The root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra is known as licorice in American English and liquorice in British English. From this root, the sweet flavor can be extracted. Glycyrrhiza glabra can be found in some parts of Asia (mostly India), parts of the middle east, and parts of southern Europe. The star anise, anise, or fennel, which is sources of comparable flavoring compounds, are not botanically linked. The licorice flavors, especially in some European and Middle East nations, are utilized as candies or sweeteners.
Contrary to veterinary dexamethasone, licorice strengthens the natural anti-inflammatory procedure of the body without adversely affecting the immune system. It is also a good complement to hydrocortisone treatment with the glycyrrhizin found in licorice, often for less drug use. Because steroids often weaken, licorice is the plant of animals who take corticosteroids and can even be used to wear dogs away from steroids securely.
The ethnobotany usage of licorice is thousands of years old and its history is likely just as old in veterinary implementations. For at least a thousand years, it has been regarded in Europe as an important medicine and commercial commodity. Already in the 13th century, Glycyrrhiza glabra for international trade were being grown. And in China, it is still used in many implementations even more than ginseng and then any other plant.
For diseases ranging from small problems such as stomach discomfort to the treatment of cancer, the licorice root is helpful. Contemporary homeopaths and the scientists of the modern era remain, in contrast to many botanical medicinal products that science regards as anecdotal curiosities. Literal books of data have been collected on Glycyrrhiza’s characteristics, and what this magnificent herb has to offer seems that we have only started to scratch the very basics.
Is licorice root safe for dogs?
The root of the licorice is generally not considered to be detrimental if given alone as a supplement or medicine for healthy dogs. However, licorice root can be hazardous when dogs have hypertension or heart issues. Glycyrrhiza, which usually interacts with the sugar cell and enables natural steroids to remain efficient for a long time, is an active component of licorice. This component can also increase blood pressure and trigger fluid retention, which both could be deadly in dogs with comparable issues already.
The relaxing advantages of licorice without adverse impacts could be achieved in a type of licorice to dogs and to people which is called deglycyrrhizinated licorice and also known as DGL. Glycyrrhiza has already been eliminated from DGL and normally leads to harmful adverse reactions. Its extraction makes the licorice usually safer for pets and for individuals with health problems that prevent the plain root of licorice from being a useful solution. Like most treatments, anyone who wishes to use licorice should usually talk to their medical professionals so that it is a secure choice for their animals. This is particularly crucial when a dog has health problems or is taking medicine.
Benefits of licorice root for dogs
There are many advantages of giving licorice to the dogs, some of these benefits are:
- Reduce inflammation, itchiness and even the signs of cancer;
- Therapy and prevention of several types of disease of the liver;
- Topical ointment or oil infusion to help bug-bite allergy, skin illness and seborrheic dermatitis;
- Enhance Immune system for your dog;
- Enhance the digestive system and breathing activity;
- Decrease pain in the joints and other signs of arthritis.
Anti-Inflammatory action
In most individuals who took their pets for the treatment of inflammatory disorder to a medical professional, hydrocortisone, as well as the other corticosteroid drugs for example prednisone, have witnessed the bittersweet. Their capacity to reduce inflammation, itchiness and even the signs of cancer or nerves conditions of these drugs, are in many respects very close to the “miracle medications”. However, the side effects of steroid medication may be worse than the disease we want to fight.
Fortunately, the root of licorice can give us safer choices. Several trials verified the usefulness of this anti-inflammatory agent as efficient and quick-acting. As a matter of fact, many holistic professionals actually use licorice to replace anti-inflammatory medicines or decrease animal requirements for corticosteroids.
Licorice root’s anti-inflammatory activity is mainly caused by a chemical known as the “glycyrrhizin” in the plant. Glycyrrhizin is very much like the real cortisone produced by the adrenal glands of the body. Anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, corticoid-like, immune-supportive effects of glycyrrhizin actively encourage the action of adrenals on the body. This enables licorice, without totally circumventing ordinary anti-inflammatory features and without seriously compromising the immune system, to help relieve pain, itching, and inflammation.
Liver benefits
The licorice is also helpful for the therapy and prevention of several types of disease of the liver, along with its strong anti-inflammatory actions. Over the previous twenty years, Chinese and Japanese medical scientists through their research on animals have identified extracts of the root of licorice as being helpful for treating the chemically caused hepatitis, chronic, and that the herb is not of lesser importance than that provided by the famous herbal liver, dairy thistle (Silybum marianum).
