0/0

    Licorice

    Common · Glycyrrhiza glabra

    Healing · Alchemical · Nutritional · Catalytic

    Terrain Coast, Desert, Grassland, Hills, Swamp/Marsh

    Description

    Licorice is a perennial herbaceous plant in the legume family. It produces numerous tall stems and has a robust root system. The leaves are pinnate, the flowers are white to violet, and they are clustered in sparse axillary racemes.

    Location and Habitat

    The plant is found in temperate and subtropical zones of Eurasia and America, as well as in North Africa and Australia. Licorice grows in river valleys, steppes, semideserts, meadows, among shrub thickets, along roads, and near irrigation canals, forming dense thickets. It prefers sandy and saline soils.

    Rarity and Availability

    Overall, licorice is an accessible and widespread medicinal plant, though wild populations in some areas may be declining.

    Effects and Uses

    The entire underground part of the plant is harvested as the raw material known as licorice root. It was often used as an antidote for poisoning from meat or mushrooms and to enhance the properties of other medicinal components.

    Harvesting & Preparation

    • Harvesting licorice root demands careful digging to avoid damaging the extensive root system. This requires a DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check or Wisdom (herbalism kit) check. On a success, you harvest 1d4 usable portions of root.

    Items & Effects

    • Elixir of Synergy. A specialized arcane-alchemical mixture that uses licorice as the base to magnify or extend the duration of other potions.
      • Creation.
        • Requires 8 hours, 3 portions of licorice root, 25 gp worth of exotic reagents, and a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) or Wisdom (herbalism kit) check.
        • On a success, you produce 1 dose of Elixir of Synergy.
      • Use & Effect. Administered by mixing the Elixir of Synergy into another potion right before consumption (no action required other than drinking that potion).
        • Enhanced Brew. Increase the duration of that potion’s effect by 50% (minimum +1 round). For instant effects (like Potion of Healing), add 2 hit points to the total healed.
        • Flavorful Amplification. Some say the sweet taste helps the body “remember” the magical effect, prolonging or strengthening it.
    • Detoxifying Licorice Poultice. A thick, paste-like remedy rubbed on the skin or ingested in dire cases. Used historically to treat mild poisonings.
      • Creation. Requires 2 hours, 1 portion of licorice root, and a DC 12 Wisdom (herbalism kit) check.
      • Use. An action to apply to a poison victim (including oneself).
      • Mechanical Effects.
        • Antidote Boost. The target gains advantage on the next saving throw it makes against poison taken in the last hour. If successful, the poisoned (PHB, p. 292) condition (if any) ends immediately.
        • Minor Healing. The target also regains 1d4 hit points, reflecting the body’s rally under licorice’s rejuvenating influence.

    Poison & Drawbacks?

    • Licorice is generally not dangerous in small doses, but large consumption or repeated high doses can cause headaches, elevated blood pressure, or fatigue if your campaign’s realism calls for it.
    • A GM might require repeated ingestion to slowly build up side effects, such as mild exhaustion (PHB, p. 291) or disadvantage on saving throws against illusion effects (thematically referencing licorice’s sometimes overstimulating effect). a. b. a. licorice; b. dried roots

    Lore

    Licorice is one of the most ancient medicinal plants. It held a place of particular honor in Chinese medicine. According to ancient Chinese physicians, licorice root rejuvenates the body.

    Licorice ranks among the oldest medicinal plants and was especially esteemed in Chinese medicine. Information about licorice was recorded in the "Ben Cao" ("Materia Medica"), which appeared with the advent of writing in China.

    The knowledge of licorice's benefits was gathered by the "Father of Medicine"— Emperor Shennong (circa 3000 B.C.), who, according to legend, tasted and studied the effects of various plants. Believing that licorice root rejuvenated the body, Chinese healers highly valued this "sweet herb."

    From Witch’s Herbs 5E, p. 64 · Fern Flower Press