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.
Licorice root is classed as a demulcent, a substance that is soothing to the tissues. This makes the herb a traditional remedy for sore throats and stomach pains. Licorice tea will soothe and moisturize a dry cough. For stomach pain, deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, is often taken as a powder or capsule. Licorice causes hypertension in some people, and removing the constituent glycyrrhizin reduces that side effect.