Licorice candy - benefit or harm to our health from this sweetness? Licorice lozenges cough treatment Licorice lozenges composition.

September 15, 2018

Today there are many varieties of different sweets. And every sweet tooth can choose what he likes. Licorice candies are extremely rare on our tables. Such a delicacy brings benefits or harm, we will discuss in today's article.

Licorice candy - what is it?

Perhaps every person knows what licorice root is. We associate this herbal remedy with a pharmacy cough syrup. Licorice sweets are made from the juice of licorice root. By the way, its second name is licorice.

The candies have a dark, rich shade and incredible taste. This delicacy was not to everyone's taste, since the taste of a medicinal plant is clearly felt.

Component composition of sweetness:

• liquorice;
• flavoring agents;
• table starch;
• syrup;
• animal gelatin.

Sweets are most often made in the Scandinavian countries and Norway. They look like gummy jelly candies. Their form can be varied. The most common tubes are tubules.

Today manufacturers add all kinds of additives to licorice candy. It can be anise, hot and spicy spices, fillings.

Before exploring the beneficial properties and contraindications to the use of Norwegian delicacies, it is worth discussing the value of licorice or licorice root for the human body. After all, this is the main ingredient that is part of an unusual delicacy.

Component composition:

• flavonoids;
• glycyrrhizin;
• organic acids;
• resin;
• essential oil extracts;
• b vitamins;
• vitamin C;
• fructose.

Perhaps it's worth starting with glycyrrhizin. This substance is a vegetable sweetener. It is this component that gives the licorice root and sweets a sweetish taste. In addition, glycyrrhizin has anti-inflammatory properties. This substance helps to strengthen the immune system and resist pathogens.

All other components taken together help to normalize the acid-base balance and metabolic processes.

Useful properties of licorice:

• promoting sputum excretion;
• improving the condition of the heart muscle;
• increased blood pressure;
• promoting insulin production;
• treatment of gastric ulcer and gastritis;
• prevention of the development of oncological ailments;
• treatment of dermatological diseases;
• increased efficiency;
• stimulation of brain activity;
• antiviral effect;
• getting rid of the symptoms of fever;
• cleansing the body.

Most often, licorice root is used to treat a number of ailments of the respiratory system. As mentioned, licorice has expectorant properties. By the way, smokers can eat licorice candies to get rid of a specific cough.

Licorice candy is not just good for the respiratory system. The licorice root contains substances that help strengthen the heart muscle and normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system as a whole.

Such a delicacy is also useful for the stomach. The mucous membrane will envelop and protect the stomach wall. Also, licorice has a mild laxative effect, so candy can be useful for people suffering from constipation.

Licorice candies will be incredibly useful for people with diabetes. Licorice root promotes the production of insulin in the body, which is extremely important in this disease.

Licorice is used not only for medicinal purposes. You can enjoy the taste of this delicacy for the benefit of the skin. Collagen production increases, skin tone evens out.

Some experts are convinced that licorice root contains substances that protect the body from the development of malignant processes. In addition, licorice has cleansing properties. Sweets will help remove toxins and toxins from the body, as well as cope with the effects of intoxication.

Like other sweets, licorice candy has a beneficial effect on brain activity. You can eat these candies to stimulate the brain and improve performance.

Licorice root is also useful for viral, acute respiratory ailments. Licorice helps to improve well-being and eliminate symptoms of fever. Licorice candies in the Scandinavian countries are regarded not only as a delicacy, but also as a medicine. If you systematically eat such unusual sweets, you can once and for all be cured of a number of ailments.

List of diseases:

• stomatitis;
• angina;
• stomach ulcer;
• hemorrhoids;
• constipation;
• rheumatism;
• dermatitis of various etiologies;
• eczema;
• bronchial asthma.

Briefly about contraindications

As you can imagine, the benefits and harms of licorice sweets are due to their component composition. Indeed, the value of licorice root for human health is undeniable. But there are a number of nuances that should be taken into account when using such a sweetness.

Contraindications:

• high blood pressure;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• violation of hormonal levels;
• cardiac pathology.

In the presence of any acute or chronic diseases, the use of licorice sweets must be agreed with the doctor. Experts say that due to licorice root, the excretion of fluid from the body can be disrupted, which leads to swelling.

