Licorice for Cough: Does It Work?
Does Licorice (Yashtimadhu) help with cough? Yes, and the classical authority is unusually direct. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu describes Licorice as the prime Kanthya drug, the throat-soothing herb par excellence, and lists it as a foundational ingredient in Sitopaladi Churna and Talisadi Churna, the two classical formulas Ayurveda reaches for in cough and respiratory weakness. Its place in cough management is structural rather than supportive.
The Ayurvedic case rests on a property profile that is the mirror image of the warming respiratory herbs. Licorice 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 mucus, Licorice cools and moistens to soothe inflamed airways. Its primary karmas for cough are Kanthya (throat-coating), Shothahara (anti-inflammatory), and the demulcent expectorant action that liquefies and expels mucus while protecting the underlying mucous membrane.
This makes Licorice the lead herb for Vataja Kasa (dry, tickling, irritating cough that gets worse at night, with a raw or scratchy throat) and for Pittaja Kasa (cough with yellow or green sputum, burning sensation, hoarseness, or accompanying fever). In Kaphaja Kasa (wet productive cough with thick white mucus), Licorice is used in smaller proportions as part of compound formulas, since its sweet quality alone could amplify Kapha. The most universal classical use is the Licorice-Ginger combination (1:1) for colds and flu, which balances heat and cold while clearing mucus and soothing the throat. Licorice carries one important caution: sustained internal use raises blood pressure, so the topical and short-course internal patterns are the safe defaults.
How Licorice Helps with Cough
Licorice acts on cough through three connected mechanisms. Together they cover the inflamed, the dry, and the irritated airway patterns that other respiratory herbs do not address as directly.
Anti-inflammatory action on the airway
Licorice is classified as Shothahara (anti-inflammatory) in the Bhavaprakash Nighantu and is described in classical texts as cleansing the lungs and stomach of Kapha while cooling the heat that drives Pitta-pattern inflammation. The Sushruta Samhita uses warm ghee with Licorice specifically to pacify intense post-surgical pain and inflammation. For cough, this same anti-inflammatory action calms the irritated airway lining that drives spasmodic, paroxysmal, and post-viral coughing. Modern phytochemistry has documented action of glycyrrhizin and licorice flavonoids on the same inflammatory pathways implicated in airway hypersensitivity, including inhibition of phospholipase A2 and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Demulcent, throat-coating, and expectorant action
The Bhavaprakash names Licorice the prime Kanthya drug, the throat-coating herb, and the editorial tradition describes it as a "mucus membrane toner and soother" while simultaneously a "mucus liquefying and expectorating" agent. These two actions sound contradictory but operate at different layers. The sweet, viscous nature of glycyrrhizin coats the throat and upper airway, providing immediate relief from the raw irritation that triggers coughing. Underneath, the same compound thins respiratory secretions so they can be cleared rather than recirculated. This is why Licorice is the lead herb in Sitopaladi Churna, the classical post-illness cough formula: it both protects the recovering airway and finishes the mucus clearance the heating herbs have started.
Pitta-pacifying action and the dry-cough pattern
The Vataja and Pittaja patterns of Kasa Roga are the two cough types where Licorice is most uniquely useful. Vataja Kasa is dry, brittle, and tickling, often worse at night, and most pungent expectorants worsen it by drying the airway further. Pittaja Kasa is hot and inflamed, with yellow or green sputum, burning sensation, and often fever; heating herbs amplify the heat. Licorice's sweet vipaka (Madhura Vipaka) and cold potency (Sheeta Virya) address both patterns directly. It nourishes the dry airway in Vataja, and cools the inflammation in Pittaja, while still supporting mucus clearance through its demulcent expectorant action. This is the gap in respiratory care that ginger and Pippali alone cannot fill, which is why classical formulas almost always include Licorice alongside them.
How to Use Licorice for Cough
For cough, Licorice is most often used in compound formulas rather than as a standalone herb. The reason is structural: Licorice excels at the demulcent and anti-inflammatory layer of cough management but does not by itself address the digestive and infectious upstream factors that the warming respiratory herbs cover. The standard pattern is Licorice in a compound formula like Sitopaladi Churna for sustained respiratory support, plus plain Licorice powder or decoction for short courses on a dry or sore-throat cough.
