Licorice for Bronchitis: Benefits, How to Use & Dosage

Licorice for Bronchitis: Does It Work?

Does Licorice (Yashtimadhu, Glycyrrhiza glabra) help with bronchitis (Kasa-Shvasa)? Yes, and the classical role is structural. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu describes Yashtimadhu as the prime Kanthya drug (the throat-soothing herb), and lists it as a foundational ingredient in Sitopaladi Churna, the most important classical respiratory formula. The classical description of Licorice in the encyclopedic tradition is explicit: it is recommended for bronchitis, colds, cough, laryngitis, liquefies and expectorates mucus, and "cleanses lungs and stomach of Kapha".

Bronchitis in Ayurveda sits in the Kasa-Shvasa family: an inflammation of the Pranavaha Srotas (the respiratory channel) where excess Kapha clogs the bronchial tubes and disturbed Prana Vata drives the cough and breathlessness. The classical pathology has three clinical faces, and Licorice fits a specific one. It is sweet and bitter in taste (Madhura, Tikta Rasa), cold in potency (Sheeta Virya), and pacifies Vata and Pitta while mildly increasing Kapha. Where ginger, Tulsi, and Pippali heat and dry to clear stuck Kapha mucus, Licorice cools and moistens to soothe what the inflammation has irritated.

This makes Licorice the lead herb for the acute viral, post-viral, and Pittaja-Kaphaja patterns of bronchitis: yellow or green sputum, a raw burning throat, hoarseness, dry tickling cough between productive bouts, and the persistent post-illness inflammation that other warming respiratory herbs can amplify. In the pure Kaphaja chronic pattern (heavy white mucus, morning congestion) Licorice is used in compound formulas like Sitopaladi Churna rather than alone, since its sweet quality could amplify Kapha. In the smoker / COPD-spectrum chronic bronchitis, Licorice plays a supportive demulcent role alongside the lead Kapha-movers, with the explicit caveat that long-term use in this population needs careful management of blood pressure.

Yashtimadhu is among the most frequently used drugs in Ayurveda, the prime Kanthya (throat-soothing) drug, an ingredient of Sitopaladi Churna and Talisadi Churna; the dried root is used.
Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1

How Licorice Helps with Bronchitis

Licorice works on bronchitis at three layers simultaneously: it coats and protects the inflamed bronchial mucosa, it liquefies and helps expel the trapped mucus, and it cools the underlying Pitta-driven inflammation that drives the acute viral and post-viral pattern. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu names the relevant karmas directly: Kanthya (throat-soothing), Shothahara (anti-inflammatory), Vrana Ropana (mucosal wound healing), and the expectorant action that liquefies Kapha while protecting the mucous membrane underneath.

The Demulcent-Plus-Expectorant Profile

Most respiratory herbs are heating decongestants that thin mucus by drying. Licorice does something different. Its sweet, viscous nature physically coats the inflamed bronchial lining (the classical Kanthya action that extends from the throat down into the upper airway), while its cold potency (Sheeta Virya) directly counters the heat of Pittaja-Kaphaja inflammation. The classical encyclopedic description calls it a "mucus liquefying and expectorating" herb that is also a "mucus membrane toner and soother", the rare combination of mobilising mucus and protecting the surface it is being expelled from.

Connecting to Pranavaha Srotas

In Pranavaha Srotas pathology, the channel becomes obstructed by Kapha and inflamed by Pitta; Prana Vata then cannot move correctly and the cough reflex turns dry, raw, and exhausting. Licorice pacifies Vata and Pitta (VP-), addressing both the dryness of the inflamed mucosa and the heat that drives the inflammatory cycle. Its mild emetic effect (Vamana) in larger doses is the classical mechanism by which Ayurveda redirects Kapha back toward the stomach for elimination, a logic Licorice tea has carried in Ayurvedic respiratory practice for centuries.

The Acute Viral Bronchitis Indication

For acute viral bronchitis (post-cold or post-flu chest involvement), the dominant pattern is Pittaja-Kaphaja: yellow-green sputum, burning chest sensation, hoarseness, a raw scratchy throat between coughs. This is the pattern Licorice is built for. The classical home protocol of Licorice mixed with ginger (1:1) is the textbook prescription, with ginger handling the residual Kapha and chills while Licorice addresses the throat, the inflammation, and the dry-irritative residue. Modern research on glycyrrhizin (Licorice's principal saponin) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, mucosal-protective and antiviral activity, with flavonoids (glabridin, liquiritigenin) contributing further antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action to the bronchial lining.