For this reason, people suffering from varicose veins and renal pathologies have to give up licorice delicacies.

Select the heading Adenoids Angina Uncategorized Wet cough Wet cough In children Sinusitis Cough Cough in children Laryngitis ENT Diseases Traditional methods of treating Sinusitis Folk remedies for cough Folk remedies for rhinitis Runny nose Runny nose in pregnant Runny nose in adults Runny nose in children Review of drugs Otitis drugs Otitis drugs for cough Sinusitis Treatments for cough Treatments for the common cold Symptoms of sinusitis Cough syrups Dry cough Dry cough in children Temperature Tonsillitis Tracheitis Pharyngitis

To eliminate the symptoms of a cold in children, medications are used. Licorice cough drops work well for this. The sweets taste good and do not contain sugar. The tool helps to fight not only cough, but also suppresses pathogens in the intestines.

Contraindications

It is recommended not to use licorice lozenges if allergies to herbal ingredients are found. Parents need to be aware that an expectorant for a small child can have a negative effect. The kid will not be able to cough up additional phlegm on his own. Subsequently, wheezing occurs, which is why they again go to the doctor. Therefore, you should carefully consider the choice of medicines for the child.

Side effects

Side effects of licorice were first identified in Scandinavia. Scientists have found that the herbal component, during an overdose, increases blood pressure. The research did not stop there, and the tests continued. Later it turned out that licorice root in the human body blocks potassium. This causes a deterioration in the absorption of substances. Along with this, the following is observed:

1. Due to the occurrence of potassium deficiency, disorders in the work of muscle tissue occur.
2. Due to an overdose of lozenges, myopathy occurs.
3. The licorice root, which is part of the composition, creates conditions for the breakdown of the muscle epithelium. The cells stop contracting.
4. If you treat a cough with licorice bedding together with synthetic drugs, then in case of an overdose, the structure of the skeletal tissue is damaged.

Analogs

Analogs can be used instead of licorice lozenges. Lozenges come in different directions, and have many varieties that include components. To replace licorice candies, you can use:

1. Travesil - has an expectorant effect, reduces irritation of the larynx and has a positive effect on immunity. The lozenges contain natural plant extracts.
2. - lozenges eliminate irritation and inflammation in the throat. The composition includes menthol, which has an antiseptic effect. In addition, the pastilles contain natural components of herbs. Appointed for adults over 18 years of age.
3. Strepsils - has a bactericidal effect, which occurs due to the destruction of the membrane of pathogens. produced with the addition of vitamins, menthol, honey and other components to add flavor.
4. Stopangin - pastilles have analgesic effects. The components are aimed at eliminating a wide range of microbes. It can be taken for diseases of a female nature, like thrush.
5. Bobs - helps to maintain the immune system in good shape, and improves expectoration. Lozenges are used in a combination of different flavoring components.
6. Karmolis - lozenges have a choleretic, analgesic and antispasmodic effect. The components fight bacteria and inhibit the growth of pathogens. This helps to strengthen the immune system, and the body overcomes the cough on its own.
7. Dr. Theiss - Lozenges envelop the larynx and upper respiratory tract to reduce hoarseness and inflammation. There is a wide range of varieties of candy that differ in plant components.
8. Immunovit with sage essential oil - consists of a complex of vitamins that keep the body's immune system in good shape. Lozenges reduce inflammation, soothe coughs and relieve perspiration.

While licorice cough drops are not a cure for respiratory problems, they are considered to be an excellent remedy for relieving or minimizing sore throat or chest pain.

In addition, the use of such lozenges allows you to save the patient from dry cough attacks. As a result, his condition is stabilized, and it becomes much easier to perform his treatment with the help of other medicines.

Composition of licorice candies

If you decide to buy licorice cough lozenges, the instructions for them will definitely come in handy. The fact is that such lozenges in themselves are not a remedy for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and they are usually used as an additional remedy. Doctors recommend them along with antitussive, expectorant and anti-inflammatory drugs.

When purchasing licorice cough drops, reviews about them should be studied first of all, since only patients can fully appreciate their effectiveness. It should be noted that most of these drugs are made using licorice root and lactitol. But there is no sugar in them, since the named natural substances themselves have a sweetish taste.

