What Is Licorice Extract Made From?

A sweet and spicy ingredient in many candies and pastries, licorice extract is also a powerful compound often used in natural healing. Licorice extract is taken from the licorice rhizome, and has a number of medicinal properties. If you have any medical conditions, check with your doctor before starting a licorice extract health regimen.

Identification

• Licorice extract is a natural medicine commonly used by herbal health practitioners. Licorice extract is originally taken from licorice root, which grows underground. Since most licorice root is dried before preparation or shipment, you will most often see licorice root in its dried form, powdered or cut into chunks.

Types

• Licorice extract is often taken as a powder, as a tea or in a tincture. Powdered extract is often taken in caplets. A tincture is an herbal extract made by soaking the licorice root in purified drinking alcohol, like vodka, for about two weeks.

Benefits

• According to "The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook," licorice extract has anti-inflammatory properties that can help heal wounds, fight infection and relieve menstrual problems.

Active Components

• Licorice extract contains compounds called triterpenoids. Triterpenoids are anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce swelling and fight oxidative stress in the body. A study published in "Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research" in 2004 found that certain concentrations of triterpenoids may fight cancer.

Warning

• According to Holistic Online, patients with high blood pressure, pregnant women or people with kidney problems should not take licorice extract for herbal health because it can cause you to retain sodium in your system.