How to Use Licorice for Bronchitis

For bronchitis specifically, the best Licorice form is the warm decoction (Yashtimadhu Kashaya) taken with honey, or in the classical compound Sitopaladi Churna when Pippali and the other respiratory spices are also needed. Powder and lozenges work for the throat layer; capsules and standard extracts are less aligned with the demulcent action that gives Licorice its specific bronchitis value, which depends on physical contact between the viscous decoction and the inflamed mucosa.

Dosage table

Form	Adult dose	Vehicle (anupana)	Timing
Decoction (Yashtimadhu Kashaya)	30–50 ml, twice daily	1 teaspoon raw honey, stirred in once cooled below 40 °C	Between meals, sipped slowly
Dried root powder	3–5 g, twice daily	Warm water or warm milk; honey for the cough layer	After meals
Sitopaladi Churna (contains Licorice + Pippali)	3–6 g, twice daily	Honey and ghee in equal parts	After meals
DGL (deglycyrrhizinated) chewable	250–500 mg, two to three times daily	None (chew before swallowing)	Between meals, for long-term courses

Acute viral bronchitis (one to three weeks)

For the post-viral chest with yellow-green sputum, raw throat, and burning cough, take Yashtimadhu decoction with honey twice daily for 7 to 14 days. The classical 1:1 ginger-and-Licorice pairing is the most universal home preparation: simmer 1 teaspoon of each in two cups of water down to one cup, strain, cool, and add honey. Sitopaladi Churna with honey and ghee after meals brings Pippali, cinnamon, and cardamom into the same protocol, which is why it is the most widely used classical respiratory formula.

Chronic bronchitis and smoker / COPD-spectrum (longer courses)

For chronic bronchitis where Licorice is taken for weeks or months as the demulcent layer, switch to DGL (deglycyrrhizinated Licorice). DGL retains the flavonoid and saponin fraction responsible for mucosal protection while removing the glycyrrhizin compound that raises blood pressure on prolonged dosing. The standard pattern is 4 to 6 weeks on, followed by a 4-week break, to avoid the sustained mineralocorticoid effect. In the smoker / COPD-spectrum, Licorice is an adjunct to the Kapha-moving lead herbs (Pippali, Vasaka, Pushkarmool), not a substitute, and is always combined with smoking cessation as the upstream priority.

Duration expectations

For acute viral bronchitis: most people notice clearer mucus and a less raw throat within 3 to 5 days, with full resolution over 10 to 14 days. For chronic bronchitis: the demulcent benefit on cough and throat irritation appears within 1 to 2 weeks, but tissue-level improvement runs over 2 to 3 months of consistent use within the on-off rotation. Cautions: avoid sustained Licorice in hypertension, on potassium-wasting diuretics, in pregnancy, and in heart failure or kidney disease without practitioner supervision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Licorice better for acute or chronic bronchitis?

Licorice is the lead demulcent for acute viral and post-viral bronchitis with yellow or green sputum, burning chest, raw throat, and dry-irritative residue between productive coughs. It is the textbook Pittaja-Kaphaja herb. In chronic Kaphaja bronchitis (heavy white mucus, morning congestion, sluggish digestion) it plays a supporting role inside compound formulas like Sitopaladi Churna rather than a lead role, because its sweet, slightly Kapha-aggravating quality is not what the deep Kapha-Ama pattern needs as the primary intervention. For the chronic phase, the lead is usually Pippali or Vasaka, with Licorice added as the throat-and-mucosa demulcent.

Can I use Licorice if my doctor has prescribed antibiotics?

Generally yes, and it can be complementary, but timing matters. Antibiotics treat the bacterial component when one is present (a minority of acute bronchitis cases, since most are viral). Licorice addresses the inflamed mucosa, the cough, the throat, and the residual irritation. Separate doses by at least two hours from any oral medication, since Licorice's demulcent quality can theoretically slow absorption. Tell your prescribing clinician you are taking it, particularly if you are also on diuretics, antihypertensives, corticosteroids, or digoxin, because long-term Licorice has known interactions with all of these.

