22 Amazing Benefits Of Licorice Root Tea For Skin Hair And Health
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The sweet sap of the licorice root is sweeter than sugar. No wonder it is called ‘Iratti Madhuram’ [Double Sweet] in Malayalam. Known botanically as Glycyrrhiza Glabra, the roots of licorice have been used for its numerous benefits since ages.
Packed with coumarins, flavonoid, volatile oils, glycosides, chalcones, plant sterols, anethole, and glycyrrhizic acid, this anise seed look alike is a rich source of various medicinal properties. A tea made with the roots of licorice is known to be extremely beneficial for treating throat infections. It is also known to offer relief from various other health conditions including depression, canker sores, assorted infections, ulcers, skin rashes, liver disorders, menopausal issues to name a few.
In This Article
How to Make Licorice Root Tea at Home?
You don’t need any intense training to prepare this delicious and healthy drink at home. Here is the simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- Water – 4 oz
- Dried licorice roots – 1 tsp
How to Make:
- Place a saucepan filled with water on medium heat.
- Once the water turns hot, before it starts boiling, add the dried licorice roots.
- Allow the mixture to come to a boiling point.
- Turnoff the burner and steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Place a fine mesh strainer above a cup and pour the mixture into it.
- Discard the roots.
Your licorice root tea is ready!
Tips:
- Add 1 inch fresh ginger while steeping the tea, if you are using it as a natural remedy for cold and cough.
Now that your licorice root tea is ready, let’s read a little about what you can expect from it!
Skin Benefits of Licorice Root Tea
1. Soothes and Hydrates Skin:
Regular use of this tea is known to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated from within. You can even apply cool licorice tea on your skin and leave it for a while before washing off for a visibly soft skin.
2. Natural Source of Fairness:
Licorice brightens the skin, making it look fairer. Prepare a face pack by mixing the tea with Fullers Earth and turmeric powder. Apply on your face, allow it to dry, and rinse off with normal water. You can add a few drops of olive oil, coconut oil, or even almond oil to keep your skin hydrated.
3. Cure for Skin Disorders:
Applying cooled licorice tea helps in healing various skin disorders, including psoriasis, eczema, skin rashes, and dry skin. The anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and demulcent properties of this tea help to reduce inflammation, redness, and paves way for faster healing. The hydrating nature traps the moisture and prevents the skin from drying out.
4. Natural Sunscreen:
Yes, inclusion of this tea in your diet can protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. A thick decoction like tea can be used as a sunscreen to safeguard the skin from sun burns, tan, and harsh UVA/UVB rays. It also prevents the loss of moisture from the skin due to excessive exposure to the scorching sun. Plus, it offers guaranteed fairness and smoothness. Apply a pack by mixing in the tea with crushed cucumbers and apply it on the affected area if you are already suffering from sun damage.
Hair Benefits of Licorice Root Tea
5. Good for the Scalp:
Known for its hydrating properties, a tea made from licorice root had been used by ancient Greeks to keep the scalp moisturized. It soothes the dry scalp and prevents various scalp conditions like dandruff and scabs. Massage the tea along with few drops of coconut oil on your scalp, leave for one hour, and wash off for a moisturized scalp.
6. Helps with Hair Growth:
Topical application as well as oral use of licorice tea is known to be beneficial for hair growth. It traps the essential moisture in the scalp, paving way for the lush growth of hair follicles. This, in turn, ensures you of radiant, lush tresses.
7. Prevents Premature Baldness:
Even though not proven scientifically, people have been drinking licorice tea to prevent premature balding triggered by excessive hair loss since ancient times. It makes sense to follow age old wisdom at times.
8. Effective Hair Treatment:
A pack prepared by mixing licorice root tea with henna and amla powder can be used as an effective hair treatment for various hair conditions, including sun damage, dandruff, split ends, and dull hair.
Health Benefits of Licorice Root Tea
9. Helps to Combat Depression:
As mentioned above, licorice root tea is a natural anti-depressant. It stimulates the functioning of the adrenal glands, regulating the synthesis of cortisol. A lower level of this hormone is a major cause of stress, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and nervousness. By maintaining the equilibrium, the tea ensures that your mood is elevated, and depression is warded off. Just include two cups of this tea in your diet daily and bid adieu to depression forever.
