What are the effects and functions of raw licorice

We are very familiar with licorice because we have all eaten licorice tablets, but are licorice tablets and raw licorice the same? What are the functions of the raw licorice we usually talk about? Or what effect does raw licorice have on our body? However, this kind of grass has unexpected effects. But we should understand its effects and functions. Let’s take a look at the effects and functions of raw licorice.

Licorice has detoxifying, expectorant, analgesic and antispasmodic effects. It nourishes the spleen and replenishes Qi, nourishes cough and moistens the lungs, relieves urgency and detoxifies, and harmonizes hundreds of medicines.

Replenish Qi and strengthen the middle; relieve acute and stop pain; moisten the lungs and stop coughing; purge fire and detoxify; harmonize various medicines. It is mainly used for fatigue, poor appetite, thin muscles and sallow complexion, palpitations and shortness of breath, abdominal pain and loose stools, cramps and pain in the limbs, irritability, cough and asthma, sore throat, sore and swollen carbuncles, fetal toxicity in children, and drug and food poisoning. It is used for spleen and stomach weakness, fatigue, palpitations and shortness of breath, cough with excessive sputum, cramps and pain in the abdomen and limbs, carbuncles and sores, and to relieve the toxicity and potency of drugs.

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 cough 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, food poisoning, etc.; when roasted with honey, it is mainly used to treat decreased spleen and stomach function, loose stools, fatigue, fever, cough, palpitations, etc.

Licorice is used for heart qi deficiency, palpitations, irregular pulse, as well as spleen and stomach qi deficiency, fatigue, etc. The former is often used in combination with cinnamon twig, such as Guizhi Gancao Decoction and Zhigancao Decoction. The latter is often used together with Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, etc., such as Sijunzi Decoction and Lizhong Pills. Used for asthma and cough. It can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. For example, Erchen Decoction is used to treat cough caused by damp phlegm; Linggan Wuwei Jiangxin Decoction is used to treat cough and asthma caused by cold phlegm; Sangxing Decoction is used to treat cough caused by dry phlegm; Platycodon Decoction is used to treat cough and spit of fishy and purulent phlegm caused by heat toxicity; and Gancao Ganjiang Decoction is used to treat cough and spit of saliva.

We have a deep understanding of the effects and functions of raw licorice. We are not unfamiliar with licorice, but apart from knowing that it can relieve cough, we don’t know anything else about it. However, now we have a great understanding, and we know the effects of licorice very clearly. I believe that after reading this article, we will know more about this Chinese medicine.