Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
also known as Sweetwood, Mulethi
Moderate — and a meaningful blood pressure concern
A sweet root used in European, Middle Eastern, and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Genuinely useful for digestive and respiratory complaints, but carries a real concern: glycyrrhizin, the compound that makes licorice sweet, raises blood pressure and depletes potassium with regular use. The deglycyrrhizinated form (DGL) keeps the digestive benefits without the cardiovascular risk.
- Soothes digestive linings — particularly helpful for heartburn, ulcers, and inflammation along the GI tract
- Eases sore throat and respiratory irritation
- Mild expectorant action helps loosen and move mucus
- Anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity in lab studies
- Long traditional use as a 'harmonizer' herb in Chinese medicine, added to formulas to balance other ingredients
- DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) keeps the digestive benefits while removing the blood pressure concern — best choice for daily use
Active in Glycyrrhizin, Flavonoids, Liquiritin, Isoflavones.
Regular consumption of licorice with glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure, lower potassium, and cause water retention — even at amounts found in licorice candy
Avoid with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or low potassium
Avoid with diuretics, blood pressure medications, or digoxin
Avoid during pregnancy — linked to preterm birth and fetal cognitive effects
Avoid with hormone-sensitive conditions — licorice has mild estrogen-like activity
Use caution with corticosteroids — licorice extends their effect
Limit standard licorice use to 4 to 6 weeks; DGL is safer for ongoing use
Black licorice candy contains real licorice in many countries — overeating it has caused hospitalizations
Research
- Glabridin attenuates diabetic cardiomyopathy by activating AMPK to suppress ferroptosis and TGF-β-mediated myocardial fibrosis.
- Liquiritigenin targets transferrin receptor to potentiate ferroptosis sensitivity in colorectal cancer cells.
- A Glycyrrhiza Glabra-derived pH/ROS Dual-Responsive Phytomedicine Nanoplatform for Combatting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer via Amplified Mitochondrial Damage.
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