Licorice, more than just a flavour

Licorice (liquorice) is widely known as a flavouring agent. It is also commonly recgonized as a folk medicine for sore throats. It is not as widely known, however, that licorice has cortisone-like activity and side effects. Nor is it commonly known that preparations from licorice are clinically useful in treating peptic ulcers. Currently, focus is on the role of licorice in treating various herpes infections. Data is presented vindicating many traditional uses and evaluating the role of licorice and its derivatives in current clinical medicine (AU)