apt to sicken the stomach or even produce vomiting from its relaxing character.
DOSE: 1 pound of licorice root boiled in 3 pints of water, reduced by boiling to 1 quart, is an all-purpose
decoction; 1 teaspoonful three times a day. 1 teaspoonful of the dried root to 1 cup of boiling water can be
taken as a herbal tea, made fresh daily. Of the tincture, ½–1 fluidram.
RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE: Solodka gladkaya, smooth (polished) licorice, grows in many parts of Russia. It is
used for commercial, industrial, and medical purposes. Folk medicine: Domestically very old medicine
for cough, bronchitis, stomachic, including ulcers, diuretic for inflammation of kidney and bladder,
chronic constipation. Clinically: Preparations as extracts, powders, and syrups are used for a variety of
compounds, not only for its aromatic and sweetening properties; of late, clinically useful for regulating
water and salt metabolism (Medicina, Moscow, 1965). Externally: An ointment for eczema, psoriasis,
redness of skin, is made by adding 2 percent licorice juice to an antibiotic formula (Saratov University
1962). Industrial: Licorice is collected with tractors, transported by trainload, and exported by shipload
for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The uses are many: sweetening and flavoring in the candy and
canning industries: in soft drinks, beer, and liquor; by tobacco houses for taste and appeal in chewing
tobacco; in fire extinguishers, as it foams when mixed with water.
INDIAN EXPERIENCE: Jethi madh, madhoka, mithi lakdi are a few of the common names for licorice in
India. It grows wild in the northern and western sections of India and Pakistan. Folk medicine: Generally
used in doses of 10–30 grains for dysuria, throat conditions, hoarseness, of voice, bronchitis, coughs,
asthma, etc.; for catarrhal conditions of bowel, kidney, and bladder. Clinically: Alterative, expectorant,
emollient, demulcent, laxative, pectoral, sweet tonic, stomachic. In pharmacy the syrup is used for all
compounds that require aromatics and sweeteners.