Chinese licorice root,
or "Gan Cao," has been popular for 5,000 years in China,
where it is sometimes called "the grandfather of herbs." Chinese
licorice root is said to revitalize the "Center" referring
to the "middle burning space." It is believed to drive
out all poisons and toxins from the system and to eliminate side-effects
from other herbs used with it. Gan Cao is said to aid all other
herbs in entering their respective meridians and is thus of tremendous
importance in the Chinese tonic herbal system. It is also believed
that licorice root will clean the meridians and allow Qi to flow
smoothly.
Licorice root is also used
throughout the Orient simply because it builds energy. It is now
known that this is at least partly due to its remarkable power
to regulate blood sugar balance. It is also widely used to sharpen
the power of concentration. Licorice root relieves abdominal pain
and congestion and benefits the functions of the abdominal organs.
It has been used successfully for a thousand years in cases of
anorexia, a symptom now a growing health problem in the West.
Chinese licorice root is
a very different herb from the Western variety of licorice. The
western variety can cause nervousness, an obviously undesirable
side-effect. To the contrary, Chinese licorice, is energizing but
calming, and does not have the side - effects associated with Western
licorice. So be sure to get the Chinese licorice root. Licorice
grows widely in northern China. Larger roots with smooth pulpy
texture are most desirable. If the root, when cut in cross sections,
is a rich yellow, it is of high quality. The sweeter the taste
the more effective the herb, since the sweetness reflects the quantity
of its most important active ingredient, glcyrrhizin.
In pharmaceutical tests,
it has been found that glycyrrhizin has a function similar to that
of adrenal cortical hormones. It is almost identical to the adrenal
steroids. Laboratory tests in China have demonstrated that extracts
of Radix Glcyrrhizin can help to eliminate or detoxify over 1,200
known toxins. This remarkable capacity as a detoxifying agent is
virtually unparalleled in the realm of pharmacology.
Preparation and Dosage: Licorice
root may be chewed raw, or may be cooked and used as a tea.
Most commonly, licorice root is used as an adjunct to other herbs,
which
are either boiled or the powder taken in capsule form. Licorice
root may be combined with ginseng in equal proportions and consumed
on a daily basis as a tea or capsule form. This is an excellent
whole-body tonic via the endocrine system. It is considered
a particularly excellent tonic for postpartum mothers.
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