Athimathuram Uses | Athimadhuram | Mulethi Health Benefits

Athimathuram or scientifically called as Glycyrrhiza glabra or Glyceria Glabra is a cultivated Liquorice plant hailed for its medicinal properties. It is commonly called as sweetwood. Athimathiram is called as Mulethi in Hindi. In Tamil Nadu, we call it as 'Athimathuram' or 'Athimadhuram'. It belongs to Fabaceae family of flowering plants. Common usage of Athimadhuram is treating cough and cold.

Athimathuram is widely used for treating different ailments. From infections to conditions like epilepsy, a variety of ailments can be treated using the root of Mulethi plant. Leaves of the mulethi plant are known for its medicinal value in treating scalds and bad perspiration.

Ayurveda encourages its use for treating many conditions such as leprosy, blood impurity, ulcers, alexiteric, diuretic and aphrodisiac conditions. Some of its health benefits are listed below.

Mulethi has the natural sweetness and unique flavor. Hence, Jethimadh or Mulethi is mainly used in Tobacco for flavoring.

Athimathuram can help loosen the congestion in lungs and it can speed the healing of stomach ulcers.
Reference: Complete German Commission E Monographs. 


How to make Athimathuram Powder or Mulethi Power at home?

Athimadhuram is hard to grind in mixie. You can crush the Mulethi root with a mortar and pestle and then grind it. You can even dry roast the crushed athimadhuram root before grinding.

Names of Mulethi | Athimathuram in different Indian Languages:


Mulethi | Athimathuram in Hindi - Mulethi

Tamil - Athimathuram | Athimaduram | Athimadhuram

Telugu - Athi Madhuramu

Kannada - Jyeshthamadhu

Malayalam - Irattimadhuram

Sanskrit - Yashtimathu | Yastimadhu

English - Liquorice, Licorice

Gujarati - Jethimadh

Marathi - Jyeshthamadh

Scientific Name - Glycyrrhiza glabra



Athimathuram Tea | Mulethi Tea Recipe:


  • Take 1 inch of Athimathuram root. 
  • Crush it with a help of mortar and pestle.
  • Add 1 cup of water and boil in a pan.
  • Add jaggery, palm jaggery, palm candy, sugar in the pan if you desire. Or you can add honey later after you switch off the stove.
  • Boil till the water reduces it to half of the original quantity.
  • Athimathuram tea or Mulethi tea is ready to serve.


Athimathuram | Jethimadh | Mulethi benefits for the adults:

Athimathuram consists of active compound namely Glycyrrhizic acid, in plenty. This compound is known to offer hepatoprotective mechanisms. Research has shown it is effective in lowering circulating testosterone levels in men. In Japan, it is widely used in treating liver ailments such as cirrhosis, and chronic hepatitis. It is also known to control, and inactivate permanently, herpes simplex virus and many other RNA, and DNA viruses.

Benefits of Mulethi | Athimathuram for Cough:

  • Crush the Athimathuram root with a mortar and pestle.
  • Dry roast till nice aroma comes.
  • Powder it in a mixie.
  • Take 2 grams of Ahimathuram powder and mix with honey. Adults can take 5 grams of Mulethi powder. Eat the mixture to get relief from cough.

Athimathuram Uses |  Mulethi Benefits  for Asthma:

Liquorice root is known for its antihistamine ability and hence relieves asthmatic conditions.

Athimathuram Uses | Mulethi Benefits  for Phlegm:

Athimadhuram is very good for getting relief from phlegm and inflammation in Mucus membrane. Many research papers acknowledge Liquorice root's antioxidant, and antiulcer properties, which help in protecting mucous membrane from minor inflammation and pain.

Athimathuram Uses | Mulethi Benefits for Phlegm:

With its natural expectorant property, Athimadhuram root can be beneficial in getting relief from phlegm. Essential oil obtained from Glycyrrhiza Glabra exhibits antifungal, anti aflatoxigenic and anticancer properties. It is helpful in dissolving phlegm in lungs and offers relief from respiratory disorders.

Athimathuram Uses | Mulethi Benefits for Constipation:


Athimadhuram has laxative properties. It's muco-protective and antiulcer property help heal fissures occurring in constipation besides, increasing mucous production, which acts a mild laxative agent.

Athimathuram Uses | Mulethi Benefits for Aging:


It has been proven by modern studies via DNA fragmentation tests that liquorice root extract is highly antioxidant and antimutagenic in nature. This helps one defer aging process.

Athimathuram Uses | Mulethi Benefits for Blood Purification:


Blood purification and more – Licorice or Liquorice is known for its blood cleansing properties as mentioned by Daniel B. Mowrey.

Other notable benefits of using liquorice include weight loss, increased mental alertness, thyroid management, overcoming fatigue, and blood circulation problems.


Athimadhuram for Hair Growth | Mulethi Benefits for Hair:


Athimadhuram powder is widely used powder for hair growth. Mix 1 tsp of mulethi powder in your hair pack and apply it as usual. It is also helpful in treating dandruff. Taking mulethi powder internally also helps hair growth.

Athimathuram for skin | Mulethi benefits for skin:

Mulethi has been used in skin care products for a long time.

Athimadhuram powder is very good for getting relief from the itchy skin condition. Mulethi leaves are recognised by modern science for its highly antioxidant nature. It is also noted that oxidation causes a variety of skin diseases and conditions in a person. ROS afflicted skin conditions are treated with the administration or topical application of antioxidants.

How to treat itchy skin with Athimathuram Paste?

Take Athumadhuram or Mulethi leaves. Crush it along with sufficient water to make a paste out of the leaves. Apply the paste on the affected area.

A common remedy for itchy skin is to apply the paste prepared from liquorice leaves.


Athimathuram for skin lightening and brightening - Licorice root helps to brighten the skin and disperse the pigment.

With its anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-oxidizing and anti-inflammatory properties, Mulethi root can protect you from skin rashes, allergies, UV rays, redness and similar skin problems.

Athimathuram powder is used in face creams, face masks and face packs. You can use Athimathuram tea as a facial cleanser as it has antibacterial and moisturizing qualities.

Athimadhuram | Mulethi Side effects:


Like any other herbs, do not take more quantity of Mulethi. Over usage of any herbs can cause harmful side effects even if they are natural.

It is better to limit the quantity of Mulethi powder just to flavor your teas and similar dishes.

Pregnant ladies, people with diabetes, blood pressure and any other illness who are taking tablets can consult their physician about taking Athimathuram ( Mulethi ).

It is better not to give it to kids without consulting a doctor. It is better not take in empty stomach.

According to Wiki,

The United States Food and Drug Administration believes that foods containing liquorice and its derivatives (including glycyrrhizin) are safe if not consumed excessively. Other jurisdictions have suggested no more than 100 mg to 200 mg of glycyrrhizin per day, the equivalent of about 70 to 150 g (2.5 to 5.3 oz) of liquorice.

According to Varro Tyler's book, over usage of Mulethi root can cause high blood pressure, cardiac arrest, fatigue, headaches, salt and water retention, potassium loss.


Mulethi Powder Dosage | Athimathuram Powder Dosage:


The Complete German Commission E Monographics recommends that the adults should not take any more than 15 grams of athimadhuram powder per day and not more than 6 weeks.

Based on Herb Research Foundation's rule of thumb, the child should take 1/4th of 1/3 of an adult.

It is always better to administer a very small dosage like 2 grams when it comes to kids and that too only under the consultation of a doctor.
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