater. Apply this paste on your face correctly and after twenty-five minutes, wash with cool water. You will see fantastic results if you repeat it twice a week.
Using licorice for hair:
To get hair benefits, mix five spoons of Mulethi powder, 1 cup curd and two scoops of olive oil. Massage your hair and scalp with this paste and after 15-20 min, wash with lukewarm water. You will see excellent results.
Precautions
According to experts, one should not consume excessive licorice because it can lead to excessive amounts of pure glycyrrhetinic acid in the body, which can further lead to increased blood pressure, hypokalemia and muscle weakness.
Also, one must use licorice carefully in pregnancy. If it is taken excessively during pregnancy, it can cause abnormalities in the child. Therefore, pregnant and breastfeeding ladies should be considerate in taking licorice.
Besides this, if someone is taking medications for blood pressure, colostral etc., he must consult doctors before taking licorice because licorice can interfere with the effectiveness of these medicines.
Rounding up:
Licorice is one of the oldest herbs that gives immense benefits to your body. It is beneficial for hair, skin and various other body parts. So, you must use it on your daily route. To get the best results, you can use the mentioned tips. Just make sure that you are taking the appropriate quantity of licorice.