Licorice Root Powder

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) powder made from the roots

What is Licorice?

Licorice belongs to the legume family. Like all plants of this genus, licorice bears the typical blossoms, varying from white to bluish-violet. This herbaceous plant can be found in its wild form across Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia, as well as North and South America. It prefers loose, humus-rich soil and full sunlight to thrive. Under optimal conditions, licorice can grow up to two meters high and one meter wide. With its thick, fleshy roots, it penetrates up to one meter deep into the soil. From the primary root, rhizomes spread out, sometimes extending up to eight meters in length.

Our products are made exclusively from licorice roots, as they contain the highest spectrum of active compounds. We place great importance on absolute purity and sustainability of our raw materials.

The long tradition of this healing plant

As early as ancient Egypt, licorice was revered and used as a medicinal plant. Theophrastus of Eresos described its positive effects on the upper respiratory system in 350 BC, stating that licorice helped with conditions ranging from persistent coughs to chronic bronchial hypersensitivity.

Indigenous peoples of the American continents also valued licorice. They used it not only as a sweetener but also as a tonic. Especially for ailments of the digestive system, licorice was widely used – from toothaches and sore throats to stomach and intestinal pain.

For around 3,000 years, licorice has also been part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Known there as Gan Cao, the sweet root is mainly used to strengthen the so-called Qi. Qi is not easy to translate into Western terms, as it represents not just life force but a comprehensive life energy. According to TCM, toxins, infections, and inflammations disrupt this energy. Licorice is therefore prescribed for a variety of imbalances to restore the flow of Qi.

In Ayurveda, licorice root is highly valued for its cooling and revitalizing properties. Practitioners often use it to combat fatigue and restore balance to the body’s energy points. According to Ayurveda, licorice primarily brings the energies of the liver, bladder, and lungs back into harmony.

In the Western world, licorice is best known for its use in making licorice candy. Today, its constituents are well-researched. The roots are rich in triterpenoid saponins and contain particularly high concentrations of glycyrrhizin. This natural plant compound is said to have anti-inflammatory and protective properties, especially beneficial to mucous membranes. Other important compounds include flavonoids and coumarin. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that help the body defend itself, while coumarin is regarded as calming, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory.

Licorice is also mentioned in the book “Herbal Antivirals” by Stephen Harrod Buhner – a well-known source in the field of herbal medicine (Buhner herbs).

Ingredients

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), root

Note

We offer this powder as a plant-based raw material (food grade) without a specified purpose.