This herb was an American Indian favorite for treating all sorts of wounds. Goldenseal contains astringent, antiseptic chemicals that help treat wounds and infections. Add two teaspoons of dried goldenseal to a cup of boiling water and steep until cool. Use it as a mouth rinse three or four times a day. Barberry and Oregon grape have similar constituents and healing effects.
Licorice contains tannin, and the compounds glycyrrhetinic-acid and glycyrrhizin.
All of these help speed the healing of sores. Glycyrrhizic acid is the portion of licorice root that can increase blood pressure and cause water retention in some people. A mixture of DGL and warm water obtained by combining 200 mg of powdered DGL and 200 ml of warm water may be applied to the inside of the mouth. This is found to shorten the healing time for mouth ulcers. It can then be swished in the mouth for two to three minutes and then spit out.