Besides being known as a popular candy item, Licorice has been studied for the past 50 years for it therapeutic uses, as well as its well-known adverse effects. Spanish licorice is a perennial that grows wild in some areas of Europe and Asia. It has an intricate root system from which its active products are extracted. Glycyrrhizin is one of the active components in Licorice root and consists of glycyrrhizic acid in a mixture of potassium and calcium salts. This active ingredient, which is said to give the characteristic flavor to Licorice due to its sweet flavor, also is reported to be efficacious in treating gastric and duodenal ulcers. Other clinical applications include the treatment of allergies, autoimmune connective tissue disorders (i.e. lupus, scleroderma), bronchitis, arthritis, chronic gastritis, primary adrenocortical deficiency, and as an antimicrobial and antiviral.  The active components in Licorice are also known to mimic mineralocorticoid activity in the body, which accounts for its adverse effects.