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Liquorice

From London's Ghost Acres


Liquorice root is commonly used in food stuffs as a flavouring agent. While it does include medicinal properties (antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and blood pressure-increasing), it was primarily used to mask the flavour of bitter medicines, especially when treating children. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquorice)


British Pharmacopoeia 1867

Liquorice Root Glycyrrhizae Cortex

“The root or underground stem, fresh and dried, or Glycyrrhiza glabra… Cultiviated in England.”[1]

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.” Used in the preparations of:[2]

  • Confectio Terebinthinae
  • Decoctum Sarae compositum
  • Extractum Glycyrrhizae
  • Infusum Lini
  • Pilula Hydrargyri
  • Pilula Ferru Iodidi

Preparations of Liquorice

Confection of Senna / Confectio Sennae [3]

  • 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 [4]

  • 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[5]

  • 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 [6]

  • 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 [7]

  • 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 [8]

  • Linseed (160 grains), fresh liquorice root, sliced (60 grains), boiling distilled water (10 fl oz)

Compound Mixture of Senna / Mistura Sennae Composita [9]

  • 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[10]

  • 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 [11]

  • mercury (2 oz), confection of roses (3 oz), liquorice root, in fine powder (1 oz)
  • dose: 3-8 grains

Tincture of Aloes / Tinctura Aloes [12]

  • 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[13]

  • 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

Classified as Demulcent (Simple Remedies Which Allay Irritation By Their Soothing Properties)[14]

Often used to mask the flavour of other remedies.

Remedies Containing or to be used with Liquorice

  • Aloes, Socotrine: liquorice used to mask the taste of aloes. Especially when being administered to children.[15]
  • Linseed: Liquorice included in infusion of linseed, used to treat “inflammation of the lungs, recent coughs, the measles, gravel, and inflammation of the bladder.”[16]
  • Wine of Aloes: Extract of liquorice included in “Aloetic Mixture for Children”[17]

Medical Articles Containing Liquorice

  • Compound Infusion of Linseed: liquorice root, fresh sliced, and Spanish liquorice[18]
  • Compound decoction of Barley: liquorice root[19]
  • Decoction of Liquorice Root: liquorice root[20]
  • Compound Decoction of Sasparilla: liquorice root, bruised[21]

Prescriptions Containing Liquorice

Aperients and Cathartics

  • Aperient Aloetic Mixture: extract of liquorice[22]

Demulcents

  • Cough Mixture (Another): Spanish liquorice[23]

References

  1. General Medical Council of Great Britain, British Pharmacopeia, (London: Spottiswoode & Co.,1867), 146 https://archive.org/details/britishpharmacop00gene
  2. GMCGB, 147
  3. GMCGB, 89
  4. GMCGB, 90
  5. GMCGB, 69-97
  6. GMCGB, 100
  7. GMCGB, 119
  8. GMCGB, 162
  9. GMCGB, 212
  10. GMCGB, 237-38
  11. GMCGB, 238
  12. GMCGB, 319
  13. GMCGB, 350
  14. Savory, John. A Compendium of Domestic Medicine (London: John Churchill and Sons, 1865), 392. https://books.google.ca/books?id=VxoDAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
  15. Savory, 12
  16. Savory, 95
  17. Savory, 169
  18. Savory, 290
  19. Savory, 291
  20. Savory, 292
  21. Savory, 293
  22. Savory, 311
  23. Savory, 323


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