Is Licorice safe for smoker's bronchitis or COPD-spectrum chronic bronchitis?

In short courses, yes, but with two specific cautions. First, smokers and people with established chronic bronchitis or COPD are statistically more likely to have hypertension, and sustained whole-root Licorice raises blood pressure through its mineralocorticoid-like effect on aldosterone. Use DGL (deglycyrrhizinated Licorice) for any course longer than 4 to 6 weeks. Second, Licorice does not address the smoking itself, which is the upstream root of the Pranavaha Srotas damage. The herb is genuinely useful for the chronic inflammation, the demulcent layer, and the recurrent throat irritation, but smoking cessation has to be the parallel priority for any meaningful long-term improvement.

Licorice vs Ginger vs Tulsi vs Turmeric for bronchitis: which is right?

These four cover different patterns. Ginger is the warming Kapha-cutter for the cold, wet, chills-and-mucus phase. Tulsi is the antiviral and immunomodulator for the early acute phase, especially in post-flu chest involvement. Turmeric is the systemic anti-inflammatory and works particularly well for the deeper inflammatory layer and for adults with chronic recurring bronchitis. Licorice is the cooling demulcent for the inflamed bronchial lining, the raw throat, and the dry-irritative residue. The classical compound pattern, captured in Sitopaladi Churna, combines Licorice with Pippali and cinnamon precisely because the four mechanisms complement each other.

Recommended: Start Licorice for Bronchitis

If you want to start using Licorice for bronchitis today, here is the simplest classical-aligned starting point. The form that does the most for an inflamed, mucus-clogged bronchial channel is the warm decoction, sipped slowly so the demulcent action coats the throat and upper airway on the way down.

Best form to start

For active bronchitis (acute viral or post-viral): Sitopaladi Churna, 3 to 6 g with raw honey and ghee after meals, twice daily. It contains Licorice's classical respiratory partner Pippali in the right proportion, so the demulcent-and-expectorant pairing is already balanced. For a chronic course running beyond 4 to 6 weeks, switch to DGL chewable Licorice, 250 to 500 mg two to three times daily, which preserves the mucosal-healing fraction without the blood-pressure load.

Kitchen version

Simmer 1 teaspoon Yashtimadhu powder and 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (1:1) in two cups of water until reduced to one cup. Strain, cool below 40 °C, and stir in 1 teaspoon raw honey. Drink twice daily. This is the classical home formula the encyclopedic Ayurvedic literature names directly for colds, flu, and bronchitis with a raw throat.

Acute vs chronic fork

Acute viral bronchitis (yellow-green sputum, burning, raw throat): Sitopaladi Churna with honey and ghee, plus the Licorice-ginger tea twice daily for 10 to 14 days.
Chronic / smoker / COPD-spectrum: DGL chewable, 4 weeks on with a 4-week break, alongside the Kapha-moving lead herbs (Pippali, Vasaka) and smoking cessation as the upstream priority.

Find Licorice on Amazon ↗ Sitopaladi Churna ↗

When to escalate

See a doctor or pulmonologist for fever above 38.5 °C lasting more than three days, breathing difficulty at rest, wheezing that does not settle, blood in sputum, chest pain, or any bronchitis symptoms lasting longer than three weeks without clear improvement. Long-term Licorice should be avoided in hypertension, on potassium-wasting diuretics, in pregnancy, and in heart or kidney disease without practitioner supervision; for any course beyond 4 to 6 weeks, use DGL.

Safety & Precautions

Licorice is one of the most-used herbs on earth, but it is also one of the very few Ayurvedic herbs with a well-documented, dose-dependent side-effect profile. The active compound glycyrrhizin is the reason for both its power and its cautions. The good news: nearly all of the risk is avoidable by understanding dose and form.

The Hypertension Warning (Read This First)

Glycyrrhizin inhibits the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which allows cortisol to act on mineralocorticoid receptors. The practical result is pseudoaldosteronism, the body behaves as if aldosterone is elevated. This means:

Sodium and water retention, blood pressure rises
Potassium loss through urine, risk of hypokalaemia
In extreme cases: muscle weakness, arrhythmia, and oedema

Classical Ayurveda describes this directly: Licorice "increases water around the heart" and is contraindicated in hridroga (heart disease) and swelling. Modern cardiology agrees. Do not take therapeutic doses of whole-root Licorice if you have high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, low potassium, or a history of stroke. For any of these, DGL is the safe alternative.

