The International Zoroastrian Community Magazine
Est. 1964 · Bombay
The healer of voice and speech. Named 'Shirin Bayan' (Sweet Speech) in Persian — a plant whose medicinal power is named after its most immediate observable action. Central to Persian medicine for respiratory, gastrointestinal, adrenal, and hormonal conditions. Native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia including Iran. Glycyrrhiza glabra grows wild across the Iranian plateau and has been cultivated there since ancient times.
Deep-rooted perennial of the Mediterranean and western Asian steppe. Found across Iran's lowland and foothills regions, particularly in the Zagros mountain foothills, Khorasan, and along river valleys. The root runs 1-2 meters deep — a plant that draws from the deep earth. Harvested in autumn after 3-4 years of growth. Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey are the primary wild-harvest regions.
Avicenna Canon of Medicine (extensive entry — respiratory, gastric, adrenal, hormonal use), Makhzan ul-Adwia, Dioscorides De Materia Medica (documents Persian use), Bundahishn 24 (root category), Galen (documents Persian licorice exports), Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Iranian ethnomedicine studies), PMC — Glycyrrhiza glabra review
Respiratory (cough, bronchitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis — both demulcent and expectorant), gastrointestinal (gastric and duodenal ulcers — documented H. pylori inhibition and mucosal protection, IBS, inflammatory bowel conditions), adrenal support (addison's disease, adrenal fatigue, cortisol regulation), viral hepatitis (glycyrrhizin is used as a pharmaceutical in Japan for chronic hepatitis C treatment), hormonal balance (menopausal symptoms, PCOS), depression (liquiritin — clinical trial confirms antidepressant activity), immune modulation, skin conditions (topical anti-inflammatory), oral health (anti-H. pylori, antimicrobial).
Voice medicine (Magi protocol): simmer 1 tablespoon of dried, sliced licorice root in 2 cups of water for 20 minutes. Strain. Add honey. Drink one cup slowly, allowing it to coat the throat. Use before and after long manthra recitation. For gastric conditions: deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) chewable tablets or decoction taken 20 minutes before meals. For respiratory conditions: combine licorice root with thyme and peppermint in a long simmer (30 minutes) — a compound respiratory formula the Magi would recognize. For adrenal support: take licorice root extract (standardized to glycyrrhizin) in the morning only — in alignment with the cortisol peak during the Havan Gah. Dosage: 1-5g dried root daily for short-term use (8-12 weeks maximum at medicinal doses). Then rest for equal time before resuming.
Licorice + thyme + peppermint: the Iranian respiratory triad — expectorant (licorice), antimicrobial (thyme), cooling and bronchodilating (peppermint). Licorice + chamomile: gastrointestinal soothing compound — both anti-inflammatory and demulcent. Licorice + fennel + coriander: digestive formula for bloating, cramping, and gastric inflammation. Licorice + saffron: mood support combination — both have antidepressant mechanisms through different pathways.
Licorice resonates with Sraosha — the principle of sacred listening and response. Sraosha governs the voice, manthra, and divine communication. Licorice protects and restores the voice — the instrument of manthra. Its sweetness (50x sweeter than sugar) is the frequency of gift: this root gives immediately, openly, abundantly. It moistens what is dry, soothes what is inflamed, sweetens what is bitter. This is the medicine of right speech: clear, unobstructed, offered without resistance.
Glycyrrhizin used as a pharmaceutical treatment for chronic viral hepatitis in Japan (intravenous formulation — Stronger Neo-Minophagen C). Antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-1 documented in Nature (2003) — glycyrrhizin inhibited virus replication. Clinical trial confirmed antidepressant activity of liquiritin (2009, Journal of Ethnopharmacology). H. pylori inhibition documented in multiple in vitro and clinical studies. WHO monograph recognizes licorice root for upper respiratory tract inflammation and gastric conditions. Glabridin (isoflavone) confirmed neuroprotective in Alzheimer's models.
Long-term use of high-dose licorice root containing glycyrrhizin can cause pseudoaldosteronism: sodium retention, potassium depletion, elevated blood pressure, edema. Maximum 8 weeks at medicinal doses. Not for use in hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, or with diuretics. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) preparations have removed this risk and are safe for long-term use. Contraindicated in pregnancy at medicinal doses (uterine stimulant). Do not combine with corticosteroids — additive effects.