• detrimental effect on the pathogenic microflora in the intestine;
• does not affect the level of insulin in the human body;
• prevents the occurrence of caries.

On a note! Usually, in classical medicine, these cough drops are prescribed in order to improve sputum discharge and eliminate sore throat.

Licorice root has a strong anti-inflammatory effect localized in the throat. This should be borne in mind when starting treatment with this drug.

As for the instructions for use, she advises to use licorice lozenges only when necessary, when there is pain or sore throat. At the same time, it is still worth adhering to the restrictions - no more than 6 lozenges per day. In addition, after taking the lollipops, you should not eat or drink for about half an hour.

Pros of cold lozenges

Since the described drug has practically no contraindications, it can be given to both adults and children. However, remember that licorice root can cause allergies, and overuse will lead to a jump in blood pressure. This circumstance should be borne in mind when using other drugs during the treatment of a cold in parallel.

The benefits of licorice preparations include:

• the presence of an antiseptic and antimicrobial effect;
• prolonged anti-inflammatory action, they relieve redness, pain, and swelling of the throat;
• prolonged astringent action;
• the presence of an expectorant effect, relieving coughing attacks, removing throat irritation, and also softening it.

On a note! In the case when the disease of the upper respiratory tract is started, you have to take lollipops together with antibacterial and antiviral drugs.

At the same time, at the initial stage of its development, the independent use of lollipops is quite allowed.

If you carefully read the instructions for this drug, you can find out that lozenges give excellent results in the treatment of a disease such as tonsillitis. When the lozenge is absorbed, the medicinal substances contained in it spread over the surface of the pharynx and larynx. As a result, not only tonsillitis is cured, but also diseases such as laryngitis and pharyngitis.

In addition, due to the concentrated placement of medicinal substances in the oral cavity, licorice lozenges are used to treat gum disease and stomatitis. At the same time, licorice lozenges should not be consumed uncontrollably for a long period and it is imperative to observe at least two-hour breaks between doses.

Important! In any case, before starting treatment with lozenges, study if you are allergic to their components.

The fact is that this circumstance is perhaps the only contraindication. When purchasing even the most harmless lozenges and cough lozenges, be sure to first consult your doctor about the possibility of using them.

Lollipop treatment for children

When using licorice cough drops for children, you need to remember that they are absolutely safe for children from 3 years old. But be sure to get the recommendations of your local pediatrician before using them.

Due to the fact that children are more active than adults, they are not always able to take regular medications on time according to the instructions. Lollipops are perceived by children as sweets, so they willingly use them. As a result, it will be possible to abandon the long and unpleasant flushing of the throat with solutions, moreover, not always pleasant to the taste.

By the way, licorice cough drops during pregnancy are used in a manner similar to their use for children. The expectant mother may also have contraindications in the form of an allergic reaction. If you take cough remedies uncontrollably in this case, you can harm both her and the unborn child.

Making lollipops at home

In addition to licorice and other lozenges sold in pharmacies, you can use homemade lozenges for coughs. For example, burnt sugar is referred to as folk antitussives. In this case, medicinal herbs, for example, decoctions of licorice and sage, can be added to the candy.

If you decide to prepare such a medicine yourself, then you need to pour sugar into a saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon of natural honey to sugar, as well as a decoction of herbs that are used to treat coughs (sage, chamomile, anise and cloves). After the mass melts over the fire and becomes homogeneous, pour it into prepared molds and let cool. After that, homemade lollipops can be used for their intended purpose.

In addition to chocolate and ice cream, the kids' favorite treats are licorice hard candies. Licorice is a foreign name for licorice root, in sweets it is usually a plant extract. Licorice smells good for cough syrup, and licorice candies help with sore throat, cough and gastrointestinal diseases. But is the remedy as useful as it is popular?

Discovery of licorice

Licorice belongs to the legume family... A specific bitter taste similar to anise is noted. This fact played a role in the assignment of specific properties and status of a remedy to licorice. Twigs, licorice roots are still found in Egyptian tombs. Among the lovers of licorice candy was Napoleon Bonaparte, who took them as a sedative before a fight. The first snail-shaped sweets appeared in Holland. The sailors took them with them as medicine for colds.

