Liquorice in Ancient Times

Liquorice is sourced from the roots of the Glycyrrhiza Glabra plant, with its historical usage tracing back to prehistoric times in Europe, particularly well-documented among ancient Greeks. The plant's botanical name, derived from Greek words meaning "sweet root," underscores the recognition of liquorice's natural medicinal attributes across various ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Hindus.

Greek historian Herodotus lauded the Scythians for their military prowess, horsemanship, and efficiency in cavalry, noting their ability to endure prolonged thirst by consuming liquorice root and mare's milk.

Theophrastus, a Greek botanist of the IV–III century BC, chronicled the early medicinal use of liquorice in Europe and speculated that the Greeks might have acquired knowledge of its pharmacological properties from the Scythians, who inhabited the region north and east of Greece.

In the first century AD, ancient Greek physician and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides featured liquorice among the medicinal substances in his influential work, De Materia Medica. This compilation, encompassing approximately 650 plant-based remedies, served as a standard reference for over a millennium.

Throughout ancient Roman times, liquorice retained its status as a well-known remedy, as attested by Roman authors like Aulus Cornelius Celsus, Scribonius Largus, Claudius Galen, Marcellus Empiricus, and Cassius Felix. Pliny the Elder, in the first century B.C., detailed various functions of licorice root, asserting its efficacy in lozenge form for voice clearing and delaying hunger and thirst. Romans even integrated liquorice into their military routines, with troops chewing the root as a medicinal stick while marching, recognizing its thirst-quenching properties.
Liquorice in Ancient Times

Licorice in Middle East

The licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a blue-flowering pea with violet blossoms and spiky leaves. The plant grows to a height of 3–4 feet (90–120 cm). It prefers sandy soil with free drainage. Only after 3 years of growth are the roots thick enough to be harvested.

It has been used for medicinal purposes for millennia. Historically, the dried rhizome and root of this plant were employed medicinally by the Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, Indian, and Roman civilizations as an expectorant and carminative.

It was said that Emperor Shennong classified more than 300 different medicinal plants, and one of the most important plants he classified was licorice. Shennong himself believed licorice could be used as an antidote to toxins, to reduce aches and pains, and to cure other ailments.

The earliest evidence of the use of licorice comes from the ancient tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. Licorice root was amongst the many treasures found in the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb from 1350 BC.

References to licorice have also been made on Assyrian tablets dating back to the second or third millennia BC.

The early Egyptians and Assyrians are known to have cultivated the ‘sweet root’ that was later imported to China, where it has been used for centuries under the name ‘Gan Cao’. The Ancient Egyptians believed licorice endowed the recently deceased with the ability to keep evil spirits at bay.

In ancient Scythia, which today is a region that encompasses Iran and parts of eastern Europe, licorice was cultivated, and by the third century BC, it was exported to Greece.

In Medical School of Salerno (VIII–IX century AD) the work Regimen sanitatis carefully examined licorice and its pharmacological properties acquiring the knowledge derived from outstanding Arabic medical scientists like Mohammed Ibn Zakaria Abu Bekr Alrazi (“Rhazes”, 850–925 AD.) and Ibn Sina (“Avicenna”, 980–1037 AD.).

Ibn Sina (Avicenna), the famous physician and philosopher, said in the Canone of Ibn Sina, that: “the infused licorice purifies the voice and the trachea, and is useful in disorders and diets.” He used this plant in treating his patients nine centuries ago.

The Cluniac monks are thought to have ‘discovered’ licorice when accompanying the Crusaders in the Middle East, where it was already a popular drink and a suitable alternative to the banned substance, alcohol. It is thought that they then grew licorice in their herb garden at Pontefract.
Licorice in Middle East

History of Licorice

The word Glycyrrhiza is from Greek glycys, meaning sweet and rhiza meaning root.

Licorice was used in ancient Greece, China, and Egypt, primarily for gastritis and ailments of the upper respiratory tract.

It has been used s an expectorant and carminative (antiflatulence agent).

The use of licorice is ancient; the earliest written reference to the use of licorice is the codex Hammurabi, dating from 2100 BC.

Its use dates back thousands of years to ancient Egypt rituals that enabled the spirits of pharaoh to prepare sweet drinks known as mai sus in the afterlife.

Its use became widespread in Europe and Asia for numerous indications.

Licorice was known as Scythian root to the Greek naturalist, Theophrastus (371-287), and he referred in his writing to the ability of licorice to treat asthma and heal wounds.

In his writing in 1st century, licorice was purported to abate hunger and thirst, clear voice, heal sore of the mouth and genitals, and treat kidney and bladder ailments.

It was a legend maintained that Scythian warriors could go for twelve days without drink when supplied with licorice and mare’s milk cheese.

During World War II, the Dutch physician F.E. Revers observed improvements in patients' peptic ulcer disease from a licorice preparation.

He also noted facial and peripheral edema, sparking scientific investigation into licorice's properties and adverse effects.

In the 1950s, there were reports of patients with Addison's disease 'craving' licorice candy, viewed by some as early evidence of steroid modulating properties.

In Chinese medicine, licorice root has ranked as one of the most important and versatile medicines for several thousand years.

While American Indians sued the roots as a cooking spice and often chewed them as a trail snack.
History of Licorice