Healthy Household: Licorice, Mommy’s Little Helper

“Licorice root may be used to assist with upper respiratory catarrhs and is recognized by traditional Chinese practitioners as an adaptogen, helping the body to cope with daily stress. It may also be used to relieve minor abdominal discomfort, and is used in the herbal preparation STW-5 to alleviate dyspepsia.”
Mountain Rose Herbs: Licorice Root

licorice-extract-1

Licorice Extract is very easy to make at home and the extract tastes good to most children. If you don’t have time to made your own, you can purchase extracts from a local herbalist.

“Mommy, my stomach hurts,” is the most common childhood complaint I have heard over the years. Most children’s stomachaches are over very quickly and can be treated at home. This stomachache remedy is very easy to make and will save a trip to the pharmacy.

Licorice Extract
1 part licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), slices
3-4 parts organic vodka

All extract are made the same way. Use a small pint-sized glass canning jar with a plastic lid. Put the licorice root slices into the jar. Add the alcohol to the jar. Label the jar with the name of the plant, percentage of alcohol, today?s day, and the decanting day. Decanting day will be in six weeks. The jar will need to be gently, shaken every day for at least the first week. On decanting day, squeeze out all the liquid from the root slices. Store the extract in a dark glass bottle. If available, use a dropper top for easy dispersal.

For children one full dropper is usually enough. Most stomachaches will be gone within 15 minutes. A second dropper can be given after 15 minutes if the pain has not reduced by at least half. A hot water bottle, a story, and a nap works well to cure most stomachaches. We have also used licorice extract to treat motion sickness with good success. Ginger root works wonders for motion sickness too.

For adults, two full droppers will stop a stomach ache in about 15 minutes. People with high blood pressure shouldn’t use licorice root because it will increase blood pressure. People with low blood pressure or adrenal fatigue may find licorice root helps with symptoms of low blood pressure.

licorice-extract-2

Licorice roots slices can also be chewed to stop stomachaches and motion sickness. A few slices kept in the car can makes trips with children more pleasant. Just spit out the fiber after use.

For more recipes please see Healthy Household: Staying Clean Safely and Saving Money.