Liquorice is one of those herbs which inspires strong feelings in people. They either love it or hate it.
I have never been a fan of liquorice candy, but the first time I tasted a good liquorice tea, I was hooked.
The taste was amazing, but I also really enjoyed the smooth feeling as it went down. My chest and nose felt really clear, which for someone like me who has a lot of allergies that cause sneezing and coughing, felt like a miracle.
I felt like I had discovered something that I had to share.
The first type of liquorice tea I tried and used for years, was a tea bag type. I liked it, but one thing I noticed with most tea bag teas, was that the flavour was weak and the effect of the herbs wasn’t strong enough for medicinal purposes. So I went looking for the liquorice root with the best flavour to make a loose blend.
My Liquorice Lovers blend is the fruit of that labour, as well as countless trial tastings by my family and people at markets.
What is Liquorice and why is it so good?
Liquorice root is from the plant called Glycyrrhiza Glabra . Recorded history shows that as far back as ancient Egypt, liquorice root was used as a tea for its medicinal and flavour value. It also has a long history in Western Herbal Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Liquorice is Good For Your Stomach
Liquorice has long been a treatment for gastrointesinal troubles. It aids in the repair of the stomach lining and feeds the good bacteria which are in the protective mucous lining of the stomach. The glycyrhizzic acid in liquorice root reduces inflammation and supports the immune system, helping the stomach to heal from food poisoning, stomach ulcers, and viruses. Glycyrrhizic acid can also suppress the bacteria heliobacter pylori, which is responsible for stomach ulcers. Gastritis and heartburn also improve while taking liquorice root tea.
How Liquorice Helps Your Lungs
Liquorice treats respiratory problems by flushing the lungs, bronchial tubes and nose with clean mucous, clearing out old, sticky mucous which may be harbouring an infection of pathogenic bacteria. The flushing with clean mucous lubricates the respiratory system allowing healing, as well as promoting long term health.
Liquorice Supports the Adrenal system
Your adrenal glands can become exhausted during long periods of stress, constantly producing cortisol and adrenaline. Liquorice nourishes the adrenal gland and supports it to function well.
How Your Skin and Mouth Benefit from Liquorice
The soothing properties of liquorice can be used topically to soothe eczema and other skin complaints as well as taking internally as tea or a supplement to promote healthy skin.
The lining of the mouth is another mucous membrane that benefits from the soothing properties of liquorice, as well as its ability to feed good bacteria and suppress bad bacteria. Liquorice helps with the healing of mouth ulcers as well as being used with success to suppress the development of cavities in teeth.
Liquorice’s Role In Blocking Viruses
Liquorice has been shown in studies to inhibit viral activity by interfering with virus replication and preventing viral attachment and entry to cells. It also stimulates the body’s own lymphocytes to attack the virus.
Liquorice Kills Fungi
There are at least 25 chemicals in liquorice root that are known to be antifungal. Candida growing in the digestive tract can be killed and prevented from regrowing by daily use of liquorice tea, internally. A paste of liquorice powder and coconut or other safe oil can be made for topical use to kill yeast infections growing on the skin and liquorice root can be simmered and the liquid used as a douche for the private areas.
How Much Liquorice Should I Take?
Liquorice is strong medicine. It’s recommended to take no more than one cup of pure liquorice tea per day. This is equal to 240 ml., or 8 oz, made with approximately 15 grams of liquorice root. The reason its consumption should be limited is that too much liquorice can cause an imbalance in the amount of potassium in your body. Overdoing it on liquorice can cause muscle weakness, heartbeat irregularity and high blood pressure. If consuming a blend that only contains a small amount of liquorice, then a few cups a day should be perfectly fine. If you are concerned, please consult your health care professional. You can also message us and we can share the information we have on the subject. Our Liquorice Lovers blend contains one quarter liquorice root and is our strongest liquorice blend. We recommend no more than three full strength cups of Liquorice Lovers per day. Other of our blends which contain a significant amount of liquorice are Peace Love and Ginger, Lemon Balm Mint Drop, Moroccan Mint Spice Green Tea, Elderflower Throat Soother, Elderberry Immune Boost, Breathe Easy, Sarsaparilla Detox, Radiant Skin, Cranberry Flush. Three to four cups of these per day is unlikely to cause any issues.
If you have hypertension, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is recommended to avoid taking liquorice root internally, however you may use it on the skin as a topical wash for eczema or candida.