Licorice for Menopause & Hot Flashes: Benefits, How to Use & Dosage

Licorice for Menopause & Hot Flashes: Does It Work?

Does Licorice (Yashtimadhu, Glycyrrhiza glabra) help with menopause? Yes, for acute symptomatic phases only. Licorice has genuine clinical value during intense hot flash episodes, but it is not a long-term Rasayana like Shatavari or Ashwagandha. Its phytoestrogenic and adrenal-supporting effects are useful in short courses of 6 to 8 weeks. Beyond that, a side effect on blood pressure (aldosterone-like activity) makes continued daily use unsafe without medical supervision.

Classical texts classify Licorice as sweet in taste, cooling in potency (Sheeta Virya), and with a VP-minus K-plus dosha effect: pacifying Vata and Pitta, mildly aggravating Kapha. It is used classically for acidity, cough, sore throat, mental calm, and as a mild rejuvenative to the brain and mucous membranes. For menopause specifically, three of these actions matter: its mild phytoestrogenic isoflavone content, its adrenal support (relevant because the adrenals produce residual estrogen post-menopause), and its anti-inflammatory action on mucous membranes including vaginal tissue.

Licorice is most useful for Vata and Pitta patterns during acute symptom flares. It is generally avoided in Kapha menopause (weight gain, fluid retention, sluggishness) because its sweet, heavy quality can worsen fluid retention, and because its blood pressure effect overlaps with Kapha's natural tendency toward hypertension.

How Licorice Helps with Menopause & Hot Flashes

Licorice's relevance to menopause rests on three mechanisms. Each is clinically useful in the short term; the second mechanism is also the source of its safety limit.

Mild phytoestrogenic activity

Licorice contains isoflavones (glabridin and related compounds) that bind estrogen receptors with weak, selective agonist activity, the same mechanistic category as the shatavarins in Shatavari and the lignans in flaxseed. Because the binding is weak, Licorice provides partial symptomatic relief for hot flashes and vaginal dryness without the proliferative risk of full estrogen agonism. In Ayurvedic terms, Licorice is a gentle tonic to reproductive mucous membranes, which is why it is traditionally added to formulations for Yoni Vyapad (disorders of the vaginal tract) in perimenopause and early menopause.

Adrenal support and cortisol modulation

After menopause, the adrenal glands become the primary source of residual estrogen (via conversion of adrenal androgens to estradiol in peripheral tissues). Adrenal fatigue, which is common in women entering menopause after decades of chronic stress, therefore worsens menopausal symptoms by reducing this backup estrogen supply. Licorice's glycyrrhizin slows the breakdown of cortisol in the kidneys, effectively prolonging its half-life. This supports adrenal output in the short term, but it is also the mechanism behind its blood pressure side effect: prolonged cortisol prolongation leads to sodium retention, potassium loss, and eventually hypertension in susceptible women. This is why Licorice use is capped at 6 to 8 weeks.

Anti-inflammatory demulcent action

Licorice's mucilage content coats and soothes inflamed mucous membranes. This action is general (the classical use of Licorice for throat and stomach ulcers rests on the same mechanism) but has a specific menopause application: topical or systemic support for vaginal tissue atrophy. In combination with local oil therapy (warm sesame or coconut oil applied externally), and in combination with Shatavari systemically, Licorice accelerates comfort relief in the first 4 to 6 weeks of a vaginal dryness protocol. Its bitter-sweet taste and cooling potency pacify Vata in the Apana region, which is the classical frame for this action.

How to Use Licorice for Menopause & Hot Flashes

Licorice for menopause is used in short courses, typically 4 to 8 weeks during acute symptomatic phases, then paused for a similar or longer period before another course. It is not a daily Rasayana. This cyclical use protects against its blood pressure side effect.

Form	Dose	Best For	When to Take
Licorice Churna (Yashtimadhu powder)	1 to 3 g twice daily	Acute hot flash phase, throat irritation, vaginal tissue support	Morning and evening, with warm water or honey after cooling
Licorice tea (Yashtimadhu Kashaya)	1 tsp simmered in 200 ml water for 5 min	Mild daily use during acute phases; also soothes throat dryness	Morning or mid-afternoon
Licorice with Ginger (1:1)	½ tsp each in warm water	Menopause-era colds and coughs where Licorice alone would be too cooling	During acute respiratory episodes
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)	380 to 760 mg chewable tablets	Long-term safe alternative for mucous membrane soothing and demulcent action; does not carry BP risk	Before meals

Pairings tuned for menopause

With Shatavari during an acute hot flash phase. Shatavari runs continuously as the baseline; Licorice is added for 4 to 6 weeks when flashes intensify, then withdrawn while Shatavari continues.
With warm sesame or coconut oil for vaginal dryness. External oil therapy plus internal Licorice (systemic demulcent) plus Shatavari (tissue nourishment) is the standard three-layer protocol for Yoni Vyapad. Licorice is withdrawn after 6 to 8 weeks; oil and Shatavari continue.
With Brahmi and Shatavari during a Pitta flare. The combination addresses cognitive agitation, inflammation, and mucous membrane dryness simultaneously.

