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Yashtimadhu Tablet is Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), is a purple and white flowering perennial, native to the Mediterranean region and to central and Southwest Asia. It is cultivated widely for the sweet taproot that grows to a depth of four feet. Yasthimadhu is also called sweet root as it is sweet in taste. In Sanskrit it is called yashtimadhu - ‘yashti’ meaning ‘stem, stalk; and madhu, meaning ‘sweet’. In Hindi Liquorice is known as ‘mulethi’. The root is perennial, round, long and straight, tough and fibrous. It is grayish outside and yellowish within. And its most desirable virtues lie inside of the cortical. In India, it is cultivated widely in Punjab and the sub-Himalayan tracts.
The most active compound in Yasthimadhu is glycyrrhizin. The bark of the root contains about 4% of glycyrrhizin, potassium or calcium salt of the glycyrrhizinic acid. Glycyrrhizin is about 50 times sweeter than cane sugar. There are two types of Yasthimadhu, “standard” Yasthimadhu and “de-glycyrrhizinated” Yasthimadhu (DGL). Each type is suitable for different conditions. When glycyrrhizin is removed from Yasthimadhu, the product is called deglycyrrhizinated Yasthimadhu or DGL.
Other components present in Yasthimadhu are antioxidants such as flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, sterols, choline, triterpenoids, lignins, amino acids including asparagine, gums, biotin, folic acid, inositol, lecithin, estrogenic substances, pantothenic acid, para-aminobenzoic acid, phosphorous, pentacyclic terpenes, protein, sugar, a yellow dye, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and E. Perhaps this is the reason for the broad range of effects Yasthimadhu has on the body. Yasthimadhu contains only traces of essential oil; constituents identified include bicyclic monterpenoid ketones (fenchone, thujone) and coumarins (herniarin, umbelliferone).
Traditionally, Yasthimadhu was used as a medicine rather than as a spice. The main part of the plant used in medicine is the root. This root is a demulcent and gentle relaxant, soothing to mucous irritations, and valued chiefly for its sweet taste and in masking the sharpness / pungency / taste of other remedies. Ayurveda recommends the root as beneficial in the treatment of coughs, colds, and other bronchial irritations.
Yasthimadhu is beneficial to treat eczema, skin rashes, psoriasis, and itchy and dry skin. Studies suggest that the demulcent and anti-inflammatory agents in Yasthimadhu may decrease the signs of atopic dermatitis (eczema). Just applying a concentrated extract made from Yasthimadhu root onto the area 2 to 3 times daily can help alleviate skin problems. Yasthimadhu root extracts are widely used as a botanical agent in sunscreens.
Yasthimadhu is used to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Ayurveda recommends Yasthimadhu as an effective expectorant, helping to liquefy mucus and facilitate its discharge from the body. The expectorant effect of Yasthimadhu benefits people suffering from asthma or chest colds with tight coughs or difficult breathing. Yasthimadhu containing glycyrrhizin may be used for respiratory infections. For colds and respiratory afflictions, it can also be combined with fresh ginger.
In Ayurvedic medicine, powdered Yasthimadhu is also considered an excellent remedy for hyperacidity and constipation, and clinical tests prove that it is useful for relieving pain, discomfort and other symptoms caused by acid substance in the stomach. It removes the irritating effects of acids in a better way than alkalis. Furthermore, liquiritin, a flavonoid glycoside has been identified as the aglycon liquiritigenin and it is spontaneously formed when the root is dried. This is responsible for the spasmolytic effects of Yasthimadhu. It is a mild laxative, which soothes and tones the mucous membranes.
Deglycyrrhizinated Yasthimadhu (DGL) is useful in treating ulcers of the digestive tract because of the flavonoids, which are not harmed by the removal of glycyrrhizin. The flavonoids have been known to kill Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that cause most ulcers and inflammations of the stomach.
The flavonoids in Yasthimadhu help reduce excessive fat accumulation in the body. According to a study, published in the Obesity Research and Clinical Practice journal, people who took 900 mg of Yasthimadhu flavonoid oil daily for 8 weeks experienced reductions in body fat, body weight, body mass index, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.
Yasthimadhu shows mild estrogenic properties similar to other phytoestrogens. It can promote estrogen production and interferes with the effects of too much estrogen, especially from external sources. The phytoestrogenic action of Yasthimadhu root is useful for hormonal problems including hot flashes, exhaustion, mood swings in women who are going through menopause.
The anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and estrogenic action of Yasthimadhu might assist with PMS symptoms including mood swings, breast tenderness, menstrual cramps, nausea and bloating. According to studies, drinking Yasthimadhu root as a tea each day starting about three days before one’s anticipated time of the month might help to alleviate PMS symptoms.
The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of Yasthimadhu may prevent the growth of cavity-causing bacteria, reduce plaque, fight bad breath and keep the teeth and gums strong and healthy. According to a study published in the journal Anaerobe, Yasthimadhu root extract helps maintain oral health and can be beneficial when used in oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouthwash.
Yasthimadhu also exhibits antibacterial and antiviral properties. The action of glycyrrhizin in Yasthimadhu is similar to hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, especially desoxycorticosterone (DOCA). Glycyrrhizin is changed in the liver to glycyrrhetinic acid. Both these compounds promote the activation of interferon, a potent, naturally produced antiviral compound. Once interferon is activated, white blood cells come into play along with the immune systems’ killer T cells that help the body fight cold viruses and herpes simplex. Yasthimadhu exhibits antibacterial properties due to its flavonoids content rather than due to glycyrrhizin.
Yasthimadhu is also known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. This is due to the effect it has on the adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing cortisol, the body’s natural corticosteroid. Glycyrrhizin inhibits prostaglandin production, another component of the inflammatory process.
Yasthimadhu can also be used to treat other types of inflammation such as in arthritis, allergic disorders, asthma, chronic fatigue, depression due to hormonal imbalance, emphysema, and hypoglycemia. Yasthimadhu root, particularly deglycyrrhized Yasthimadhu, can be a useful adjunct to antibiotic treatment because it accelerates the healing of the stomach lining.
1. Keep out of reach of children.
2. Do not do self medication.
3. Take doctor advice in case of pregnancy and lactation.
4.Keep in dry cool place.