Liquorice
From London's Ghost Acres
Contents
British Pharmacopoeia 1867
Liquorice Root Glycyrrhizae Cortex
“The root or underground stem, fresh and dried, or Glycyrrhiza glabra… Cultiviated in England.” (146)
Characteristics
“In long cylindrical branched pieces, an inch or less in diameter, tough and pliable; or greyish-brown colour externally, yellow internally, without odour, of a sweet mucilaginous and slightly acrid taste.” (147) Used in the preparations of:
- Confectio Terebinthinae
- Decoctum Sarae compositum
- Extractum Glycyrrhizae
- Infusum Lini
- Pilula Hydrargyri
- Pilula Ferru Iodidi
Preparations of Liquorice
Confection of Senna / Confectio Sennae 89
- Senna, in fine powder (89), coriander fruit, in fine powder (3 oz), figs (12 oz), tamarind (9 oz), cassia pulp (9 oz), prunes (6 oz), extract of liquorice (3/4 oz), refined sugar (30 oz), and distilled water
- dose: 60-120 grains
Confection of Turpentine / Confectio Terebinthinae 90
- oil or turpentine (1 fl oz), liquorice root, in powder (1 oz), clarified honey (2 oz)
- dose: 60-120 grains
Compound Decoction of Aloes / Decoctum Aloes Compositum 96-97
- extract of socotrine aloes (120 grains), myrrh (90 grains), saffron (90 grains), carbonate of potash (60 grains), extract of liquorice (1 oz), compound tincture of cardamoms (8 fl oz), distilled water ( as needed)
- dose: ½ - 2 fl oz
Compound Decoction of Sarsaparilla / Decoctum Sarae Compositum 100
- Jamaica sarsaparilla, cut transversely (2 ½ oz), sassafras root in chips (1/4 oz), fresh liquorice root, bruised (1/4 oz), mezereon bark (60 grains), boiling distilled water (1 ½ pint)
- dose: 2-10 fl oz
Extract of Liquorice / Extractum Glycyrrhizae 119
- liquorice root, in coarse powder (1 pound), distilled water (4 pints)
- used in the preparations of: conectio sennae, Decoctum Aloes composita, Mistura Sennae composita, Tinctura Aloes, Trochisci Opii
Infusion of Linseed / Infusum Lini 162
- Linseed (160 grains), fresh liquorice root, sliced (60 grains), boiling distilled water (10 fl oz)
Compound Mixture of Senna / Mistura Sennae Composita 212
- sulphate of magnesia (4 oz), extract of liqorice (1/2 oz), tincture of senna (2 ½ fl oz), compound tincture of cardamoms (10 fl drachms), infusion of senna (as needed)
- dose: 1-1 ½ fl oz
Pill of Iodide of Iron / Pilula Ferri Iodidi 237-38
- fine iron wire (40 grains), iodine (80 grains), refined sugar, in powder (70 grains) liquorice root, in powder (140 grains), distilled water (50 minims)
- dose: 3-8 grains
Mercurial Pill / Pilula Hydrargyri 238
- mercury (2 oz), confection of roses (3 oz), liquorice root, in fine powder (1 oz)
- dose: 3-8 grains
Tincture of Aloes / Tinctura Aloes 319
- socotraine aloes, in coarse powder ( ½ oz), extract of liquorice (1 ½ oz), proof spirit (as needed)
- dose: 1-2 fl drachms
Opium Lozenges / Trachisci Opii 350
- extract of opium (72 grains), tincture of tolu (1/2 fl oz), refined sugar, in powder (16 oz), gum acacia, in powder (2 oz), extract of liquorice (6 oz), distilled water (as needed)
- dose: 1-6 lozenges
A Compendium of Domestic Medicine, 1865
All page numbers are recorded as (PDF #/SOURCE #)
Classified as Demulcent (Simple Remedies Which Allay Irritation By Their Soothing Properties)(413/392)
Often used to mask the flavour of other remedies.
Remedies Containing or to be used with Liquorice
- Aloes, Socotrine (33/12): liquorice used to mask the taste of aloes. Especially when being administered to children.
- Linseed (116/95): Liquorice included in infusion of linseed, used to treat “inflammation of the lungs, recent coughs, the measles, gravel, and inflammation of the bladder.”
- Wine of Aloes (190/169): Extract of liquorice included in “Aloetic Mixture for Children”
Medical Articles Containing Liquorice
- Compound Infusion of Linseed (311/290): liquorice root, fresh sliced, and Spanish liquorice
- Compound decoction of Barley (312/291): liquorice root
- Decoction of Liquorice Root (313/292): liquorice root
- Compound Decoction of Sasparilla (314/293): liquorice root, bruised
Prescriptions Containing Liquorice
Aperients and Cathartics
- Aperient Aloetic Mixture (332/311): extract of liquorice
Demulcents
- Cough Mixture (Another) (344/323): Spanish liquorice