Yashti Madhu - Adhimadhuram

Botanical Name: Glycyrrhiza Glabra
English: Licorice, Liquorice, Sweetwood
Sanskrit: Yashti madhu,Madhuka
Hindi: Mulhatti, Jothimadhu
Tamil: Adhimadhuram
Malayalam: Iratimadhuram
Kannada: Yastimadhuka, Atimaddhura
Telugu: Atimadhuranu, Yashtimadhukam 
Bengali: Jashtimadhu, Jaishbomodhu
Gujarat: Jethimadhu
Marathi: Jeshtamadha 
Oriya: Jatimadhu

Licorice is an expectorant and liquifies mucus, thereby relieving muscle spasms and reducing inflammation.
With ginger it is good for cold. It improves voice, vision, hair, and complexion.

Part used : Roots

Energetics :
- Rasa (taste): Sweet, Bitter
- Virya (action): Cooling
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Sweet
- Guna (quality): Heavy (to digest), Moist

Liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a purple and white flowering perennial, native of the Mediterranean region and central and southwest Asia. It is cultivated widely for the sweet taproot that grows to a depth of four feet (1.2 m).  In India, it is cultivated widely in Punjab and the sub-Himalayan tracts. Dried liquorice roots are available in all Indian bazaars.

Hippocrates named the herb glukos riza, or sweet root. The Sanskrit name yashti , meaning ‘stem, stalk; and madhu, meaning ‘sweet’. At all times, liquorice was used less as a spice than as a medicine. Its use against the diseases of the upper respiratory tract dates back to ancient Egypt. The main part of the plant used in medicine is the root. This root is a demulcent and gentle relaxant, soothing to mucous irritations, and valued chiefly for its sweet taste and in masking the sharpness / pungency / taste of other remedies. Ayurveda recommends the root as beneficial in the treatment of coughs, colds, and other bronchial irritations. The root may be chewed as throat lozenges; or prepared as infusions by removing the outer bark and boiling for several minutes, to relieve hoarseness and coughs. During Charaka’s period, it was popular among singers as a lozenge.

Powdered liquorice is also considered by Ayurvedic medicine as an excellent remedy for hyperacidity, and clinical tests prove that it is good for relieving pain, discomfort and other symptoms caused by acid matter in the stomach. It removes the irritating effects of acids in a better way than alkalis. Furthermore, liquiritin, a flavonoid glycoside has been identified has the aglycon liquiritigenin and is spontaneously formed when the root is dried. This is responsible for the spasmolytic effects of liquorice. Vatsayana, Kama Sutra recommends equal quantities of clarified butter, honey, sugar and liquorice be mixed with fennel-juice and milk to stimulate sexual vigor, and as a preservative of life. Liquorice is also known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. This is due to the effect it has on the adrenal glands that are responsible for producing cortisol, the body’s own natural corticosteroid. Glycyrrhizin inhibits prostaglandin production, another component of the inflammatory process.

Glycyrrhizin also exhibits adapto-genic properties by stimulating cortisol production when there is not enough and promoting the breakdown of cortisol when there is too much. Because of this, liquorice is useful to take after stopping prescription of corticosteroids to boost the natural production of cortisol. 

Another adaptogenic effect from liquorice involves estrogen. Liquorice shows mild estrogenic properties similar to other phytoestrogens. It has the ability to promote estrogen production and to interfere with the effects of too much estrogen, especially from external sources. The flavonoid constituents are thought to be responsible for the estrogen-like effects, while glycyrrhetinic acid antagonizes estrogen where there is over-stimulation of estrogen receptors in the body. All this makes liquorice useful in controlling the menstrual cycle and in relieving PMS and menopausal symptoms. One of the drawbacks of liquorice is that it may cause peripheral edema (fluid retention) due to the retention of sodium with a loss of potassium, which disappears when liquorice is stopped. This can cause high blood pressure.

Long-term (more than two to three weeks) intake of products containing more than 1 gram of glycyrrhizin, i.e., the amount contained in approximately 10 grams of root, daily is the usual amount required to cause these effects. Consumption of 7 grams liquorice, which approximately contains 500 mg glycyrrhizin, per day for seven days, has been shown to decrease serum testosterone levels in healthy men by blocking enzymes needed to synthesize testosterone. As a result of these possible side effects, long-term intake of high levels of glycyrrhizin is discouraged, and should only be undertaken if prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional. Consumption of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to increase potassium intake is recommended to help decrease the chance of side effects. 

Liquorice is contraindicated in pregnant women as well as in people with liver and kidney disorders. De-glycyrrhizinated liquorice extracts do not cause these side effects because there is no glycyrrhizin in them.

Action : 
Expectorant, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, adrenal tonic, aperient, emetic, sexual potentiser, increases semen, vitalising, Rasayana - benefits all seven tissues, heals ulcers and wounds, benefits the eyes, throat, coughs and breathing difficulties, the nervous system, eliminates itching, alleviates bleeding..

Indications :
LUNGS : 
Asthma, bronchitis, wheezing. Dry cough with difficult to expectorate phlegm, sore throat, laryingitis, tonsillitis. Specific for vata type cough. Tonic for vata. Also useful in infections with yellow/green sputum, high pitta inflammations.
At high dose it is an emetic used in vamana therapy to clear kapha from the lungs and stomach.

GIT : 
Specific for ulcers- peptic, gastric, duodenal mouth. Useful in all intestinal inflammations and spasms with pain. Hyperacidity. Licorice cools pitta. It is often used for arresting bleeding from the intestines and lungs. Its demulcent nature moistens and relaxes the bowel- helpful in vata/pitta type constipation. At low dose it is anti-emetic (if nausea is caused by heat) and in high doses it is an emetic.

LIVER : 
Hepatoprotective action in hepatitis and chronic liver disease. Works on ranjakapitta and soothes the heat that travels via the liver to the blood. Used for skin conditions, such as acne, with heat and inflammation.

KIDNEY : 
As part of a formula for nervous exhaustion licorice is a strong adrenal tonic. Also useful in Addison's disease. Used to tonify an exhausted and hyperactivevata and pitta; ME, CFS. The sattvic nature of licorice calms the mind.

Specifically classified as useful for the quality of the eyes and the skin this action works via its affinity for calming and cooling pitta whilst also nourishing vata. Traditionally used as a detoxicant herb to harmonise a formula and enhance the properties of the other herbs. Its sweet taste gives balya and strength to the whole formula whilst also neutralising any harsh aspects of stronger herbs (eg bitters/ anthelmintics).
Often mixed in ghee to enhance its healing effects on inflammatory mucus membrane conditions.

Contraindications : 
High kapha. Oedema, hypertension. Care in osteoporosis as it inhibits calcium and potassium absorption. It extends the activity of cortisone in the blood. In pregnancy and lactation up to 3g/day is safe. Be wary in long term use.




Dosage :
1 - 10g per day
1/2 to 1 teaspoon morning and evening mixed with warm water or a with some honey

Note: Siddha treatment is based on complete physical examination of the patient, Naadi diagnosis, and other diagnostic criteria of the disease. The content given in this article is purely meant for information and education purpose only. Kindly consult a Siddha physician before any sort of self medication.