Licorice for Colds and Flu: Benefits, How to Use & Dosage

Licorice for Colds and Flu: Does It Work?

Does Licorice (Yashtimadhu, Glycyrrhiza glabra) help with colds and flu? Yes, and the classical authority is unusually direct. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia lists Licorice among the core herbs for the cold-and-flu protocol alongside Tulsi, ginger, Pippali, and cinnamon, prepared as a diaphoretic, expectorant, anti-cough tea. Within that toolkit Licorice plays a specific role: it is the premier sore-throat, expectorant, and Pitta-Vata-pacifying herb, classically the prime Kanthya drug according to the Bhavaprakash Nighantu.

The Ayurvedic case rests on a property profile that is the mirror image of the warming respiratory herbs. Licorice is sweet and bitter (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 the cold, damp Kapha that classical texts describe as the breeding ground for respiratory infection, Licorice cools and moistens to soothe what the infection has irritated: a raw or burning throat, a hoarse voice, a dry tickling cough, and the inflamed mucous membranes that often persist into the recovery phase.

This makes Licorice the lead herb for the symptom cluster cold and flu sufferers find hardest to treat: the dry cough, raw throat, and hoarse voice that other respiratory herbs can amplify. The classical instruction is explicit and old: "For colds and flu, mix with ginger (1:1)." Ginger handles the Kapha and the chills, Licorice handles the throat and the inflammation. Used in short courses with the standard safety caveats around blood pressure, it is one of the most reliable cold and flu pairings in the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia.

How Licorice Helps with Colds and Flu

Licorice acts on colds and flu through three connected mechanisms. Together they cover the inflamed throat, the dry irritated airway, and the systemic inflammation that other cold herbs do not address as directly.

Demulcent action on the respiratory mucosa

The first action is the one classical texts describe most precisely: Licorice is a mucus-membrane toner and soother. Its sweet taste (Madhura Rasa), sweet post-digestive effect (Madhura Vipaka), and heavy-unctuous quality (Guru, Snigdha Guna) together produce a viscous coating action on the throat and upper airway. In a cold or flu, this matters because the most irritating symptoms are not the infection itself but the inflamed, dried-out mucosa left behind by repeated coughing, post-nasal drip, and mouth breathing through a blocked nose. Licorice's classical karma of Kanthya (throat-soothing) names exactly this effect. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu places it as the prime Kanthya drug in the entire Ayurvedic pharmacopeia.

Demulcent expectorant and Kapha-Pitta balancing in the channels

Licorice is one of the rare herbs classified as both demulcent and expectorant. Its sweet, moist quality liquefies the dry, sticky mucus that accumulates in the late phase of a cold, while its bitter taste and cold potency cleanse the lungs of Kapha. Classical texts describe Licorice as cleansing the lungs and stomach of Kapha, which is why it is used in the cold protocol despite its mild Kapha-increasing effect: the cleansing action on the Pranavaha channel outweighs the sweet quality when the herb is paired with warming partners. The cooling potency simultaneously pacifies the inflammatory Pitta layer that develops when a cold turns into a sore throat with yellow discharge or a fever-driven Pittaja Pratishyaya. This is why Licorice is the cooling pivot in the classical formula Triphala's respiratory cousin Sitopaladi Churna, alongside the warming Pippali.

Glycyrrhizin and the antiviral, anti-inflammatory layer

Modern phytochemistry has documented action on the same inflammatory pathways implicated in viral respiratory illness. The active compound glycyrrhizin shows direct antiviral activity against several respiratory viruses (notably influenza and the herpes simplex family) and is known to inhibit COX-2 and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine output. The flavonoids glabridin and liquiritigenin add antioxidant protection to airway epithelial cells, the same cells stripped raw by repeated coughing. Classical texts arrive at the same destination by a different route, classifying Licorice as Shothahara (anti-inflammatory) and Vrana Ropana (wound-healing on mucous membranes). The cooling, calming, anti-inflammatory action is what allows Licorice to soothe the cold and flu symptoms that warming herbs alone cannot reach.