Aside from a protective action on liver cells, glycyrrhizin also promotes interferon and manufacturing of T-cells, two natural activities essential to the hepatic repair and overall resistance of the diseases. Licorice is frequently used in Chinese medicine to treat obstructive jaundice as a “liver detoxification”. Moreover, various studies have shown that licorice benefits animals that suffer hepatic harm from the toxins absorbed or ingested, such as carbon tetrachloride.
Benefits of skin
When applied topically, the anti-inflammatory characteristics of the licorice root are also helpful. The unpleasant symptoms of diverse skin illnesses, including arthritis, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and bug-bite allergy, may include licorice tea or topical ointment or oil infusion.
All you need is cut, dried roots of the licorice which can be easily available at any excellent herb retailer and some olive oil to create an easy oil infusion. In a glass jar put the root and coat with sufficient oil to leave over the herb a sub-inch covering of liquid. Tightly cover the jar and put it in a warm place where the temperature should be between 55 °-75 ° F and must be away from the sunshine. Twist the oil through a sieve after a month, then squeeze it into unbleached muslin or cheese-cloth to squeeze the herb’s material. Now you have sweet-savory oil, which will not get worse at least for several months if you put it in a refrigerator. Apply topically on your dog’s skin as required.
Benefits of the Immune system
In a very latest research, a potential impact on the reticuloendothelial system (the very first phase of body protection against disease) was discovered in the root of glycyrrhiza uralensis which are the species of licorice found in Asia. The reticular-endothelial system basically consists of specialized cells that are designed to look for and remove attacking microbes and dying cells of the blood, and the licorice contributes to the activation of these small bloodstream guerrillas.
Herbal Remedy for Arthritis in Dogs
Licorice Root includes anti-inflammatory substances that decrease pain in the joints and other signs of arthritis while enhancing the digestive system and breathing activity. Licorice root has no side effects in a tiny amount but can lead to high blood pressure, and imbalances of hormones if consumed in big quantities or in daily use. The substance which causes the problems has been removed from products labeled ‘deglycyrrhizinated licorice’ or’ DGL.’ However, some of the advantages of the herb are also removed.
How much Licorice Root should be given to a Dog?
The sweet taste of licorice is very much appreciated by many livestock. You might be amazed to see your dog lick the sweet dish as soon as you can use the topical oil! For most dogs, Licorice has such excellent flavor that you can even use licorice to mask the flavor of other herbs that he could taste icky.
Used internally, the best way to use a tincture is to use it instead of dried herbs; dogs could not digest enough of it. The dosage is somewhat dependent on the dog and implementation, but the thumb rule is general: Tincture, twice a day this is a nice starting point twelve to twenty drops for every twenty pounds of bodied body mass, or you can also use tea, which you can also use two times every day and it will be thirty to sixty drops for every twenty pounds of the mass of the body.
The principal rule for using licorice is, use very moderation and understandable amount whenever you use it, as are all herbal medicines. The risk of unfortunate side effects due to licorice will be restricted to those who abused it senselessly, most herbalists and professionals agree.
If a licorice treatment takes longer than two weeks, the diet must be adapted to meet enhanced potassium requirements and the removal of surplus sodium from the body. Dandelion is stated as an efficient diuretic that prevents fluid retention and is an outstanding source of additional potassium. It is an efficient diuretic. Licorice should not be provided without professional advice to animals who already has cardiovascular conditions.
Risks of Licorice root
Toxicity induced from Licorice is very rare but large use of it, and especially highly concentrated doze over a long period of time can cause serious problems in dogs such as hypertension, retention of water, loss of potassium, retention of sodium, and the symptoms of adrenal hypertension. The big majority of such adverse effects were found after excessive consumption of European licorice candy from a highly focused, pressed root extract in human studies. The majority of sweets made in the USA carry no true licorice at all, but rather an artificial aroma or extracts that taste comparable to the taste of licorice. The licorice must not be used without the orders of a skilled medical professional, especially with reckless abandonment or at ordinary doses for periods exceeding 2 weeks.
Glycyrrhizin may reduce both blood and potassium concentrations in the bodies of animals, and boost animal blood thinner which can cause risk of bleeding. Medical professionals may recommend deglycyrrhizinated licorice, from which the glycyrrhizin has been extracted, for risky patients, such as animals with diabetes or Addison’s disease. Ls similar to the many other herbs, licorice should never be used in pregnant livestock, temporary vision problem can be caused by overdosage of licorice root. It has also been proven Licorice has estrogenic characteristics that can influence uterine functionalities. Licorice should t
