Many people have heard about the beneficial properties of such a gift of nature as licorice. Domestic "ginseng" in its qualities is inferior to its Chinese counterpart. But is it possible to give licorice to children?
Useful composition of licorice
Licorice is a perennial plant, with a powerful rhizome that penetrates deep into the soil. It blossoms in June-August, fruits ripen in August-September. However, it is the licorice root that is used for medicinal purposes, since it contains a large amount of glycyrizine, flavonoids, glabric acid, essential oil, ascorbic acid, and sugars.
Basically, the root of licorice is used as an expectorant. In addition, it has an emollient, wound-healing, diuretic action. The main habitats of this miracle plant are the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia.
The root of licorice for children - against what diseases?
Licorice can be used if your child is prone to colitis and constipation. It is also recommended for diseases of the liver and bile ducts, for poisoning, pyelonephritis. Licorice is recommended for children and for cough, including bronchial asthma.
Often you can find information that the root of licorice is effective for various skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis), but in these cases, be careful, since often the cause of skin inflammations are allergic reactions, licorice, as a strong allergen, may not improve, and worsen the condition of the child. Therefore, the reception of this remedy can begin only after carrying out allergic tests. Apply a decoction of licorice with a cotton swab on the elbows of the baby - if within an hour you did not see redness, you can try to introduce a few drops of licorice into the baby's water. If you do not see and in this case the wrong reaction (the baby does not swell up, does not get covered with a rash, his stool does not change), then you can increase the dose of the medicine you take.
How to apply licorice root to children?
How to drink licorice root for children? You can brew and drink phytotea from licorice, which is sold in the pharmacy, simply pouring the rhizome of the plant with boiling water, and you can prepare a special broth or tincture.
Decoction of licorice root for children is prepared as follows. Pour 30 g licorice root 0,5 liters of boiling water, bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes, cool and strain. Take should be a teaspoon of broth 4 times a day.
The tincture of the licorice root for children is prepared in a similar way, however, the raw materials boiled with boiling water should be kept not just on the fire in a saucepan, but on a water bath. In this case, the aging process is increased to 20 minutes. After this "evaporation" the obtained tincture should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 2 (one part of the infusion and two parts of water). The obtained tincture can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days, but it will be better if for your child you will prepare infusion daily
Danger of licorice
Keep in mind that with prolonged intake of licorice root there is an increase in blood pressure, the child is overexcited. In addition, fluid retention may occur until the onset of edema. With immediate allergic reactions, the face and extremities of the child can swell during the first minutes after drinking licorice.
Starting "phyto-experiments", consider the possible consequences, and keep one of the antihistamines ready at the ready, and also a sorbent for the speedy removal of a dangerous substance from the child's body.
Due to the potential danger of the plant, taking licorice root for children up to a year is not recommended.