Best preparation form for cough
For an acute dry irritating cough or sore-throat cough, Licorice powder (Yashtimadhu Churna) taken with honey or as a warm decoction is the fastest-acting form. For a post-viral cough with weak airway recovery, Sitopaladi Churna uses Licorice alongside Pippali and other respiratory herbs and is the standard Ayurvedic recovery formula. For people who need long-term respiratory support but cannot tolerate sustained internal Licorice (anyone with hypertension, heart disease, or kidney disease), deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is the option, although it is mostly used for digestive purposes and is weaker on the systemic anti-inflammatory side.
| Form | Dose | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| Licorice powder (Yashtimadhu Churna) | 1 to 3 g daily | Mix with 1 tsp honey, lick slowly, 2 to 3 times daily; for short courses of 4 to 6 weeks |
| Licorice decoction (Kashaya) | 1 cup, 2 to 3 times daily | Simmer 1 tsp powder in 2 cups water for 5 min, strain, sip warm; especially good for sore-throat cough |
| Sitopaladi Churna | 3 to 6 g, 2 to 3 times daily | With honey or ghee; the standard post-viral cough formula |
| Licorice + Ginger 1:1 decoction | 1 cup, 2 to 3 times daily | Equal parts powders simmered together; the classical cold-and-flu combination |
| Tablet/capsule extract | 250 to 500 mg, 1 to 2 times daily | Avoid sustained use beyond 6 weeks without practitioner guidance |
| DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) | per product label | For long-term use when blood pressure caution applies; weaker on systemic anti-inflammatory action |
Anupana for each cough type
- Vataja Kasa (dry, tickling, night-worsening cough): Licorice powder in warm milk with a small spoon of ghee. The fat carries the sweet vipaka deeper and the milk soothes the dryness; this is the classical pairing for any Vata-pattern cough.
- Pittaja Kasa (yellow or green sputum, burning, fever): Licorice decoction with a small spoon of honey after the decoction has cooled to warm. Avoid the heating combinations like Trikatu in this pattern.
- Kaphaja Kasa (wet, white mucus): Licorice has a smaller role in this pattern because its sweet quality can amplify Kapha. Use it only as part of a compound formula (e.g. Sitopaladi) where the balance of pungent and cooling herbs offsets this risk.
The Licorice-Ginger 1:1 combination
The Ayurveda Encyclopedia describes this as the standard pairing for colds and flu. Equal parts Licorice powder and dry ginger powder, simmered in water (1 tsp of the mixture per cup) for 5 minutes, sipped warm with honey. The cold-and-warming, sweet-and-pungent balance covers most cough patterns at once and is especially well suited to mixed presentations where both inflammation and mucus are involved.
Combining with other respiratory herbs
- Licorice plus Pippali: the central pairing in Sitopaladi Churna. Pippali clears mucus and rebuilds the lung; Licorice soothes the recovering airway and offsets Pippali's heat.
- Licorice plus Tulsi: for fever-driven cough where Tulsi brings the antimicrobial action and Licorice protects the inflamed throat. Useful when sore throat is the dominant complaint.
- Licorice plus Ginger 1:1: the classical cold-and-flu decoction described above.
Duration and what to expect
For acute dry cough or sore-throat cough, expect throat irritation to ease within 24 to 48 hours of starting Licorice-honey three times daily. Cough frequency typically drops by day three. For post-viral cough with weak airway recovery, give Sitopaladi Churna a four to eight week run; airway rebuilding is slower than acute irritation calming. For chronic dry cough that has lasted more than two months, use Licorice in compound formulas rather than alone, and rotate four to six week courses with at least four week breaks between, given the blood pressure caution.
Important duration limit
Unlike Amla or Tulsi, internal Licorice should not be taken continuously for months. Glycyrrhizin can cause sodium retention and elevate blood pressure with sustained use. The conservative pattern is 4 to 6 weeks of internal use, then a break of at least 4 weeks. People with hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, or who are pregnant should stay with the Licorice-in-compound-formulas pattern (Sitopaladi at standard doses) or use DGL.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does Licorice work for cough?
For an acute dry irritating cough or sore-throat cough taken as Licorice powder with honey two to three times daily, most people notice the throat irritation ease within 24 to 48 hours and cough frequency drop by day three. Full resolution tracks the underlying cause, around five to ten days for a viral cough. For post-viral cough with weak airway recovery, give the compound formula Sitopaladi Churna a four to eight week run; airway rebuilding is slower than acute irritation calming.
