Family Name: Papilionaceae
Botanical Name(s): Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Popular Name(s): Licorice, Yashtimadhu, Mulathi, Liquorice,
Atimadhuram, Liquorice, Sweet Wood, Sweetwort
Parts Used: The dried roots are used
Habitat: It is a native of Mediterranean countries
Description: Licorice is a hardy herb or under shrub, usually of
2 m height. It is tall, erect and a perennial plant with light,
gracefully-spreading pinnate foliage and dark green lanceolate leaflets
that hang down at night and have violet to lavender color flower. The
roots are brown, long and cylindrical.
Uses: Licorice is used internally for asthma, bronchitis,
coughs, peptic ulcer, arthritis and allergic complaints and after
steroid therapy. It is said to accelerate the healing of peptic ulcers.
It is also used in Chinese medicine to revitalize the heart and for
coughing and wheezing as well as detoxifying the body and digestive