Why Drink Licorice Tea?

Of all herbal teas, licorice tea is arguably one of the most beneficial yet under-appreciated. Why drink licorice tea? Here are 10 of the benefits of licorice tea as reported by herbalists and other natural therapists:

A mild laxative, licorice tea can relieve constipation.

Licorice tea has anti-inflammatory properties that may ease the pain of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

It helps protect the stomach lining and is recommended for use for those who use medications that may damage the mucous membrane in the stomach. Ask your health care provider before taking licorice tea with other medications. It can inhibit the effectiveness of some and may cause an adverse reaction

Licorice is an expectorant and can be of benefit in treating bronchial disorders.

Studies have shown that licorice helps the liver neutralise toxins and can be beneficial in treating liver disorders such as hepatitis.

Licorice tea has anti-spasmodic properties.

Licorice is often recommended by herbalists as a substitute for St. Johns Wort as a treatment for depression.

It is reported to significantly ease pre-menstrual tension (PMS).

Licorice tea is used to treat low blood pressure.

Licorice is believed to fight the formation of plaque in blood vessels and may help prevent heart disease. That's quite a list and only covers some of the better known benefits of licorice tea. Licorice root is said to be so powerful, many health care practitioners recommend that its use be limited to 3 cups a day for a period of no more than four weeks. Some of the side effects of drinking too much licorice tea include:

Extended use of licorice tea can cause a sodium build-up in the body, which can lead to high blood pressure. Overuse can lead to mild edema (swelling) in the face and ankles. A diuretic and laxative, too much licorice tea can upset normal bowel functions. Licorice in Traditional Medicine Licorice is part of our world traditional medical history. In addition to being an important herbal remedy in traditional Western medicine, it has been used in both Indian Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):

The Roman legions used licorice to help increase stamina and endurance. They also used it because its water retention properties helped them survive longer without water.

In Ayurvedic medicine, licorice is used alone and in combination with ginger and/or cardamom as a general tonic in addition to its use for the treatment of many of the conditions mentioned above. Combined with milk, it is believed to be a sexual tonic. Licorice is considered a "first class" medicine in TCM because it helps preserve life.

Why drink licorice tea? Not only is it almost universally believed to be one of nature's best medicines, it tastes delicious. If you like sweet beverages, but want to wean yourself off sugar, substitute a cup of licorice tea for a sugar-sweetened beverage or add a little licorice root to your favourite herbal blend. Licorice contains a natural sweetener, glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times as sweet as sucrose. Take care, though, and limit your intake of licorice to one or two cups per day and if you want to use it for medicinal purposes, use it under supervision of a health care professional. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing" and licorice can have unwanted side effects if overused.

Source: http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/why_drink_licorice_tea

More information about licorice tea http://www.licoricetea.org/
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