Archive for the 'Licorice Root Tea' Category
Dandelion, Burdock and Licorice Help to Ease Feline Skin Allergies
After I asked her why her sweet oci-cat was sniffling and congested, my good cat-loving friend disclosed to me that her cat of 10 years was suffering from asthma; the same kind that humans get. Not only was the cat diagnosed with asthma, but she also was beset with skin sores, complete with swelling and itchiness. Her veterinarian prescribed predisone, which stopped the symptoms quickly. Long-term use of predisone, however, can result in weakened bones, weight gain, diabetic conditions and increased risk of infections.
I would recommend the use of predisone only to stop severe pain and inflammation, but not over a long period of time, simply to avoid the negative side effects listed above. For your pet to avoid chronic, long-term pharmaceutical therapy, it is best to treat your pet with a holistic approach. If your pet can tolerate baths, it is good to give him/her an herbal body wash once or twice per week or whenever possible. Omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial; try starting out with 500 mgs. of DHA or EPA two times per day.
Herbal remedies include inflammation-reducers such as burdock root, dandelion and licorice
. Your veterinarian may also suggest the use of milk thistle to keep the liver healthy and the gastrointestinal tract clear. The intestines are the places in which allergens erupt and the liver acts as a detoxifying organ. Lastly, ask your vet to recommend a diet low in animal by-products and free of chemical preservatives. A proper diet can prevent skin from flaring up and reduce inflammation from the start. Just like humans, natural, homeopathic diets can prevent illness and maintain the wellness and health of our animals too. After all, we are both mammals.
Licorice root, also known as Glycyrrrhiza glabra, is an excellent addition to cough and cold formulas during the flu season. Licorice’s immune-boosting and throat-soothing properties are very powerful indeed.
To take care of nagging coughs, make some mullein leaf tea and add a pinch of licorice root. The taste of the licorice alone is very soothing to a sore throat and fights coughs tooth and nail.
For safety, people who have high blood pressure should avoid this herb or use the deglyrrhizinated form of licore root. Just look for “DGL” on the label of the package. The glyrrhizin in the licorice, however, fights peptic ulcers and actually has been found to reverse the herpes simplex virus.
Canker sores are painful spots of the inside of the mouth. Canker sores errupt more often on some people more than on others. There has been some anecdotal evidence that licorice 
can soothe and ease the pain of these uncomfortable sores.
Be careful to make sure that you use deglycyrrhizinated licorice, abbreviated as DGL, which appears to soothe muscle membranes. The licorice leaves can be grinded into a very fine form. Mix with a little water and apply it to the sore as needed to provide relief.
Licorice puts the fire out of heartburn,stomach and intestinal ulcers. It is as effective as the popular antacids, however, licorice does not carry the side effects of constipation, diarrhea or the risk of kidney damage associated with antacids that contain alot of calcium. Licorice has been found to even treat GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease); the most severe form of heartburn. Placing a licorice tea bag over annoying and painful canker sores helps to heal them.
It is important that the type of licori
ce used be deglycyrrhizinic acid, meaning the glycyrrhizinic acid has been removed. Glycyrrhizinic acid has been linked to blood pressure problems. Research has found that the deglycrrhizinic licorice builds a protective mucous barrier within the digestive lining, protecting it from the acid backwash that causes heartburn. This herb is also thought to block prostaglandins in the stomach, which permits the stomach lining to repair itself and symptoms to go away.
Incidentally, the black licorice candy is not a good source of licorice, since it has sugar and is flavored with anise oil. Do not take licorice if you are pregnant or nursing a baby. Due to the powerful phytonutrients in licorice, it is important to take a five – day break from a steady diet of licorice every three to four weeks.