Now licorice root and extracts from it are used in the manufacture of carbonated drinks, the tobacco industry, for marinating meat, as well as in metallurgy to suppress sulfuric acid fog. The foaming properties of licorice have been noted in the production of fire extinguisher mixtures. In the chemical industry, licorice is indispensable for dyeing woolen and silk products.

Candy or pill

The child pays attention to unusual, bright sweets... Most of all, kids love candy that is stretchy, so licorice gummies and hard candies become a favorite treat.

Indications

When buying a licorice lollipop, you need to understand the effect of over-the-counter sweetness. The following properties of licorice have long been known:

1. Increased secretion of bronchial epithelium, contributing to the expectorant effect.
2. Strengthening the production of gastrointestinal mucus, which protects the stomach.

Cough is a symptom of the disease, but its sources can be:

• Infection accompanied by signs of acute onset, general malaise, fever;
• Allergens that provoke cough without disturbing the general condition.

A child taking licorice lozenges as prophylactic or expectorant, accumulates the volume of sputum. If you give liquorice lollipop, the child will cough harder.

Possible complications

A parent's dream of a golden pill to cure a cough is dead end. The most dangerous thing in the treatment of children is the appointment of both an expectorant and a cough medicine. The adjuvant thins out phlegm and increases mucus production, and the drug turns off coughing as a mechanism for eliminating mucus. In this situation, complications are inevitable. A child, unlike an adult, is more difficult to cough. When a child coughs, that is, cleans the lungs, respiratory muscles workpushing mucus.

The fundamental difference lies in weakness, underdevelopment of muscles, so it is more difficult for children to cough up phlegm. A child taking an expectorant cannot get rid of the extra mucus, and the parents, giving this medicine, spend a sleepless night and rush to the doctor in the morning, complaining of wheezing.

In Scandinavia, where the licorice boom took place, studies were carried out, according to which it turned out that licorice increases blood pressure. Further tests showed:

There are no instructions for using licorice sweets, but as a medicine that a child takes, it requires the obligatory participation of a doctor.

Sweetness characteristic

Licorice candies are sweet, salty, with various additivesbut the main components remain unchanged. Licorice lollipop is:

• the sugar from which the thick syrup is made;
• licorice, aka licorice;
• beeswax.

The sweet treat contains sugar. High concentration promotes inflammation and leads to destruction of the epithelium of the vascular wall, where fat accumulates, atherosclerosis. Some medicinal licorice lozenges contain lactitol, which is harmless to the microflora of the stomach and teeth. However, the child should not abuse candies. The instruction reads: 30 grams per day (5 pcs.) - the maximum dosage for sore throat, sore throat, cough.

Attention: allergen!

The shiny look of licorice candy caused by a waxy coating. Beeswax is a biologically active ingredient and a powerful allergen. If a child is allergic to various pollen, flowering, cough, it will not work to treat with licorice sweets. On the contrary, instead of therapeutic and prophylactic effects, the allergic response in the form of rashes, discomfort, and swelling comes to the fore.

In addition, beeswax contains substances that cause not only a true allergic reaction, but also a pseudo-reaction. The more the child eats candy, the more pronounced allergies... Pseudoallergens entering the body interact with immune cells, exploding them. When cells are destroyed, histamine is released, which causes reddening of the skin, itching, and scratching.

There is no evidence that licorice cough drops actually help. Unfortunately, the fact that licorice causes bronchospasm as a result of an allergic reaction has been proven.

Storage conditions

Do not forget about the expiration date of the medicine, storage conditions. The manual contains the following information:

1. Shelf life is no more than 2 years.
2. Possible storage at a temperature of 15-20 degrees in a place protected from sunlight.

Licorice, as a medicinal plant, is included in the international list of pharmaceuticals. This suggests that licorice, a well-studied herb, with serious medicinal properties... In scientific medicine, licorice is used to treat a number of diseases: asthma, gastritis, stomach ulcers, rheumatism. Home and folk methods treat whooping cough, cough, throat diseases. Medicines, in addition to therapeutic effects, always have side effects, especially when used improperly in children.

Licorice lozenges contain an extract from the root of the licorice plant... The extract has been used by humans since ancient times and is still quite popular in candy form, as a flavoring agent and as a medicine. Medicinal candies are popular with new and old generations and have this unique, sweet yet medicinal taste.

