Have you ever come across an ingredient called ‘licorice’ on your cosmetic product’s label? Well, licorice is an herbal root that comes from a species of the Glycyrrhiza plant. It is also known as liquorice. The name of the plant is derived from the Greek word ‘glukurrhiza’, meaning ‘sweet root’. The sweetness of the root comes from the presence of a component known as glycyrrhizin. This component makes the root even sweeter than sugar.
What is licorice root good for? Licorice root has been used for centuries by the Egyptians, Chinese, Greek and many other nations in Asia for medicinal, confectionery and flavoring purposes. It is also known as Gan Zao and sweet root in Chinese. The licorice root benefits are surplus and is one of the most widely used herbs in the world. Licorice root contains many healthy components. Some of them are flavonoids, plant sterols, volatile oils, chalcones, glycosides, coumarins, glycyrrhizic acid, asparagines and anethole. The perennial herb grows up to 2 meters. Licorice root provides relief for many health conditions. Some of them are assorted infections, canker sores, depression, menopausal issues, skin rashes, liver disorders, bursitis, chronic exhaustion, heartburn, dandruff, viral infections, arthritis, tendinitis, baldness, asthma, athlete’s foot and yeast infections.
The use of licorice offers various benefits to the skin. Some of them are:
The use of licorice makes the skin look fairer by brightening its color. You can prepare a face mask by mixing turmeric powder and fuller’s earth with licorice tea. Apply the pack on your skin and allow it to dry. Rinse off the face pack with normal water. To keep the skin hydrated, you can add a few drops of coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil to it.
Regular use of licorice helps to fade blemishes and dark spots. The consistent use of licorice tea helps to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized from within. You can also apply the cool licorice tea on the skin. Let it sit for some time and then rinse off with normal water to get a soft and supple skin.
Application of cool licorice tea is known to help in healing a number of skin disorders. Some of them are eczema, psoriasis, dry skin and skin rashes. Its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and demulcent properties help to heal various skin conditions, such as redness and inflammation. Its hydrating properties prevent the skin from getting dry while trapping its moisture. This keeps the skin looking fresh and younger.
Antioxidants present in licorice extract help the skin to combat the conditions caused by free radicals. Another ingredient known as licochalcone found in licorice tea helps in regulating oil formation on the skin. The products like body creams, body cleansers and facial skin care products contain licorice extracts to treat various skin conditions. Some of the conditions are psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis and rosacea.
Incorporating licorice tea in one’s diet can protect the skin from the harmful UV rays. A licorice root decoction can be used as a sunscreen lotion to protect the skin from sunburns and tan. To treat the sun damage, you need to apply a pack prepared by mixing the crushed cucumber in licorice tea.
The licorice offers various benefits to the hair. Some of them are:
Licorice root is packed with elements like choline, protein, Vitamin B complex, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, potassium, phosphorus, amines and essential oils. The root not only promotes the health of the scalp, but also takes care of the hair due to the presence of such elements.
Tablets and capsules incorporating licorice root are consumed to improve the growth of the hair and reduce hair loss. Rinsing the hair with licorice root helps in treating dandruff. The amazing demulcent properties of licorice help in soothing the scalp by reducing various scalp conditions like scabs and dandruff. Egyptians have been using licorice root since the 3rd century B.C for soothing the irritated and dry skin. Licorice is added in scalp elixirs because of its great demulcent property.
The use of this root has been found effective in promoting hair growth. Products with licorice as a base are used to treat a dry scalp. It helps the hair to grow stronger and thicker. It is strongly believed that licorice helps in reducing hair loss both through topical and oral application. It paves way for the growth of hair follicles by trapping the essential moisture within the scalp.
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