Ingredient profile
Mulethi
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Sweet licorice root, traditionally used to soothe the throat and support the respiratory system.
- Hindi
- मुलेठी
- Sanskrit
- Yashtimadhu
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Part used
- root
Traditional use
Mulethi, known in English as licorice or liquorice, is a perennial legume whose woody, yellow-fleshed roots have a naturally sweet taste.
In Ayurvedic tradition
Known in Sanskrit as Yashtimadhu, “sweet stick”, it is used in Ayurveda to soothe the throat and support the respiratory system, and as a harmonising herb in many formulations.
Ayurvedic properties
- Rasa (taste): Sweet
- Guna (qualities): Heavy, unctuous
- Virya (potency): Cooling
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Sweet
- Effect on the doshas: Balances vata and pitta
How it is traditionally taken
Pieces of the root are traditionally chewed, or the powder is taken with honey or warm water. It is also used in herbal teas.
Safety notes
Long-term or high intake is not advised. Consult a doctor if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant. Use as directed on the product label. This profile is for general education and is not medical advice.
References
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (monograph: Yashtimadhu) pharmacopoeia