Is pure liquorice healthy?

Sweetwood is the origin of liquorice. Botanically known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, the root is used worldwide in medicine because of its glycyrrhizin content. Glycyrrhizin has the following effects
- cough-soothing,
- stomach-soothing,
- thirst-quenching,
- stimulates the circulation,
- anti-inflammatory.
Liquorice, both sweetwood and pure, has always been used as a medicine for coughs, hoarseness and stomach complaints. More recently researched against herpes, hepatitis and Covid. Liquorice is a welcome addition to stomach teas and cough syrups. It has 50 times the sweetening power of sugar but no calories, as the human body does not metabolise the sweetness. Pure liquorice is made by boiling the liquorice roots and is also sugar-free. All chic? Not quite. It's the quantity that counts, even with liquorice.

When consumed in moderation, pure liquorice supports the above-mentioned effects. Glycyrrhizin stimulates the circulation, which can lead to high blood pressure, but also supports people with low blood pressure. Daily consumption of pure liquorice is only recommended in small quantities (5g/day). 5g correspond to approx. 20 pieces of pure liquorice pastilles.