Dose Matters Enormously

The difference between "daily tonic" and "adverse event" is dose and duration:

Culinary/trace amounts (a piece of root in tea, a lozenge), safe for virtually everyone
1-3 g/day of powder, short-term (up to 4-6 weeks), safe for most healthy adults
Above 3 g/day, or daily for months, real risk of BP elevation and potassium loss, even in previously healthy people
DGL, no glycyrrhizin, effectively no BP risk at any typical dose

Drug Interactions

Licorice can meaningfully interact with several common medications. If you are on any of the following, consult your doctor before using therapeutic doses:

Diuretics (especially thiazides and loop diuretics), compounds potassium loss dangerously
Digoxin, low potassium increases digoxin toxicity risk
Corticosteroids, Licorice extends their half-life and effect
Warfarin, may alter bleeding risk
Blood pressure medication, Licorice directly opposes the drug's action
Oral contraceptives and hormone therapy, phyto-oestrogenic effect may potentiate
Insulin and oral hypoglycaemics, Licorice can affect blood sugar in either direction

Pregnancy and Nursing

Classical Ayurveda states plainly: do not use in pregnancy. Modern observational data aligns, high Licorice intake during pregnancy is associated with preterm labour and second-trimester bleeding risk. Small culinary amounts and DGL are likely fine, but therapeutic whole-root use should be avoided. During breastfeeding, small amounts appear safe, but avoid prolonged high-dose use.

Other Cautions

High Kapha individuals, Licorice's sweet, heavy, moist qualities can aggravate Kapha and worsen oedema, congestion, or sluggishness. Combine with ginger or black pepper to offset.
Low potassium diet, Licorice increases potassium excretion. Pair with potassium-rich foods (banana, spinach, coconut water).
Calcium absorption, chronic high-dose use may interfere with calcium absorption; classical texts flag caution in osteoporosis.
Hypoglycaemia, Licorice can lower blood sugar; take with food if prone.

Signs You Are Taking Too Much

Watery weight gain, puffy face, ankle swelling, muscle weakness or cramps, headaches, and unexplained BP elevation. If any of these appear, stop immediately, effects usually resolve within 1-2 weeks once the herb is discontinued.

Other Herbs for Bronchitis

⟶

Ginger

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Long Pepper Piper longum Linn

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Tulsi OcimumSpp. or O. Sanctum or O. basilicum

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Turmeric Curcuma longa Linn

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Vasaka Adhatoda beddomei C.B. Clarke

See all herbs for bronchitis on the Bronchitis page.

▶ Classical Text References (5 sources)

Meat juice (Mamsarasa) which is not very thick, Rasala (curds churned and mixed with pepper powder and sugar), Raga (syrup which is sweet, sour and salty) and Khandava (syrup which has all the tastes, prepared with many substances), Panaka panchasara, (syrup prepared with raisins (draksha), madhuka, dates (karjura), kasmarya, and parushaka fruits all in equal quantities, cooled and added with powder of cinnamon leaves, cinnamon and cardamom etc) and kept inside a fresh mud pot, along with leav
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 3: Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

117-118 मोचखजूरपनसना रकेलप षकम ् आ ाततालका मयराजादनमधूकजम ् सौवीरबदरा कोलफ गु ले मातको वम ् वातामा भशुका ोडमक ु ू लक नकोचकम ् उ माणं यालं च बं ृहणं गु शीतलम ् दाह त यहरं र त प त सादनम ् वाद ुपाकरसं ि न धं व टि भ कफशु कृत ् Mocha (plantain), kharjura (dates) panasa (jack fruits) narikela (cocoanut ) parusaka amrataka , tala, kasmarya, rajadana, madhuka, badara, ankola, phalgu, slesmataka, vatama, abhisuka, aksoda, mukulaka, nikocaka, urumanam, and priyala make the body stout, not easily di
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food

Similarly so, are Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Mrdvika (grapes) Madhuka and dry grapes – both have similar qualities.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 9: Dravyadi Vigyaniya