Is Licorice safe to take every day for chronic cough?
Topical and short-course internal use are safe; sustained daily internal use is not. Glycyrrhizin, the major active compound in Licorice, can cause sodium retention, potassium loss, and elevated blood pressure with sustained use beyond 4 to 6 weeks. The conservative pattern for any internal Licorice course is four to six weeks of use followed by at least four weeks off. People with hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, or who are pregnant should avoid sustained internal Licorice altogether and stay with Sitopaladi Churna at standard doses, where Licorice is a smaller proportion of the total formula. For long-term respiratory support, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is the option, although it is mostly used for digestive purposes and is weaker on the systemic anti-inflammatory side.
Licorice vs Tulsi vs Ginger for cough, which should I use?
They cover different parts of the picture and are most often used together. Tulsi is the antimicrobial, antiviral, and lung-channel-opening layer, best for fever-driven cough and acute viral illness. Ginger is the warming, mucus-clearing, circulation-stimulating layer, best for wet productive cough and chills. Licorice is the cooling, throat-coating, anti-inflammatory layer, best for dry irritating cough, sore throat, 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 cough that resists one approach, switching from heating to cooling (or vice versa) is often the fix, and Licorice is the cooling pivot.
Does Licorice help with sore throat alongside cough?
Yes, this is one of its strongest indications. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu names Licorice the prime Kanthya drug, the throat-coating herb, and the editorial tradition describes it as a mucus-membrane toner and soother. For a cough where the dominant complaint is a raw, scratchy, or burning throat, Licorice powder licked slowly with honey is the single most directly indicated herb. The physical viscosity of glycyrrhizin coats the throat and provides immediate relief that no other respiratory herb matches. Pair with Tulsi if fever is also present.
Can I give Licorice to a child for cough?
In small short-term doses, yes. Quarter to half a teaspoon of Licorice decoction with honey is a classical paediatric remedy for sore-throat cough, 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. Honey itself should not be given to children under one year. For sustained use in children with chronic cough, work with a qualified practitioner; the blood-pressure caution that applies to adult Licorice use still applies to children at proportional doses, and an internal protocol of more than two to three weeks should be supervised.
Recommended: Start Licorice for Cough
If you want to start using Licorice for cough today, here is the simplest starting point: Licorice powder licked slowly with honey, two to three times daily for a dry irritating cough, or the Licorice-Ginger 1:1 decoction for cold-and-cough. Both are short-course interventions, four to six weeks at most, because of the blood-pressure caution that comes with sustained internal Licorice.
Best form: Pure Licorice powder (Yashtimadhu Churna) for short-course active cough use. For sustained respiratory support after the acute phase, the compound formula Sitopaladi Churna is the standard Ayurvedic post-cough recovery tonic and uses Licorice alongside Pippali in safe proportions. Avoid confectionery licorice; it contains anise flavouring and little active root.
Kitchen version you can start tonight: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of Licorice powder with 1 teaspoon of raw honey to form a paste. Lick slowly so it coats the back of the throat, two to three times in the day. For a sore-throat cough, simmer 1 teaspoon of Licorice powder with 1 teaspoon of dry ginger powder in 2 cups of water for 5 minutes, strain, let cool to warm, add honey. Sip 2 to 3 cups daily.
Match the form to the cough type:
- Dry irritating cough or sore throat (Vataja): Licorice in warm milk with a small spoon of ghee, twice daily; or licorice-honey paste licked slowly.
- Yellow/green sputum with burning (Pittaja): Licorice decoction with honey added warm; pair with cooling herbs, avoid Trikatu.
- Wet cough with white mucus (Kaphaja): use Licorice only as part of a compound formula like Sitopaladi; lead instead with ginger or Pippali.
Find Licorice Powder on Amazon ↗ Find Sitopaladi Churna on Amazon ↗
Safety note: Internal Licorice taken for sustained periods can elevate blood pressure and cause potassium loss. Limit plain Licorice courses to four to six weeks at a time with at least a four-week break between. People with hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, or who are pregnant should stay with Sitopaladi Churna or use DGL. Avoid combining sustained internal Licorice with potassium-lowering medications such as some diuretics and corticosteroids.
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 Cough
See all herbs for cough on the Cough 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
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
, 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
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.