Photo: Matson Collection / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Yashtimadhu यष्टिमधु
Glycyrrhiza glabra · Fabaceae
Also known as: Licorice, Mulethi, Madhuka, Yashti Madhu, Mulati
Part used: Root
Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is licorice, one of the sweetest substances in the materia medica and among the most-used. Ayurveda employs it for hyperacidity, dry cough, sore throat and gastric ulcer, and as a demulcent that coats and soothes wherever tissue is dry or inflamed.
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Part used: Root
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Powder 1–3 g with honey or warm milk; also used as decoction and medicated ghee.
Yashtimadhu in other languages
Introduction
Yashtimadhu (Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra) — also called Mulethi — is a sweet, cooling and soothing root prized for the throat, lungs and stomach. Nourishing and Pitta-pacifying, it is a gentle Rasayana used across respiratory and digestive care.
Classification
Of the Fabaceae family, Yashtimadhu is grouped among the sweet, nourishing (Brihana), Rasayana and Vrishya dravyas. Its sweet taste, heavy-unctuous qualities and cooling potency soothe irritation and nourish the tissues.
Uses & benefits
Liquorice is used for the throat and the stomach: in hoarseness, dry cough and sore throat, and in hyperacidity and gastric ulcer where its sweet, cooling demulcence protects the mucosa. It is also a Rasayana and a Varnya drug, applied externally for pigmentation.
Yashtimadhu for hyperacidity
A principal classical drug for burning and reflux — demulcent, coating and healing to the gastric lining.
Yashtimadhu for gastric ulcer
Used in ulceration, with reasonable modern evidence for the deglycyrrhizinated form in particular.
Yashtimadhu for dry cough
Sweet and demulcent, the classical choice for a dry irritable cough where drying herbs would worsen matters.
Yashtimadhu for sore throat
Sucked slowly or used as a gargle, and a component of most classical throat preparations.
Yashtimadhu as a Rasayana
Classed among the rejuvenatives, and specifically a Medhya drug for the mind.
Yashtimadhu for the eyes
Described as Chakshushya and used in classical eye preparations.
Yashtimadhu for wounds
Applied externally to ulcers and slow-healing wounds, and used in Jatyadi preparations.
Yashtimadhu as an Anupana
Its sweetness makes bitter formulations palatable, which is one reason it appears so widely.
Yashtimadhu for the skin
Used in preparations for pigmentation and inflamed skin, and glabridin is used in modern cosmetics.
Yashtimadhu in classical formulations
Present across a very large share of the pharmacopoeia — few classical compounds omit it entirely.
Dosage — how much to take
Powder 1–3 g with honey or warm milk; also used as decoction and medicated ghee. Avoid prolonged high-dose use. Follow your Vaidya's advice.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Yashtimadhu?
The citations held for Yashtimadhu in this catalogue are: Charaka Samhita (Kanthya & Rasayana context); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Haritakyadi Varga).
What does the Charaka Samhita record about Yashtimadhu?
Cited among voice-improving and rejuvenating herbs. Reference: Charaka Samhita — Kanthya & Rasayana context.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Yashtimadhu?
Described as Rasayana and throat-beneficial. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Haritakyadi Varga.
What is Yashtimadhu traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Liquorice is used for the throat and the stomach: in hoarseness, dry cough and sore throat, and in hyperacidity and gastric ulcer where its sweet, cooling demulcence protects the mucosa. It is also a Rasayana and a Varnya drug, applied externally for pigmentation.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Yashtimadhu?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Yashtimadhu classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Yashtimadhu carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Yashtimadhu is used medicinally?
The part used is Root.
How much Yashtimadhu is taken, and how?
Powder 1–3 g with honey or warm milk; also used as decoction and medicated ghee. Avoid prolonged high-dose use. Follow your Vaidya's advice. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Yashtimadhu be avoided?
Generally safe in moderate doses; prolonged high doses may raise blood pressure or cause fluid retention. Use cautiously in hypertension and pregnancy.
Where does Yashtimadhu grow?
Licorice is a perennial shrub of the pea family native to the Mediterranean and West Asia, cultivated in parts of India and imported for classical use.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakash Nighantu — Haritakyadi Varga
Described as Rasayana and throat-beneficial. - Charaka Samhita — Kanthya & Rasayana context
Cited among voice-improving and rejuvenating herbs.
Modern research
-
An Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GutGard) Alleviates Symptoms of Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Raveendra KR, et al.. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2012)
A 30-day double-blind placebo-controlled RCT reporting a significant reduction in functional-dyspepsia symptom scores with a Glycyrrhiza glabra extract (75 mg twice daily) versus placebo.
View study doi:10.1155/2012/216970
Safety & precautions
Generally safe in moderate doses; prolonged high doses may raise blood pressure or cause fluid retention. Use cautiously in hypertension and pregnancy.
Where it grows
Licorice is a perennial shrub of the pea family native to the Mediterranean and West Asia, cultivated in parts of India and imported for classical use.
Frequently asked questions
What is Yashtimadhu used for?
Hyperacidity, gastric ulcer, dry cough and sore throat above all — it is demulcent, coating and soothing. It is also a Rasayana and Medhya drug, and is used externally on wounds and for skin pigmentation.
What is the dose of Yashtimadhu?
Root powder 1–3 g per day with honey, ghee or milk. For acidity it is often taken before meals. Do not exceed six weeks of continuous use without medical supervision.
Does licorice raise blood pressure?
Yes — this is its principal risk. Glycyrrhizin causes sodium retention and potassium loss, raising blood pressure with prolonged or high intake. Anyone with hypertension, heart or kidney disease should avoid it or use the deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) form.
How long can I take licorice safely?
Four to six weeks at classical doses, then a break. Prolonged use causes low potassium, fluid retention and raised blood pressure — genuine and documented effects, not theoretical ones.
Who should avoid Yashtimadhu?
Anyone with high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease or low potassium. Avoid in pregnancy — licorice is associated with preterm birth. Take advice if you are on diuretics, digoxin or corticosteroids.
What is DGL licorice?
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, with the glycyrrhizin removed. It retains the demulcent effect on the stomach without the blood pressure and potassium risks, which makes it the better choice for sustained use in acidity or ulcer.
Is licorice good for a sore throat?
Yes — sucking the root or using a decoction as a gargle is a long-standing classical practice and genuinely soothing. It is one of the better choices for a dry, raw throat where astringent gargles would be too drying.
