Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" in the Chapter entitled “Observations on Compound Preparations said, "So now we will examine sweet ebullients [agents that causes heat and movement]. These are the ebullients made from jujubes, sebestens, fennel, and extract of liquorice [Arabic ‘araq as-Sus].”
According to a 2012 report, “the root has been treasured in traditional healing since ancient times. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have now discovered that liquorice root also contains substances with an anti-diabetic effect. These amorfrutins not only reduce blood sugar, they are also anti-inflammatory and are very well tolerated. Thus, they may be suitable for use in the treatment of complex metabolic disorders.” [EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society.]
Liquorice (“Gan Cao”) according to Sacred Lotus in Chinese Traditional Medicine is considered as a spleen tonic, moistens the lungs, dispels phlegm and stops coughs, it releases cramps and alleviates pain and clears heat.
The College of Chinese Medicine says that liquorice strengthens the spleen, is anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, detoxicant, anti-tussive and expectorant, antacid and moderates the action of other herbs.
Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber" says, "Liquorice [glycyrrhiza glabra/ inflata/ uralensis] is a demulcent. A normaliser of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system”
David Hoffman in "The New Holistic Herbal" has it as an emollient and a demulcent (for the lung), for coughs (in a 3-part mixture), bronchitis and catarrh, as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, adrenal agent, anti-spasmodic and mild-laxative.