Common Name: Chinese Licorice

General Information

Glycyrrhiza inflata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a robust, rhizomatous rootstock. It produces a cluster of stems that become more or less wooy at the base, growing 50 - 150cm tall[].
Licorice root is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines and sweeteners/flavourings in the temperate zone, the roots being obtained from this species and also from Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

Known Hazards

Whilst licorice is basically a very safe and effective medicine, when used over a long period or in large quantities it can raise the blood pressure. A gross overdose of the root can cause oedema, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure[, ].

Botanical References

Range

Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, northwest China

Habitat

Riverbanks, dry stream banks, margins of farms, wastelands; at elevations around 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position. Requires a deep well cultivated fertile moisture-retentive soil for good root production[]. Prefers a sandy soil with abundant moisture[]. A slightly alkaline soil produces the best plants[].
Unless seed is required, the plant is usually prevented from flowering so that it puts more energy into producing good quality roots[].
A very deep-rooted plant, it can be difficult to eradicate once it is established[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or used as a flavouring. An extract of the powdered roots is used in sweets, baked goods, ice cream, soft drinks etc[, , , ], it is also used medicinally. A sweet and delicious flavour, but the root is very fibrous[]. The root contains glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sucrose[, , ].

The dried root is often used for chewing, it is excellent for teething children and also as a tooth cleaner[, ].

A tea made from the roots is an excellent thirst quencher[]. The powdered root is also used as a sweetener in other herb teas[].

The leaves are used as a tea substitute in Mongolia[].

Medicinal

The root of this plant is one of the three main commercial sources of licorice (the other two are Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis). Studies have shown that the range and content of medicinally active compounds in this species closely resemble those of Glycyrrhiza glabra and that this species can be used in the same ways that Glycyrrhiza glabra is used. Glycyrrhiza uralensis, however, exhibits markedly different contents of the various active compounds and has subtly different applications medicinally. For example, the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis has a stronger oestrogenic activity than the other licorices, is a more powerful antitussive and also exerts a stronger inhibitory effect upon aldose reductase activity[].

The uses of Glycyrrhiza glabra are as follows:-
Licorice It is a very sweet, moist, soothing herb that detoxifies and protects the liver[] and is also powerfully anti-inflammatory, being used in conditions as varied as arthritis and mouth ulcers[].

The root is alterative, antispasmodic, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative, moderately pectoral and tonic[, , , , , ]. The root has also been shown to have a hormonal effect similar to the ovarian hormone[]. Liquorice root is much used in cough medicines and also in the treatment of catarrhal infections of the urinary tract[]. It is taken internally in the treatment of Addison's disease, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, peptic ulcer, arthritis, allergic complaints and following steroidal therapy[].
Externally, the root is used in the treatment of herpes, eczema and shingles[].
Licorice should be used in moderation and should not be prescribed for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure, kidney disease or taking digoxin-based medication[].
Prolonged usage raises the blood pressure and causes water retention[, ]. See also the notes above on toxicity.
The root is harvested in the autumn when 3 - 4 years old and is dried for later use[, ].

Other Uses

An extract of the roots is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

The dried root is often used for chewing, it is excellent for teething children and also as a tooth cleaner[, ].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow spring or autumn in a greenhouse[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer when in active growth. Plants are rather slow to grow from seed[].
Division of the root in spring or autumn. Each division must have at least one growth bud. Autumn divisions can either be replanted immediately or stored in clamps until the spring and then be planted out[]. It is best to pt up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a cold frame until they are established before planting them out in the spring or summer.