What are the effects and functions of raw licorice?

Any Chinese herbal medicine has certain effects in the treatment of diseases. Therefore, when we are sick, if we want to choose some Chinese herbal medicine for treatment, we must make corresponding choices. This way, there will be no harm to the health of the body. The effects and functions of raw licorice are also in many aspects, and the effect in treating some diseases is also very good.

What are the effects and functions of raw licorice ? The following is a detailed introduction so that you can have a better understanding of this Chinese herbal medicine and know how to use it best when choosing it. This way it will not harm your health. Especially since it has a wide range of uses, you should pay attention to this point, otherwise it will be harmful to your health.

In fact, licorice is a very common and widely used Chinese herbal medicine, but ancient Chinese medicine has conducted in-depth research on the effects and functions of licorice, so much so that licorice is honored as the "national elder." So what are the functions and effects of this powerful Chinese herbal medicine?

Licorice, also known as honey grass, is named for its sweet taste. It has been known as "magic grass" and "national elder" since ancient times. Licorice is the dried roots and rhizomes of the perennial herbaceous plants of the Leguminosae family, including Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. It is mainly produced in northern China, and those produced in Inner Mongolia, Gansu and other places are famous.

Licorice has a long history of being used as medicine. As early as more than 2,000 years ago, "Shennong's Herbal Classic" listed it as a top-grade medicine. Tao Hongjing, a medical scientist in the Southern Dynasties, revered licorice as "Guo Lao" and said: "This herb is the king of all medicines, and there are few traditional Chinese medicines that do not use it." "Guo Lao" is the title of imperial teacher. Licorice is regarded as the "emperor teacher" of medicines for the following reason: Li Shizhen explained in Compendium of Materia Medica: "Licorice is the king of all medicines. It can cure 72 kinds of milk stone poisons, resolve 1,200 kinds of plant poisons, and has the merit of harmonizing various medicines. Therefore, it is called 'national elder'."

Licorice is mild in nature, sweet in taste, and enters the twelve meridians. It has pharmacological effects such as detoxification, expectorant, analgesic, antispasmodic and even anti-cancer. In traditional Chinese medicine, licorice nourishes the spleen and replenishes qi, relieves coughs and moistens the lungs, relieves urgency and detoxifies, and harmonizes hundreds of medicines. Clinical application is divided into "raw use" and "honey roasting". When used raw, it is mainly used to treat sore throat, painful carbuncles, gastrointestinal ulcers, and to detoxify and food poisoning.

Licorice is sweet and slightly cold when used raw, but slightly warm when roasted. It enters the spleen, stomach, heart, and lung meridians. It can nourish the heart and spleen, relieve pain, harmonize the properties of medicines, purge heat and detoxify, and moisten the lungs and relieve cough. Tao Hongjing, a medical scientist in the Southern Dynasties, said: "This herb is the master of all medicines. Few traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions do not use it, just like agarwood among incense." Li Shizhen further explained the properties of licorice in his Compendium of Materia Medica. "Its properties can slow down the speed of action, and it can harmonize with other medicines so that they do not compete with each other. Therefore, hot medicines can use it to slow down the heat, cold medicines can use it to slow down the cold, and it can balance out mixed heat and cold medicines."

Through the above introduction, we have some understanding of the effects and functions of raw licorice. However, it should be noted that when choosing such medicines, they must be used according to the doctor's advice. They cannot be used at will, as this will have side effects on both the treatment of diseases and physical health.