Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

True to its Greek name, sweet root, licorice is 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice contains a remarkable chemical (glycyrrhetinic acid, or GA) with a broad range of benefits. But a bitter battle has erupted over the sweet root’s hazards.

Cough Remedy - Several studies support licorice’s ancient use as a cough remedy. GA has some cough-suppressant properties. In Europe, it’s used extensively in cough formulas.

Ulcers - Back in 1946, a Dutch pharmacist noticed that licorice candies and cough remedies were unusually popular with customers who had gastrointestinal ulcers. They told him licorice provided better, longer-lasting relief than other ulcer medicines. Intrigued, the phamacist published a report in a Dutch medical journal.

Soon studies published in Lancet and the Journal (If the American Medical Association showed concentrated GA extracted from licorice heals ulcers in both animals and people. Unfortunately, it also causes swelling of the ankles-a classic sign of water retention. Water retention is potentially serious. It can lead to elevated blood pressure, which can be dangerous for pregnant and nursing women and anyone with diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, heart disease, or a history of stroke.

By the late 1970s, mainstream medicine had an amazingly effective ulcer drug, cimetidine (Tagamet), currently one of the world’s most widely prescribed medications. How does GA stack up against Tagamet? Several studies compared the two. Tagamet was more effective for stomach ulcers, but the two were equally effective for small intestinal (duodenal) ulcers, with the licorice extract actually providing better protection against relapses. But GA water retention continued to be a problem.

As time passed, researchers learned why GA caused water retention. The chemical acts like the adrenal hormone aldosterone, which is involved in salt and water metabolism. Large amounts can cause a potentially serious condition (pseudoaldosteronism), symptoms of which include headache, lethargy, water retention, elevated blood pressure, and possibly heart failure.

Fortunately, scientists discovered they could retain licorice’s ulcer-Healing benefits but eliminate its hormonal side effects by removing 97 percent of its GA, creating a new herbal medicine, DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice).

As European and British journals published studies demonstrating DGL’s anti-ulcer effectiveness without serious side effects, American researchers, who had dismissed GA as too hazardous, took a second look. But during the late 1970s several studies using improperly prepared DGL delivered results that made the medicine appear to be totally ineffective against ulcers. These unfortunate results crushed interest in the United States. It turned out the ineffective DGL preparations released very little medicine (poor bioavailability).

Today, DGL holds little interest for most U.S. ulcer researchers, but European researchers continue to publish impressive results. A 12-week study of 874 duodenal-ulcer sufferers published in the Irish Medical Journal showed DGL healed their ulcers faster than Tagamet with no hormonal side effects.

If future studies corroborate these results, American physicians may one day use DGL to treat duodenal ulcers. In the meantime, ulcer sufferers interested in incorporating licorice into their treatment plans should discuss the herb with their physicians.

Arthritis - Licorice also has anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic properties. One study showed GA could be applied like hydrocortisone creams to treat skin inflammations, such as eczema. These findings led to studies showing licorice taken internally also has anti-inflammatory, specifically antiarthritic, effects. Arthritis sufferers interested in licorice should discuss the herb with their physicians.

Herpes - Licorice stimulates cell production of interferon, the body’s own antiviral compound, according to a study published in Microbiologlj and Immunologlj. Not surprisingly, other studies show it fights Herpes simplex virus, the cause of genital herpes and cold sores. Sprinkling some powdered licorice root on clean sores may help heal herpes.

Infection - Many laboratory studies show licorice also fights disease-causing bacteria (Staphljlococci and Streptococci) and the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections (Candida albicans). Sprinkling some powdered licorice root on clean wounds may help prevent infection.

Hepatitis - Cirrhosis. Chinese physicians have used licorice for centuries to treat liver problems. Asian studies show the herb helps control hepatitis and improve liver function in people with cirrhosis. Hepatitis and cirrhosis are serious conditions requiring professional care. If you’d like to try licorice for liver disease, discuss it with your physician.

Intriguing Possibility - Immune stimulation may help explain licorice’s antitumor activity against cancerous melanomas in experimental animals. It’s too early to call the herb a treatment for these tumors, but in the future it might become one.

Rx for Licorice - To help prevent wound infection, sprinkle powdered licorice on minor wounds after washing them with soap and water. It can also be used in this way on herpes sores, but check with your physician before doing so.

To help soothe a sore throat, add a pinch of sweet-tasting licorice to any herbal beverage tea.

If you want to take advantage of licorice’s more powerful Healing action-against liver disease, ulcers, or arthritisdiscuss the herb with your physician. To make a possible infection-fighting decoction, gently boil ½ teaspoon of powdered herb per cup of water for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups a day.

In a tincture, use ½ to I teaspoon up to twice a day. Licorice should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.