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Powdered liquorice root is an effective expectorant, and has been used for this purpose since ancient times, especially in Ayurvedic medicine where it is also used in tooth powders. Modern cough syrups often include liquorice extract as an ingredient.

Additionally, liquorice may be useful in conventional and naturopathic medicine for both mouth ulcers[4] and peptic ulcers.[5] Non-prescription aphthous ulcer treatment CankerMelts incorporates glycyrrhiza in a dissolving adherant troche. Liquorice is also a mild laxative and may be used as a topical antiviral agent for shingles, opthalmic, oral or genital herpes.

Names in other languages

German Holz “wood” also has many relatives: Archaic and poetic English holt and Welsh celli “wood”, Russian koloda [колода] “woodblock” and Greek klados [κλάδος] “branch”. The original meaning seems to have been “break, cut off”, cf. Greek klan [κλᾶν] “break”, Lithuanian kalti “beat, forge” and Latin clades “hurt, damage”.

The characteristic sweet taste of liquorice is also reflected in the Indian names. In Sanskrit, madhu [मधु] means “sweet, pleasant”. This element is found in names for licorice not only in Sanskrit (madhuka [मधूक] and yashtimadhu [यष्टिमधु] from yashti [यष्टि] “stem, stalk”), but also in modern names of both South and North India, e.g., Marathi jestamadha [ज्यष्ठमध], Bengali yashthimodhu [যষ্ঠিমধু], Malayalam - Erattimadhuram, Tamil - Adhimadhuram, Telugu atimadhuramu [అతిమధురము] and Kannada yashthimadhu [ಯಷ್ಠಿಮಧು]. Outside of India, related names are Lithuanian saldymedis and Armenian madudag [մատուտակ]. The Indo-European root behind this element is MEDHU “honey, sweet”; see bear’s garlic for its linguistic affiliation.

Further examples of sweetness motivating a name for licorice are Estonian magusjuur, Hungarian édesgyökér, Ukrainian solodkyj korin [солодкий корінь] and Bulgarian sladuk koren [сладък корен], all of which translate to “sweet root”. See also almond for the Slavonic terms for “sweet”.

Liquorice affects the body's endocrine system as it contains isoflavones (phytoestrogens). It can lower the amount of serum testosterone,[6] but whether it affects the amount of free testosterone is unclear. Large doses of glycyrrhizinic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in liquorice extract can lead to hypokalemia and serious increases in blood pressure, a syndrome known as apparent mineralocorticoid excess. These side effects stem from the inhibition of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (type 2) and subsequent increase in activity of cortisol on the kidney. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase normally inactivates cortisol in the kidney; thus, liquorice's inhibition of this enzyme makes the concentration of cortisol appear to increase. Cortisol acts at the same receptor as the hormone aldosterone in the kidney and the effects mimic aldosterone excess, although aldosterone remains low or normal during liquorice overdose. To decrease the chances of these serious side effects, deglycyrrhizinated liquorice preparations are available. The disabling of similar enzymes in the gut by glycyrrhizinic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid also causes increased mucus and decreased acid secretion. It inhibits Helicobacter pylori, is used as an aid for healing stomach and duodenal ulcers, and in moderate amounts may soothe an upset stomach. Liquorice can be used to treat ileitis, leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease as it is antispasmodic in the bowels.[7]

Liquorice is an adaptogen which helps reregulate the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It can also be used for auto-immune conditions including lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and animal dander allergies.[7]

In traditional Chinese medicine, liquorice is commonly used in herbal formulae to "harmonize" the other ingredients in the formula and to carry the formula into all 12 of the regular meridians[8] and to relieve a spasmodic cough. Liquorice is used as an important ingredient in Fu zheng anti-cancer formulas where it is an anti-inflammatory compound . In traditional American herbalism it is used in the Hoxsey anti-cancer formula.

Consumption of black liquorice may result in stool that is vivid green in color.

Toxicity
Excessive consumption of liquorice or liquorice candy is known to be toxic to the liver[9] and cardiovascular system, and may produce hypertension and oedema. There have been occasional cases where blood pressure has increased with excessive consumption of liquorice tea, but such occasions are rare and reversible when the herb is withdrawn.[11] Most cases of hypertension from licorice were caused by overeating concentrated liquorice candy.

More information from wikipedia about Liquorice is available.

Chemistry