How to Use Licorice for Colds and Flu

Best preparation form for colds and flu

For colds and flu specifically, the classical form is the Licorice-ginger 1:1 decoction, named directly in The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: "For colds and flu, mix with ginger (1:1)." The pairing balances the cold potency of Licorice with the warming, Kapha-clearing action of ginger, so the throat is soothed while the nose and chest are decongested. For ongoing support during a cold, classical practice also reaches for the compound formula Sitopaladi Churna, in which Licorice is a foundational ingredient alongside Pippali, cardamom, cinnamon, and rock sugar. For a raw, burning sore throat that dominates the picture, Licorice powder licked slowly with honey is the most directly indicated form.

Dosage table for colds and flu

Form	Dose	Anupana / Timing	Best For
Licorice-ginger 1:1 decoction	1 tsp Licorice root + 1 tsp fresh sliced ginger in 2 cups water, simmered 10 min, strained	Sip warm; 2-3 times daily during acute illness	The classical cold-and-flu tea, balanced for most patterns
Licorice root powder (Yashtimadhu Churna)	1-3 g, twice daily	With warm water and 1 tsp honey; on empty stomach or between meals	Dry, raw, burning sore throat; hoarse voice; Pittaja pattern
Sitopaladi Churna (Licorice as ingredient)	1-3 g, three times daily	With 1 tsp honey; after meals	Cough, congestion, post-viral airway recovery; balanced across doshas
Licorice lozenge or root stick	1 lozenge, or chew a 2-inch stick of root	As needed for throat irritation, up to 4 times daily	On-the-go sore-throat relief during the day
DGL chewable (deglycyrrhizinated)	250-500 mg, chewed thoroughly	Before meals; as needed for throat coating	People with hypertension, edema, or cardiovascular caution; any sustained use beyond 4 weeks

Anupana and pairings tailored to the pattern

Kapha cold (runny nose, abundant clear mucus, no fever): Licorice-ginger 1:1 decoction with raw honey, sipped hot every 2-3 hours. Honey is the classical anupana for the respiratory tract; never heat it directly.
Vata-Kapha flu (body aches, chills, mild fever): Licorice with ginger and a pinch of black pepper, taken as warm decoction. Add Sitopaladi Churna with honey twice daily as the airway settles.
Pittaja pattern (sore throat, hoarse voice, yellow discharge, low-grade fever): Licorice powder with cool water and a touch of honey. Skip the heating ginger; pair instead with a Tulsi-coriander tea for the fever layer.
Dry post-viral cough after the acute phase: Licorice with warm water and ghee at bedtime, plus Sitopaladi Churna with honey through the day for 2-4 weeks of airway rebuilding.

Duration and what to expect

For an acute cold or flu, expect noticeable throat ease and reduced cough irritation within 24 to 48 hours of starting the Licorice-ginger decoction two to three times daily. Cold symptoms typically run their course over five to seven days; Licorice's role is to soothe what the cold has irritated, not to shorten viral illness directly (that is the work of Tulsi, Guduchi, and Vitamin C from Amla). For post-viral airway recovery, Sitopaladi Churna can be continued for 4 to 8 weeks. Whole-root Licorice courses should be capped at 4 to 6 weeks, with at least a 4-week break before resuming, because of the blood-pressure caution discussed in the FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly does Licorice work for a cold?

For the throat irritation and dry cough layers of a cold, the demulcent coating effect of Licorice powder licked with honey is felt within 30 to 60 minutes of dosing. For sustained reduction in cough frequency and sore-throat severity, expect noticeable improvement within 24 to 48 hours of starting the Licorice-ginger 1:1 decoction two to three times daily. Licorice is best understood as a symptom-soothing and recovery herb in the cold protocol, not the lead antiviral. Pair it with Tulsi for the antiviral and immune-stimulating layer.

Can I take Licorice if I have high blood pressure?

This is the most important caution with Licorice in any indication. Sustained internal use of whole-root Licorice raises blood pressure through glycyrrhizin's sodium-retaining and potassium-losing action (pseudoaldosteronism). For acute cold or flu use of three to five days, the Licorice-ginger decoction taken two to three times daily is generally well tolerated even in controlled hypertension, because the exposure is brief. For sustained use beyond a week, or for anyone with uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, or who is on diuretics, switch to DGL (deglycyrrhizinated Licorice), which has the glycyrrhizin removed and does not raise blood pressure. Sitopaladi Churna at standard doses, where Licorice is a smaller proportion of the total formula, is also acceptable.

