Licorice Root

Traditionally, licorice root has been used primarily to support digestive and respiratory comfort, especially when dealing with a sore throat, cough, or mild stomach irritation. It is commonly prepared as a tea, tincture, chewable stick, or lozenge.

Common Name: Licorice Root Latin Name: Glycyrrhiza glabra Alternate Names: Sweet Root

• Parts used: root
• Primary properties: demulcent, expectorant, adrenal tonic
• Common preparations: tea, tincture, chewable stick, lozenge
• Best known for: soothing sore throats and digestive irritation

Health Conditions Licorice Root Helps With

• Sore Throat — Licorice root’s demulcent, soothing quality has traditionally made it a go-to remedy for an irritated, scratchy throat.
• Cough & Chest Congestion — Its expectorant reputation has traditionally been used to help loosen mucus and ease cough.
• Digestive Irritation — Traditionally used to soothe an irritated stomach lining, particularly related to occasional heartburn or mild digestive upset.
• Fatigue & Low Energy — Traditionally associated with supporting adrenal and energy resilience, particularly during periods of stress.
• Skin Irritation — Traditionally applied topically in some formulas for its soothing, anti-inflammatory reputation.

Compounds

• Glycyrrhizin — the primary sweet-tasting compound in licorice root, considered central to its traditional anti-inflammatory and adrenal-supportive reputation, but also the compound responsible for most of its safety concerns.
• Flavonoids — generally understood to contribute additional antioxidant and soothing activity alongside licorice’s other traditional benefits.
• Saponins — plant compounds thought to contribute to licorice’s traditional expectorant and demulcent use.
• Coumarins — present in smaller amounts, believed to play a supportive role in licorice’s broader traditional profile.

Properties

• Demulcent — soothes and coats irritated tissue, central to licorice’s traditional throat and digestive use.
• Expectorant — helps loosen mucus, tied to licorice’s traditional respiratory use.
• Adrenal tonic — traditionally associated with supporting the body’s resilience to stress and fatigue.
• Anti-inflammatory — traditionally credited with calming irritated tissue, from the throat to the digestive tract.

Recipes Using Licorice Root

• Licorice Root Tea — a traditional infusion, often combined with other soothing herbs, used for sore throat and digestive comfort.
• Chewable Licorice Root Sticks — dried root chewed directly, a traditional method for slow-release soothing throat and digestive support.
• Licorice Cough Syrup — root simmered with honey and other respiratory herbs, traditionally taken by the spoonful for cough relief.

Products Featuring Licorice Root

• Dried Root (cut or whole sticks) — used for tea, chewing, or homemade tincture-making.
• Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) — a form with glycyrrhizin removed, often chosen specifically for digestive support without the blood pressure concerns of whole licorice.
• Tincture — offers a concentrated, versatile option for internal use.

Synergies

• Marshmallow Root — traditionally paired with licorice for combined demulcent, soothing support.
• Elecampane — combined for complementary expectorant action in respiratory blends.
• Ginger — paired for its own digestive-supportive quality alongside licorice’s soothing action.
• Chamomile — added to licorice tea blends for a gentle, complementary calming and digestive-soothing quality.

Safety & Precautions

Licorice root containing glycyrrhizin should be used with real caution, as regular or high-dose use can raise blood pressure, lower potassium levels, and cause fluid retention; anyone with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or on blood pressure or heart medications should avoid whole licorice root or consult a healthcare provider first. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which has had the glycyrrhizin removed, is generally considered a safer choice for those wanting digestive support without these cardiovascular concerns. Licorice root is traditionally avoided during pregnancy, as it has been associated with effects on fetal development and preterm labor in some research; breastfeeding individuals should also avoid it or consult a healthcare provider. It’s not intended for continuous, long-term daily use without professional guidance, given its cardiovascular and hormonal effects with prolonged intake. Licorice root is not recommended for pets without veterinary guidance.

Q&A

Does licorice root taste bitter?

No, licorice root isn’t bitter — it has a distinctly sweet, somewhat anise-like flavor, notably sweeter than sugar in concentrated form due to its glycyrrhizin content. This natural sweetness is part of why it’s traditionally chewed directly as a stick.

Its pleasant, sweet taste is one of the more approachable flavors among traditional root remedies, even for those new to herbal preparations.

Can licorice root be used daily?

Whole licorice root containing glycyrrhizin is generally not recommended for continuous, indefinite daily use due to its effects on blood pressure and potassium levels; traditional and modern guidance both favor shorter courses of a few weeks at most. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is more commonly considered suitable for more regular use since it lacks the concerning compound.

If you want ongoing digestive support, choosing DGL specifically and checking in periodically with a healthcare provider is a more cautious approach than daily whole licorice root.

What’s the difference between licorice root and DGL?

DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is licorice root that has had the glycyrrhizin compound removed, which eliminates most of the blood pressure and potassium concerns associated with whole licorice while retaining much of its soothing, demulcent quality for digestive support. Whole licorice root retains glycyrrhizin and carries more significant safety considerations.

For anyone wanting the digestive benefits of licorice without the cardiovascular caution, DGL is generally the preferred and more commonly recommended form.

Is licorice candy the same as licorice root?

Not necessarily — much commercial licorice candy in some countries is flavored with anise rather than actual licorice root extract, while other products do contain real licorice extract and can carry the same glycyrrhizin-related cautions as the herbal root. Reading the ingredient label is the only reliable way to know which type you’re getting.

If a licorice candy product does contain real licorice extract, the same cautions around blood pressure and prolonged use would apply as with the herbal root itself.

How should licorice root be stored?

Dried licorice root should be stored in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture, where it typically retains potency for about a year or more due to its dense, woody structure. Whole sticks or cut root generally store better than powdered forms.

Licorice tincture stores well for several years when kept in a dark glass bottle in a cool location away from direct light.

References

• Plants of the World Online: Glycyrrhiza glabra
• PubMed: Scientific Literature on Glycyrrhiza glabra
• National Library of Medicine: Chemical Constituents from Glycyrrhiza glabra
• Wikipedia: Glycyrrhiza glabra
• ScienceDirect Topics: Glycyrrhiza glabra Research
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: About Herbs — Licorice
• National Library of Medicine: Glycyrrhizin Safety Research