The sound of a dog constantly scratching or licking can be as irritating as nails on a chalkboard. But donât blame your pooch for these bad habits -- a skin condition is probably the culprit. Possible causes range from parasites to allergies to underlying illness.
Licorice root extract is used in alternative medicine as a laxative, a diuretic and an anti-inflammatory agent. It is also used to treat gastric ulcers, respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis and skin conditions such as eczema and canker sores.
Glycyrrhizin, one of the active components in licorice root, is 50 times sweeter than sugar and gives licorice its characteristic taste. Pure licorice root is also a herbal medicine that, while very effective, carries risk of side-effects at high doses or in susceptible people.