But dry grape has mild purgative action, but Madhuka does not.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 9: Dravyadi Vigyaniya

, Rishabhaka, Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra, Madhuka – Madhuka longifolia, Bimbi – Coccinia grandis / indica, Vidari – Pueraria tuberosa, the two Sravani – Mundi and Sravani, Ksheerasukla, Tugaksiri, the two Ksheerini, Gambhari, the two Saha, milk, sugarcane, Gokshura, Ksaudra, Draksa etc.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

It usually contains Madanaphala (Randia spinosa), Licorice etc.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 18: Vamana Virechana Vidhi

Similar is the case of Anuvasana – fat enema and Matra basti – fat enema with very little oil 34-36 Anu taila जीव तीजलदे वदा जलद व से यगोपी हमं दाव व मधुक लवागु वर पु ा व ब वो पलम ् धाव यौ सरु भं ि थरे कृ महरं प ं ु ट रे णक ु ां कि ज कं कमला वलां शतगुणे द ये अ भ स वाथयेत ् ३७ तैला सं दशगण ु ं प रशो य तेन तैलं पचेत ् स ललेन दशैव वारान ् पाके पे चदशमे सममाजद ु धं न यं महागुणमुश यणुतैलमेतत ् ३८ Jivanti, Jala, Devadaru, Jalada, Twak, Sevya, Gopi (sariva), Hima, Darvi twak, Madhuka, Plava, A
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 20: Nasya Vidhi Nasal

13-15 For Shamana- Madyama, medium kind of smoke शमने श लक ला ा प ृ वीका कमलो पलम ् य ोधोद ु बरा व थ ल रो वचः सताः यि टमधु सुवण वक् प कं र तयि टका ग धा चाकु ठतगराः useful drugs are - shallaki, Laksha,Prithvika, Kamala, Utpala, Barks of Nyagrodha, Udumbara, Asvattha, Plaksa and Rodhra; Sita, Yasthimadhu (licorice), Suvarnatwak, Padmaka, Raktayastika Kustha, tagara and other scents – perfumeries.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 21: Dhumpana Medicated Smoking

Herbal smoking blends – Dhuma dravyani – For Mridu- mild kind of smoke, म ृदौ त या यगु गु गुलु मु त थौणेयशैलेयनलदोशीरवालकम ् वय गकौ तीमधुक ब वम जैलवालुकम ् ीवे टकं सजरसो यामकं मदनं लवम ् श लक कुं कुमं माषा यवाः कु द ु काि तलाः नेहः फलानां साराणां मेदो म जा वसा घ ृतम ् useful drugs are-Aguru, Guggulu, Musta, sthauneya, Shaileya, Nalada, Usheera, Valaka, Varanga, Kounti, Madhuka, Bilvamajja, elavaluka, Shrivestaka, Sarjarasa, Dhyamaka, Madana, Plava, Shallaki, Kumkuma, Masha, Yava, Kunduruk
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 21: Dhumpana Medicated Smoking

For Greeshma (summer) – कुमुदो पलक हारद ुवामधुकच दनम ् Kumuda, Utpala, Kalhara, Durva, Madhuka and Chandana (Sandalwood).
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 22: Gandushadi Vidhi Gargles

the ulcer should be covered with cotton swab soaked in a mixture of honey, melted ghee, Anjana – Srotonjana, ash of Ksyauma (flax), Phalini, fruit of Shallaki, Rodhra and Madhuka; then bandaging and other measures done as described previously.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 29: Shastrakarma Vidhi

If the site of the burn does not get torn from an ulcer because of being deep rooted, then a paste of seed of Dhanyamala-(sour gruel), Yashti (licorice) and tila (sesame) should be applied; तलक क: समधुको घ ृता ता णरोपण: । Paste of tila (sesame), and Madhuka mixed with ghee heals the ulcer.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 30: Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi

Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 3, Ch. 6, Ch. 9, Ch. 9, Ch. 9, Ch. 10, Ch. 10, Ch. 18, Ch. 20, Ch. 21, Ch. 21, Ch. 22, Ch. 29, Ch. 30, Ch. 30

Similarly so, are Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Mrdvika (grapes) Madhuka and dry grapes – both have similar qualities.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dravyadi Vigyaniya

