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| Licorice (Mulethi) |
What is licorice ( Mulethi )?
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| Licorice plant |
Licorice or Liquorice is a root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, which is a Latin name. It has a purple or bluish color flowers. It is mostly found in Asian and European countries. Licorice root is mostly used in the raw or peeled form. It is also used in ground or powder form.
Its extract is made by boiling, thickening, and straining it in water. this extract is known as rub-u-soos in Unani medicine. taste of licorice is sweet with mild bitterness.
Benefits and Properties
According to Unani medicine licorice ( Mulethi ) have the following benefits and properties:
Make Humor excretable
Quench the thirst
Relieves pain
Laxative
Anti-inflammatory
Expectorant
Cough control
Help in lungs problems
Cleansing (topically)
Anti-bacterial ( topically )
Carminative
Diuretic
Anti amenorrhea
Nervine tonic
Chronic fevers
How to use it?
Licorice ( Mulethi ) can be used in many health problems, like:
coughing
expectorant
asthma
stomach and peptic ulcer
indigestion
heartburn
cleansing and whitening face mask
mouth ulcers ( canker sores )
teeth
eczema
pimples ( papules and pustules)
burns
liver problems
dysmenorrhea
menopause
Now let's see how to use it for these problems.
expectorant
asthma
stomach and peptic ulcer
indigestion
heartburn
cleansing and whitening face mask
mouth ulcers ( canker sores )
teeth
eczema
pimples ( papules and pustules)
burns
liver problems
dysmenorrhea
menopause
Now let's see how to use it for these problems.
Coughing:
For usual coughing take a piece of licorice root. Keep it in mouth, now chew and suck it. it will stop and control your cough.
Wet or productive Cough and Asthma:
For this, you need these ingredients:
Licorice root or licorice powder one teaspoon
Water one cup
USE:
Add licorice in water and boil it. When it is boiled strain it with a clean cloth. When water becomes lukewarm drink it. Take this medicine twice a day before 30 minutes of the meal. It is a very effective remedy for both wet cough and asthma.
Stomach and Peptic ulcer, Indigestion and Heartburn:
Ingredients:
Licorice Powder one teaspoon
Tragacanth gum ( Gond Katira ) half teaspoon
Use:
Blend both the ingredients. And have it before 30 minutes of meal twice a day with lukewarm water. It is good for digestive system problems like stomach and peptic ulcer, indigestion, and heartburn.
Licorice powder - one teaspoon
Honey - one tablespoon
Mix both ingredients. And take it before thirty minutes of the meal with lukewarm water twice a day. it will relieve your pain due to dysmenorrhea and menopause.
Licorice helps in many health problems. But it has some side-effects too. So while using licorice keep these things in mind:
Licorice lowers the potassium level in blood. So if you have low potassium in the blood use it cautiously.
licorice can raise your blood pressure. So if you have a high blood pressure problem avoid using it or use it carefully.
Licorice is anticoagulant means it slow down the blood clotting process. So if any patient has any blood clotting problem or using any medicine which has the anticoagulant property use it carefully. And it's better to stop using licorice two weeks before any surgery.
If you have any Renal or spleen disease, it's better not to use licorice. As it is not recommended for weak kidneys and can increase your problem.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid it or use it carefully.
Cleansing and Whitening Mask:
Ingredients:
Licorice powder - two tablespoon
Turmeric powder - half teaspoon
Clean Water - as required ( If you have dry skin you can use milk instead of water.)
Use:
Mix all the ingredients and make a paste. Apply the paste at your face and neck. Leave it for fifteen to twenty minutes to dry. Now wash it with lukewarm water. Use this mask once or twice a week for better results. It will make your face clean and glowing.
Mouth Ulcers ( Canker Sores ):
Ingredients:
Licorice root or licorice powder - One teaspoon
Clean water - One cup
Use:
Add licorice in water and boil it. When it is boiled strain it with a clean cloth.When water becomes warm gargle with it. This simple remedy will heal your mouth ulcers ( canker sores ) soon.
Teeth:
Leave it for a whole night. In the morning chew the dipped side slowly and slightly. That side of the stick will become toothbrush like bristles. Now use this for five minutes at least twice a day. It will clean, strengthen and protect your teeth.
Eczema and Pimples ( Papules and Pustules):
Ingredients:
Licorice powder: as needed
Clean Water: as needed
Use:
mix licorice powder in water and made a paste. Apply that paste in the affected area. This paste will help to heal your eczema and pimples
Burn
Ingredients:
licorice powder as needed
coconut oil as needed
Use:
Blend both ingredients to make a paste. Apply that paste after cleaning your burn. It will heal your burn soon and relieve the pain.
Liver problems ( jaundice and hepatitis )
Ingredients
Licorice powder half teaspoon
Lemon juice two tablespoon
Honey one tablespoon
Clean Water 250 ml
Use
Add lemon juice and honey in water and stir to make lemonade. Take licorice with lemonade. Take this medicine twice a day before thirty minutes of a meal. It will reduce heat in the liver and helps to treat your liver problems.
Dysmenorrhea and Menopause
Ingredients:
Licorice powder - one teaspoon
Honey - one tablespoon
Use
Mix both ingredients. And take it before thirty minutes of the meal with lukewarm water twice a day. it will relieve your pain due to dysmenorrhea and menopause.
Side effects and Contradictions
Licorice helps in many health problems. But it has some side-effects too. So while using licorice keep these things in mind:
Lower potassium level
Licorice lowers the potassium level in blood. So if you have low potassium in the blood use it cautiously.
High blood pressure
licorice can raise your blood pressure. So if you have a high blood pressure problem avoid using it or use it carefully.
Cardiac or heart problems
Licorice retains water in the body. Which can be dangerous for the cardiac patient as it can increase the risk of heart failure.Anticoagulant:
Licorice is anticoagulant means it slow down the blood clotting process. So if any patient has any blood clotting problem or using any medicine which has the anticoagulant property use it carefully. And it's better to stop using licorice two weeks before any surgery.
Gastric problems.
Licorice is very effective in gastric and digestive problems but for some people, it can create gastric problems in that case. If that's the case stop using it.Kidneys and spleen:
If you have any Renal or spleen disease, it's better not to use licorice. As it is not recommended for weak kidneys and can increase your problem.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid it or use it carefully.
Using for a long time
Regular use of licorice can be harmful. So it's better to give a break of one week after using it for two weeks continuously.
Not good for children
Licorice can be harmful to children. So it's better to avoid it for children age 12 or less than 12.
Antidote/ Musleh
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| Tragacanth gum ( Gond katira ) |
To reduce the adverse effects of licorice use it with Tragacanth gum / Gond Katira.
Patients who have any spleen problem use dry rose petals with it.
Alternative/ Badal
There is no appropriate alternative to licorice. But people who have chest problems can use Tragacanth gum.
Dosage
According to the age and condition of the patient three to six grams of licorice can be used.
Temperament / Mizaj / Taseer
Unani scholars and practitioners have conflict over the temperament of licorice. For some, it is hot at level 1 and dry at level 1. And for others, it is hot at level 1 and wet at level 1. But in Ayurveda it's temperament is cold.
Various names
Botanical or Latin: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Urdu: Mulethi
Hindi and Sanskrit: Yasht Matho or Jeti Mathoo
English: licorice or Liquorice
Arabic: Asal u soos
Persian ( Farsi ): Baikh e Mehak
Chinese: Gancao
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