HAPPY NATIONAL LICORICE DAY!

In my family, I grew up on preserved plums, snacks and natural cough drops with licorice. Here are  a few historical and amazing medicinal facts about licorice. As with many super-herbs, eat in moderation. Real black licorice (not anise-flavored) is so potent that even though it may help fight cancer, eating too much at once may raise blood pressure or create heart palpitations in some older people.

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Did You Know?

• The licorice plant, a shrub, is officially a weed. It is about four feet tall with purplish flowers and grows in hot, dry places.
• Licorice root is one of the most popular herbs in the world. Its botanical name comes from the Greek words meaning “sweet root.”
• The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Hindus recognized the natural medicinal qualities of licorice.
• Licorice helps relieve the pains that accompany certain types of ulcers, and it is good for the adrenal glands.
• Carbenoxolone, a compound derived from licorice root, may help slow the effects of aging on the brain.
• Licorice root is a botanical ingredient in modern Chinese medicines used to manage cancers. Current research conducted at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, supports the use of licorice in the treatment of prostate and breast cancer.
• In the United States, anise seed is a popular substitute flavoring for licorice. Although the anise seed has an unmistakable licorice flavor, it is not related to the European plant whose roots are the source of true licorice.

(courtesy of ilovelicorice.com)