Did you know that the flavor we associate with liquorice in candy is mainly composed of anise oil, which helps to enhance the flavor. True licorice has a very sweet, stale, earthy aroma.

Since licorice is categorized as “additives,” its production and distribution is largely unregulated. It does not need approval from the Sanitary Inspectorate or other health authorities and can be freely sold (and consumed), the price for this reason also varies. This factor allows people to have exaggerated claims for its benefits and encourages reckless use, not understanding the balance between benefits and risks.

What is licorice

The roots of the licorice plant are commonly called licorice. These rhizomes Glycyrrhiza glabra (Latin name) have different varieties and grow in China, the Urals, America, Turkey and other countries. Its aroma is similar to fennel, anise seeds and other plants. Cut into segments about eight inches long, the sticks are widely sold in the herbal market.

Glycyrrhizic acid and its glucoside, glycyrrhizin, are the active chemical components in the composition of sweets, which give the unique taste of licorice. These molecules are considered to be nearly the same, are powerful organoleptic flavors and give the characteristic taste and aroma of liquorice to candies, where it is found in small concentrations.

Glycyrrhizin is similar in structure to the corticosteroids produced by our adrenal glands. It is a sweet glycoside that foams on contact with water.

Licorice extract is said to mimic stress hormones, has an estrogenic effect, and also increases prostaglandin levels in the body.

Licorice cough drops have an emollient (soothing an irritated diaphragm), expectorant (weakening and displacing mucus) effect, and also serve as an anti-inflammatory and protective agent for the liver.

Benefit for health

Traditionally, licorice flavored lozenges have been used for cough suppressants for children, to soothe sore throat and ease breathing. It was the main ingredient in many ancient expectorants. The airway opening effect can be helpful in asthma when the closed airway causes wheezing.

Toothache, oral hygiene and voice

It is said that holding licorice cough drops in your mouth has a positive effect on dental health, as they have an antibacterial effect. They are also a good dental cleaner to help fight gum disease. However, be sure to read the instructions before using in this capacity: such candies should be made without sugar.

Licorice lozenges may be associated with increased vocal cord strength in low doses.

Because licorice extract can mimic glucocorticoid hormone, people with undiagnosed and borderline adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's disease) may benefit from lozenges, but in small doses, as consuming large amounts of licorice can negatively impact health.

Recent animal research has shown that a component of licorice may be useful as an antidote.

Some agencies report that the protective effect of licorice may be helpful in treating chronic hepatitis caused by viruses such as hepatitis B and C.

Its estrogenic effect can also help women who suffer from higher testosterone levels, which cause unsightly hair growth, hair loss, and discomfort during menopause.

Contraindications and precautions

Precautions:

• the use of licorice candies in an amount of more than two or three packs of 40-50 g of active ingredient daily for 1-2 weeks leads to health problems;
• for people over 40, taking 50g of pure licorice per day for at least two weeks may cause irregular heart rhythm (or arrhythmia);
• glycyrrhizin leads to potassium deficiency, which provokes high blood pressure, edema, lethargy and congestive heart failure;
• not compatible with some medicines, herbs and dietary supplements. Talk to your doctor to discuss drug interactions;
• if you have eaten a lot of black licorice and begin to experience sudden muscle weakness or irregular heart rhythms, stop eating immediately and see your doctor.

It is important to know that large doses of licorice have been withdrawn from medical practice due to serious side effects.

In high doses, licorice can cause:

• hypertension (high blood pressure);
• muscle paralysis;
• hypokalemia (lack of potassium);
• heartbeat disorders;
• erectile problems (impotence) in males;
• cycle disorders in the female;
• reactivation of breast cancer.

Cases have been reported of people hospitalized with muscle paralysis and severe serum hypokalemia after consuming large amounts of black liquorice. At doses greater than 200g per day, it can be very dangerous, so caution is advised when overfeeding with black licorice candy. One pack of lollipops can contain 40-50 g of the active ingredient, so consuming more than 2-3 packs daily can lead to health problems within 1-2 weeks.

Consuming 100 mg or less per day is not known to cause any side effects, but you should always consult your doctor if you have any other health concerns. Fortunately, most licorice chocolates are very low in licorice extract and use anise oil for this unique flavor.

It's best not to take licorice while pregnant or breastfeeding.