Duration and what to expect

Acute symptoms (hot flash intensity, throat and vaginal dryness) typically soften within 1 to 2 weeks of starting Licorice at therapeutic dose. The full benefit builds over 4 to 6 weeks. By 6 to 8 weeks the course should end. Expect to pause for at least 4 weeks before considering another course. Most women need only one or two cycles during their transition, typically during the most intense perimenopausal or early menopausal year.

Safety notes (non-negotiable): Do not use Licorice if you have hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or are taking corticosteroids, diuretics, or cardiac medications. Monitor blood pressure during a Licorice course, especially if you are over 50 or have a family history of hypertension. Discontinue at the first sign of swelling, fluid retention, or unexplained headaches. For women who need long-term mucous membrane support without the BP risk, deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) is the safe long-term alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I take Licorice long-term for menopause?

Licorice's glycyrrhizin compound prolongs cortisol's half-life in the body, which is useful in the short term for adrenal support. With continued daily use beyond 6 to 8 weeks, the same mechanism causes sodium retention, potassium loss, and a gradual rise in blood pressure (pseudoaldosteronism). This is a documented effect, not a theoretical risk. For women who need mucous membrane support or mild demulcent action long-term, switch to deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL), which has the glycyrrhizin removed but retains the soothing action.

When is Licorice the right menopause herb for me?

When you are in an acute symptomatic phase: intense hot flashes that are new or have worsened recently, acute vaginal dryness that is interfering with daily life, or a difficult perimenopausal period marked by mood and skin flares. Licorice is a short-course intensifier, not a baseline. If your symptoms are chronic and low-grade, start with Shatavari and Ashwagandha as your baseline, and reserve Licorice for specific flares.

Can I take Licorice if I have high blood pressure?

No. Hypertension is a firm contraindication for systemic Licorice (Yashtimadhu powder, tea, or standard extracts). This is the single most important safety note with this herb. If you have borderline or controlled hypertension, even mild use can destabilise your numbers. Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) is the safe alternative and does not raise blood pressure. The same caution applies if you have chronic kidney disease, heart failure, or are on diuretics, cardiac medications, or corticosteroids.

Licorice or Shatavari for vaginal dryness?

Both, and for different roles. Shatavari is the primary long-term herb: it nourishes reproductive tissue through phytoestrogenic and Rasayana action, and it is safe indefinitely. Licorice is the short-term accelerator: its demulcent action on mucous membranes produces faster symptomatic relief in the first 4 to 6 weeks. A common protocol is Shatavari continuously (3 to 6 g daily in warm milk) + Licorice for 6 weeks (1 to 3 g daily) + external warm sesame or coconut oil applied to the vaginal area nightly. After the Licorice course ends, continue Shatavari and the oil therapy.

Recommended: Start Licorice for Menopause & Hot Flashes

If you want to start using Licorice for menopause today, the safe starting protocol is 1 to 3 g of Licorice root powder daily as a 4 to 6 week course, or 250 to 500 mg of DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) extract for longer use. Licorice is one of the most useful but most-cautioned herbs for menopause, the adrenal and demulcent action is excellent in short courses, but long-term unrestricted use carries blood-pressure and potassium risks.

Licorice is a focused, time-limited intervention. Use it to break a specific pattern (vaginal dryness, dry cough, adrenal exhaustion), then reduce or replace with safer long-term options.

Quick fork by feature:

Vaginal dryness (Vata-type menopause): Licorice 1 to 2 g + Shatavari 6 g, twice daily in warm milk for a 4 to 6 week course, then taper Licorice and continue Shatavari long-term.
Adrenal exhaustion or "burnout" with fatigue: Licorice 2 g + Ashwagandha 3 g, twice daily for 6 to 8 weeks. Monitor blood pressure weekly.
Dry cough or hoarse voice during transition: Licorice 1 g in warm honey water, twice daily for up to 4 weeks.

Find Licorice Root Powder on Amazon ↗ DGL Licorice Extract ↗

Safety (important): Licorice's glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium with prolonged use at standard doses. Limit unrestricted licorice to 4 to 6 week courses. Avoid completely if you have hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, or low potassium, or take diuretics, digoxin, or corticosteroids. For long-term safe use, switch to DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), which removes the glycyrrhizin component but keeps most of the demulcent action. Avoid in pregnancy.

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 Menopause & Hot Flashes

⟶

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

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Amla Emblica officinalis

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Ashwagandha Withania somnifera dunal

⟶

Guduchi Tinospora cordifolia– Caulis

⟶

Jatamansi Nardostachys jatamansi DC.

⟶

Jivanti Leptadenia reticulata W. & A.

⟶

Lodhra Symplocos racemosa Roxb.

⟶

Manjishtha Rubia cordifolia Linn.

See all herbs for menopause & hot flashes on the Menopause & Hot Flashes 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.