Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
also known as Sweetwood, Mulethi
Moderate — and a meaningful blood pressure concern
A sweet root used since ancient Egypt for sore throat, cough, and ulcer healing — but whole licorice raises blood pressure and requires careful use.
- Soothes sore throat and cough as demulcent
- Supports gastric ulcer healing (DGL form)
- Anti-inflammatory action
- Antiviral activity in vitro
- Used in TCM for over 2000 years
- Most-included herb in Chinese formulas
Active in Glycyrrhizin, Flavonoids, Liquiritin, Isoflavones.
Whole licorice raises blood pressure — major concern
Whole licorice causes potassium loss — major concern
Avoid with hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, low potassium
Avoid in pregnancy
Use only DGL (deglycyrrhizinated) form for stomach support
Limit continuous use to 4 to 6 weeks
Related literature · not reviewed for these claims
These papers were imported by topic. They may concern plants, laboratory work, or different preparations. Inclusion here does not establish a human health benefit or support the claims above. How to read our sources →
- 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.
- Glabridin promotes melanosome degradation and alleviates melanosome-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in keratinocytes via autophagy.
- Uncovering the Functional Role of UGT73F/P Subfamilies toward Triterpenoids Glycosylation in Legume Medicinal Plants.
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