Licorice vs Tulsi vs Ginger for colds and flu, which should I use?

They cover different parts of the picture and are most often used together. Tulsi is the antiviral, immune-stimulating, and fever-managing layer, the most important single herb for colds and flu in Ayurveda. Ginger is the warming, mucus-clearing, diaphoretic layer, best for chills, congestion, and Kapha-type colds with abundant clear mucus. Licorice is the cooling, throat-coating, anti-inflammatory layer, best for sore throat, hoarse voice, dry irritating cough, and Pittaja-pattern fever cough. The classical Ayurvedic Encyclopedia explicitly names the Licorice-ginger 1:1 decoction for colds and flu because the cold-and-warm pairing covers most patterns at once. For a single cold that resists one approach, switching from heating to cooling (or vice versa) is often the fix, and Licorice is the cooling pivot.

What is the difference between glycyrrhizin and DGL Licorice for colds?

Whole-root Licorice contains 2 to 9% glycyrrhizin, the sweet, bioactive compound responsible for both Licorice's anti-inflammatory and antiviral action and its blood-pressure side effect. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated Licorice) has 97%+ of the glycyrrhizin removed; it retains the demulcent and mucosal-healing flavonoid fraction but loses much of the systemic antiviral and anti-inflammatory power. For an acute cold, whole-root Licorice is more effective because the glycyrrhizin is doing the antiviral work; short courses of 5 to 10 days are well tolerated for most healthy adults. DGL is the preferred form for anyone with hypertension, edema, kidney disease, or who needs to take Licorice daily for more than a few weeks. For a cold that comes with persistent throat or stomach irritation, DGL chewables before meals are a useful adjunct alongside the whole-root decoction.

Can I give Licorice to a child for a cold?

Yes, in small short-term doses. Quarter to half a teaspoon of Licorice decoction with honey is a classical paediatric remedy for sore-throat-with-cold, given two to three times daily for a few days. Sitopaladi Churna at half the adult dose is also commonly used in classical paediatric Ayurveda for cough and respiratory weakness. Honey itself should not be given to children under one year. For sustained daily use beyond two to three weeks in any child, work with a qualified practitioner; the blood-pressure caution that applies to adults also applies proportionally to children.

Recommended: Start Licorice for Colds and Flu

If you want to start using Licorice for colds and flu today, the classical starting point is the Licorice-ginger 1:1 decoction: simmer 1 teaspoon of Licorice root with 1 teaspoon of fresh sliced ginger in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes, strain, add 1 teaspoon of raw honey, and sip warm. Repeat two to three times daily through the acute phase. The pairing is the single most-cited home formula in the Ayurvedic cold toolkit, ginger handles the Kapha and the chills, Licorice coats the raw throat and calms the dry cough.

Kitchen version: if you do not have Licorice root sticks, use 1 teaspoon of Licorice root powder (Yashtimadhu Churna) plus 1/2 teaspoon of dry ginger in hot water with honey. For sore throat and hoarse voice that dominate the picture, lick 1/2 teaspoon of plain Licorice powder mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey, three times daily.

Dosha fork:

Kapha cold (runny nose, clear mucus, no fever): Licorice-ginger decoction with honey, plus a pinch of black pepper.
Vata flu (chills, body aches, dry cough): Licorice-ginger decoction in warm water with honey; Sitopaladi Churna 1 g with honey twice daily for the airway.
Pittaja pattern (sore throat, hoarse voice, low-grade fever): Licorice powder with cool water and honey; skip ginger.

Find Licorice on Amazon ↗ DGL Chewables ↗

Safety: Whole-root Licorice raises blood pressure with sustained use; cap acute cold-and-flu courses at 4 to 6 weeks, avoid in pregnancy at therapeutic doses, and use DGL only if you have hypertension, edema, kidney disease, or are on diuretics or cardiac medication.

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 Colds and Flu

⟶

Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis Mill. (Syn. A. vera Tourn. ex Linn.)

⟶

Amla Emblica officinalis

⟶

Baheda Terminalia belerica Roxb.

⟶

Cayenne Pepper

⟶

Cinnamon Cinnamomum cassia Blume

⟶

Clove Syzygium aromaticum

⟶

Coriander Coriandrumsativum Linn.

⟶

Eucalyptus

See all herbs for colds and flu on the Colds and Flu 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.