Introduction
Asl-us- Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) is a perennial plant of the family “Fabaceae”. It is commonly known as Licorice/ Liquorice, sweet wood etc. It is well known as Asl-us-Soos (Mulethi) in Unani system of medicine. It is widely used in Indian systems of medicines for various respiratory ailments and also as sweetener and flavouring agent in pharmaceutical industry.
The name “Glycyrrhiza glabra” is a Greek word, Glycyrrhiza means sweet and glabra means smooth. It has a faint characteristic smell and sweet taste. It is mostly used in the form of extract and powder, but its extract has been proven most potent form of the drug. Rubb-us- Soos and Sat Mulethi are the names of Asl-us- Soos extract sold in market.
Licorice extract is used as an essential constituent of cough syrup and lozenges. Liquorice is used in the form of infusion, decoction and lozenges in Unani system of medicine.
Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. (Asl-us- Soos) is found in England, Iran, Spain, Iraq, Sicily and Russia etc. in large scale. In India it is cultivated in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Andaman Island etc.
Asl-us-Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) achieves a height of 1.8 meter. Leaves of the licorice are impariprinnate; leaflets in 4-7 pair, ovate- lanceolate and smooth.
Flowers of the Liquorice are born in axillary spikes, papilionaceous, lavender to violet in colour. Seed are 2-3 in number, flat deep grey. The plant is cultivated by planting rhizome or stolon cuttings in well moist sandy soil in the month of March.
Temperament (Mizaj)
Haar (Hot) 2o, Yaabis (Dry) 1o
Vernacular names
Scientific Classification
Action (Afaʻal)
Asl-us-Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) is Expectorant (Munaffis wa Mukhrij-e- Balgham), Nervine tonic (Muqawwi-e- Aʻsab), Analgesic (Musakkin), Resolvent (Muhallil), Detergent (Jaali), General tonic (Muqawwi-e- Aam), Laxative (Mulayyin), Carminative (Kasir-e- Riyah), Diuretic (Mudirr-e- Baul), Emmenogogue (Mudirr-e- Haiz), Aphrodisiac (Muqawwi-e- Bah), Dafa’-e- Khushoonat-e- Halaq, Antacid (Dafa’-e- Humoozat-e- meʻda), Emetic (Muqi), Mugharri, Beneficial in Chronic fever (Dafaʻ-e- Tipha-e- Muzmina), Ghasil-e- Aza-e- Baaaina, Musakkin-e- Tishnagi (beneficial in thirst).
Therapeutic uses (Mawaq-e- Isteʻmal)
Asl-us-Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) is an important medicinal plant used in Unani system of medicine for its diverse medicinal values. It is specially used in Peptic ulcer (Qurooh-e- Huzoomi), Arthritis (Waja-ul- Mafasil), Liver diseases (Amraaz-e- Kabid), Cough (Suʻal), Tuberculosis (Ḍiq-al- Nafas), Bronchial asthma (Rabw), Burning micturition (Hurqa-al- Bawl), Gonorrhoea (Suzaak), gall bladder ulcer (Qurooḥ-e- Masana), Hoarseness of voice (Buht-us- Saut) and Corneal opacity (Bayaaz-ul- Ain). It is also recommended for the treatment of epilepsy and also used in early menopausal condition in women.
Asl-us-Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) is also used for the common cold, viral hepatitis, viral infection. Externally it is applied with honey for the treatment of paronychia (Daakhis), honey and ghee for cuts and wounds. Topically, Asl-us-Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) powder used in Herpes (Namla), Eczema (Nar farsi) and psoriasis (Daa-us- sadaf).
Important formulation (Mashhoor Murakkabat)
Asl-us- Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) is used along with other ingredients in the following Unani formulations
Muzir (Contraindication): It is contraindicated in kidney and spleen diseases.
Muṣliḥ (Correctives): Kateera (Astragalus gummifer) is recommended in kidney diseases while Gul-e- Surkh (Rosa damascena Mill.) is recommended in spleen diseases
Badal (substitute): Kateera (Astragalus gummifer) is recommended in chest pain.
Doses: 3-7 gm
References
