Top Medicinal Uses for Licorice Root

More Than a Candy

When people hear "licorice" they usually think of the candy, and boy don't they have an opinion on it too! There's a divide on whether or not licorice candy is delicious as big as the divide of whether pineapple belongs on pizza. I'll admit to liking the taste of black licorice - it's so good! I also like pineapple on pizza so take from that what you will.

(Side note: did you know that most licorice candy is actually made with anise and not licorice at all?)

However, when I think of licorice I don't think of the sweet treat. Instead, I think of a delicious tea helping soothe a sore throat. 

Licorice root is actually a widely used ingredient in many products. Not only can in be found in many different blends of tea at your local grocery store, but it can also be found in the following:

• toothpaste
• tobacco
• chewing gum
• select skin care products
• select drinks
• select sweets

A Sweet History

Throughout the ages licorice root not only had medicinal uses but culinary as well. Licorice can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt. When King Tutankhamun’s tomb was found, there within the tomb among the treasures was an ample supply of licorice root. The Egyptians used it both medicinally but also as a drink for the men.

Even Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great were known to use the herb, and perhaps they brought it over from Egypt.

Napoleon Bonaparte may have taken a note from the two men and used it as well, preferring it as a drink and even requesting it on his deathbed. Now that's love for an herb!

All around the world, from the spice trade in Asia to the use of it even in our own early colonial history here in the United States, licorice has been a staple. While sassafras was the main root in root beer, licorice was added for flavor.

Pharmaceutically, licorice root was used for treating liver diseases, sore throats, and rheumatism as well as a variety of other diseases and ailments that may or may not have been accurate.

Using Licorice Today

Licorice is still as popular today in many ways as it was back then. While there may not be anyone so in love with the plant that they're requesting it on their deathbed much like Napoleon, people may find themselves using it often and not even knowing it. (If you do love licorice as much as that, perhaps in it's candied form, then by golly good for you.) As I stated above, it can be found in some of our most used daily products without us even realizing. In the alternative medicine community, licorice root has definitely earned a place on the apothecary's shelf.

Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra L. has a variety of proven medicinal benefits.

Top 5 Uses For Licorice

1. ​Demulcent - Licorice contains a mucilage (a gel like substance) that helps sore throats. I often use either licorice root or marshmallow root when treating a sore throat, and usually blended with another herb like yarrow.
2. Anti-Inflammatory - This herb has anti-inflammatory actions much like cortisone. This is due to the Glycyrrhizin acid found within licorice. I keep this in mind when using it. If someone is feeling inflammation due to a virus (as you'll see next) or so, it is a handy herb to use.
3. Antiviral - You can find many studies online that have been done to show the powerful effects licorice has against viruses. In one study done on monkeys by virologist Jindrich Cinatl, licorice extract given consistently in large doses pretty much negated the SARS virus. Other studies show extracts of licorice are effective against the herpes simplex virus. I consider this when creating a formula for a client who may have viral symptoms.
4. Antibacterial - As with all herbs, different parts of the plant are used for various purposes. In licorice, it turns out both the root and the leaves have antibacterial properties that slightly differ per bacteria. A study showed that extracts made of the roots and the leaves separately showed ability to inhibit growth of select gram-positive bacteria, while an extract of the leaves alone were able to inhibit growth of certain gram-negative bacteria. It was even fascinating to find the study noting that while the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus has become resistant to many forms of allopathic antibiotics, licorice showed the ability to affect it. 
5. Nootropic - Licorice may help increase cognitive functions, it may be a memory supporting herb. In a study done on the effects of licorice root and neuroinflammation, mice were injected with the toxin Lipopolysaccharide. This is derived from gram-negative bacteria and is the way the scientists induced neuroinflammation in mice for the scenario of this study. They then tested the ability of licorice extract through a variety of tests including a Morris water maze test. In short, they found that the licorice not only helped with cognitive function and memory but also helped the neuroinflammation

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Some other uses for licorice include but are not limited to being a laxative as well as an analgesic (pain reliever).

​Licorice root is an herb I use quite often during the cold and flu season. Since licorice is a root, you will want to make a decoction for optimum medicinal potency. However, it is still delicious blended into a tea, and still somewhat effective even at that.

WARNING: Licorice has been proven to effect your electrolytes, lows potassium and may raise blood pressure. Always consult with your doctor prior to starting an herbal regimen. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use licorice root, especially in large, consistent doses.

Sources:

Health topics A-Z. PeaceHealth. (n.d.). Retrieved December 22, 2021, from https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-2122006#hn-2122006-how-it-works

Patel, P., Aknouk, M., Dawson, A., Aya, A., Kanukuntla, A., Kata, P., & De Dona, A. (2021, July 18). How Much Is Too Much? Exploring Pseudohyperaldosteronism in Glycyrrhizic Acid Toxicity From Chronic Licorice Root Consumption. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8369979/. 

Vallejo-Garcia , V., Barrio-Rodriguez, A., & Heras-Benito , M. (2021, September). Acute myocardial infarction and severe hypokalaemia due to liquorice consumption during COVID-19 confinement. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33715981/. 

Pompei R, Flore O, Marccialis MA, Pani A, Loddo B. Glycyrrhizic acid inhibits virus growth and inactivates virus particles. Nature. 1979 Oct 25;281(5733):689-90. doi: 10.1038/281689a0. PMID: 233133.

Pilcher, H. R. (2003). Liquorice may tackle SARS. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/news030609-16 

Adianti, Myrna et al. “Anti-hepatitis C virus compounds obtained from Glycyrrhiza uralensis and other Glycyrrhiza species.” Microbiology and immunology vol. 58,3 (2014): 180-7. doi:10.1111/1348-0421.12127

​Wang, Liqiang et al. “The antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice, a widely-used Chinese herb.” Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B vol. 5,4 (2015): 310-5. doi:10.1016/j.apsb.2015.05.005
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Irani, Mahboubeh et al. “Leaves Antimicrobial Activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.” Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR vol. 9,4 (2010): 425-8.

Cho, Min Ji et al. “Comparison of the effect of three licorice varieties on cognitive improvement via an amelioration of neuroinflammation in lipopolysaccharide-induced mice.” Nutrition research and practice vol. 12,3 (2018): 191-198. doi:10.4162/nrp.2018.12.3.191