licorice
Latin name: Clycyrrhiza glabra
Genus: Butterfly family
Plant description
Of the Licorice bush is one of the oldest medicinal plants and was already known to the Egyptians around 1300 BC. Licorice is perennial, becomes up to 1.5 m high and is anchored in the ground with a taproot and extensive roots. The leaves are oval to heart-shaped and taper to a point. Grape-like ones grow on the leaf axils blue-purple butterfly flowers. You get that from the roots dark brown liquorice juice from which the industry produces the well-known liquorice.
Flowering time: May to June.
Occurrence: Mediterranean countries, also cultivated there.
Plant parts used medicinally
The root, dug up in late autumn, washed, peeled and gently dried. By Boil and thicken the liquorice juice is obtained.
ingredients
Glycyrrhizin is the most important active ingredient and many times sweeter than sugar. In addition, sterols, flavonoids.
Medicinal effect and application
The drug works ejection-promoting, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. Applied to Catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract and at bronchitis, also at Inflammation of the lining of the stomach or duodenum with cramp-like symptoms.
Licorice alone is used less often. The drug is usually found in Tea mixtures against coughs and mucus.
preparation
Tea: A teaspoon of licorice root is poured over with a large cup of hot water, and more Heated to the boil for 5 minutes, screened. One can 2 to 3 cups a day drink when coughing sweetened with honey, at Stomach discomfort unsweetened.
Combination with other medicinal plants
Cough tea can be easily mixed with the following medicinal plants: 15g licorice root, 10g thyme herb, 10g Icelandic moss and 10g cowslip flowers.
One Magenta tea you prepare as follows: 20g licorice root, 20g Chamomile flowers, 10g Peppermint leaves and 10g Melissa leaves.
Preparation: Each 2 teaspoons a mixture is poured with ¼ l of boiling water, left Brew for 10 minutes, refrain. Cough tea sweetened with honey 2 to three cups a day. Unsweetened stomach tea before meals drink.
Side effects
At prolonged use of licorice root can be too Water retention and swelling of the face and ankles come.
The sodium excretion is reduced, the potassium excretion increased. Owing to increased potassium losses can the Effectiveness of heart medication be reinforced. Decreased sodium excretion can lead to increased blood pressure to lead.
So doctor for long-term use consult, no long-term self-treatment! Licorice root is said to be general no longer than 4 to 6 weeks be used, especially with higher doses caution is advised. A potassium-rich diet (Apricots, bananas).
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