Licorice Tea and Heartburn

Licorice is a favorite for both children and adults. Who doesn't like to chew on a nice stick of licorice candy; but don't get the candy mixed up with the real thing. Most licorice candy is artificially flavored. Licorice is a fragrant herb that is readily available and easy to use.

Historically licorice has been used in Europe and Asia for thousands of years. Some of the conditions it was used for included digestive complaints, bronchitis, osteoarthritis, inflammation, sore throat, cough and skin conditions. It has been used  to get  rid of excess phlegm and has been used for peptic ulcers and canker sores. .

Licorice can be used in herbal form, as a supplement, a syrup, and as a tea. Usually the root is the part of the plant that is used. One very popular use for licorice is relieving heartburn. Heartburn happens when acid from the stomach comes back up in the esophagus causing a burning sensation. A nice cup of licorice tea after dinner can possibly help this condition.

Using licorice comes with some cautions. Be sure to use deglycyrrhizinated licorice. The glycyrrhizic acid may cause sodium retention, high blood pressure and potassium loss. Do not use  licorice for more than 4 weeks without taking a break. Using it longer can cause weakness, and decreased sexuality in men. It is considered unsafe for pregnant women because it can cause miscarriage. Do not take licorice if you are taking Coumadin.

Licorice tea is easy to make and can be combined with ginger, mint, vanilla, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and many other things. Get creative and try your own combinations. Licorice tea is available online in  tea bags  if you want convenience. Here is a recipe for ginger  licorice tea.tea

Ginger Licorice Tea

1 Cup of slivered licorice root
1 Finger length of Ginger
 3 Cups of water

Crush the ginger. You can use a cleaver for this.
Place everything in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
Drain and serve warm.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-881-licorice.aspx?activeingredientid=881
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/licorice
http://www.refluxmd.com/home-remedy-for-heartburn/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/110565-dgl-licorice-acid-reflux/

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Valerie Lull
Author
www.valerielull.com
valerielull923@gmail.com