, Rishabhaka, Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra, Madhuka – Madhuka longifolia, Bimbi – Coccinia grandis / indica, Vidari – Pueraria tuberosa, the two Sravani – Mundi and Sravani, Ksheerasukla, Tugaksiri, the two Ksheerini, Gambhari, the two Saha, milk, sugarcane, Gokshura, Ksaudra, Draksa etc.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

It usually contains Madanaphala (Randia spinosa), Licorice etc.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Vamana Virechana Vidhi

Sita, Yasthimadhu (licorice), Suvarnatwak, Padmaka, Raktayastika Kustha, tagara and other scents – perfumeries.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dhumpana Medicated Smoking

If the site of the burn does not get torn from an ulcer because of being deep rooted, then a paste of seed of Dhanyamala-(sour gruel), Yashti (licorice) and tila (sesame) should be applied;
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dravyadi Vigyaniya; Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their; Vamana Virechana Vidhi; Dhumpana Medicated Smoking; Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi

[249] Sauviranjana, tuttha, tapya-dhatu (maksika), manahshila, chaksushya (variety of kulattha), madhuka (Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra), loha bhasma(iron), precious stones, pushpanjana, saindhava, tusk of boar, kataka – strychnos potatorum may be used in the form of either powder or varti as collyrium which is excellent remedies for timira (cataract) and such other eye-diseases.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

[278 ½- 279½] Recipe for restoration of hair: Application of the paste of tila – sesame (Sesamum indicum), amalaki – Phyllanthus emblica, kinjalka, madhuka– Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra and honey over the head restores the color of hair, and promotes hair growth.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

Also: Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima), Madhurasa/Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra — licorice), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Pushkara Moola (Inula racemosa), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Atibala (Abutilon indicum), Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens), and Trikantaka/Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations)

The famous Dashanga Lepa (ten-ingredient paste) is made from: Shirisha (Albizia lebbeck), Madhuyashti (Glycyrrhiza glabra, licorice), Tagara (Valeriana wallichii), Rakta Chandana (red sandalwood, Pterocarpus santalinus), Ela (Elettaria cardamomum, cardamom), Mansi (Nardostachys jatamansi, spikenard), Nisha Yugma (Curcuma longa and Berberis aristata), Kushtha (Saussurea lappa), and Balaka (Pavonia odorata).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

By applying a paste of Yashti (licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra), Indivara (blue lotus, Nymphaea stellata), Mridvika (raisins, Vitis vinifera), sesame oil, and ghee, Indralupta (alopecia areata) is cured and the hair becomes dense and strong.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

This nourishing paste combines the anti-inflammatory licorice with cooling blue lotus and nutritive raisins in an oil-ghee base.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

A paste of Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Nilotpala (blue lotus, Nymphaea stellata), Daru (Cedrus deodara), Chandana (sandalwood, Santalum album), Madhuka (licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra), and Bala (Sida cordifolia), mixed with ghee and decoction -- this destroys Vata-type Visarpa (erysipelas/herpes).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

The intense pain caused by the fall of the surgical instrument on the body is pacified by irrigation with warm ghee mixed with Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra / licorice) (42).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5: Agropaharaniya Adhyaya - Surgical Instruments and Procedures

Key principles: (1) Only close clean wounds, (2) Post-op lifestyle restrictions, (3) Seasonal adjustment of wound care frequency, (4) Emergency exceptions to protocol, (5) Warm ghee with licorice for post-surgical pain — licorice has proven anti-inflammatory properties.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5: Agropaharaniya Adhyaya - Surgical Instruments and Procedures

Milk boiled with saindhava (rock salt), udicya, yashtimadhu (licorice), and pippali (long pepper), reduced to half — is beneficial for irrigation (seka) and also for ashchyotana (eye drops).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)

Madhuka (licorice), rajani (turmeric), pathya (haritaki), and devadaru (cedar) should be ground.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)

Draksha (grapes), audra, chandana (sandalwood), yashtimadhu (licorice), yoshit-tira, and rajyanka — ground to a paste with ghee, these are recommended for tarpana (eye nourishment), seka (irrigation), and nasya (nasal therapy).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5: Agropaharaniya Adhyaya - Surgical Instruments and Procedures; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.