10. Natural Remedy for Cold:
This herbal tea is one of the most sought after and most effective remedy for cold and cough. While the antiviral property fights the infections, the tea also ensures that the body’s immunity power gets a boost. Once your immunity is pumped up, infections slowly vanish by themselves. It is also a good way to ease sore throat. A warm licorice tea eases inflammation and pain, ensuring faster recovery from cold. The expectorant properties of this herbal tea also ensures that the clogged nasal passages as well as lungs are cleared, guaranteeing quicker relief. That is why the licorice root tea is recommended by Ayurvedic doctors as a cure for various bronchial issues. So remember—three cups of licorice root tea a day keeps cold away!
[ Read: Home Remedies For Common Cold ]
11. Good for Arthritis:
The anti-inflammatory properties of this tea helps in easing the pain experienced due to inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Along with reducing the pain, it also alleviates the swelling experienced. The joint movements also improve with regular use of this tea.
12. Safeguards you from Cardiac Disorders:
Studies indicate that this tea has the potential to stimulate the flow of bile and can help in keeping the levels of cholesterol under control. The lower the levels of bad cholesterol, the better your heart health will be. Plus, it is a potential antioxidant agent. This actually impedes plaque from getting attached to the arterial walls, improving the health of capillaries. A lower cholesterol level together with a smooth circulation of blood ensures that you are safe from cardiovascular disorders.
13. Good for your Liver:
This tea has powerful detoxifying properties. Two cups of this herbal tea a day ensures that your liver is free from toxins. It empowers the liver and puts your worries about hepatitis to rest.
14. Cure for Low Blood Pressure:
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is one condition that is actually quite difficult to cure. Luckily, this tea is a safe way to treat low BP. Two cups of this inexpensive tea can pep up your blood pressure levels to the desired level by warding off the stress factors such as dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.
[ Read: Home Remedies For Low Blood Pressure ]
15. Herbal Remedy for Stomach Disorders:
Licorice root extracts are known to possess mild laxative properties. A tea prepared by infusing these roots can be used to ease constipation. The chalcone and flavonoid present in these roots combat the irritation and inflammation triggered by bacterial infection in your stomach. The soothing properties soothe the inflamed mucus lining and strengthen your digestive system, offering guaranteed relief from gastric issues. Make sure you sip two to three cups of warm tea to reap the benefits.
16. Beneficial for Yeast Infections:
Many a time, women are subjected to vaginal yeast infections caused by Candida Albicans. Studies suggest that oral intake as well as topical application of this tea has the power to combat these infections and heal the condition.
17. Good for Diabetics:
Licorice root extracts are excellent sugar substitutes. While preparing regular tea, add licorice root tea instead of sugar—sweetness and health together in one cup!
18. Aids in Weight Loss:
Studies suggest that 3.5 grams of licorice root, when used in the form of tea, for about 8 weeks can help in lowering the body fat mass to a significant extent. Include just two cups of tea a day – each cup containing 1.75 grams of this root – along with a balanced diet and healthy workout regimen and see visible changes in your weight in 12 weeks.
[ Read: Superfoods For Weight Loss ]
19. Beneficial During Menopause:
Packed with antioxidant and phytoestrogens, this tea has shown positive impacts on the hormonal issues associated with menopause, including mood swings, hot flashes, and fatigue. Just two cups of the tea a day can help in creating a hormonal equilibrium, helping women tide over this messy phase.
20. Helps with PMS:
The tea is crammed with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. Plus, it has admirable levels of estrogenic properties too. A synergic action of these is known to ease premenstrual symptoms such as bloating, nausea, mood swings, and breast tenderness. Start including 2 cups of this tea three days before the expected date to combat menstrual cramps in a better way.
21. Natural Detoxifying Agent:
The detoxifying properties of this tea can be used to lose weight and even to flush out toxins and stones from the kidneys.
22. Home Remedy for Canker Ulcers:
Canker sores alias Apthous ulcers are painful inflammations that appear on the tongue and cheeks. Warm licorice tea can be used as a gargle for quick relief from these painful conditions. Just gargle with this tea 4 times a day – and see how fast the pain subsides and your sores heal.
Side Effects of Licorice Root
Yes, as with other herbal teas, this one too comes with its own set of side effects. Excessive use of this tea is known to lead to the following negative effects:
- Dangerously low potassium levels in blood
- Hypertension
- Cataract
- Fluid retention
The roots are known to possess estrogenic properties. Hence, it is advisable for pregnant women to avoid the use of licorice root tea.
These were the benefits of licorice root tea for health, skin, and hair. Have we left out something? If so, share with us right below because sharing is learning…
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