Licorice: A Botanical Powerhouse (and a Candy, Too!)

Its likely that you realize the benefits of vitamin and mineral supplementation for supporting general health and preventing disease. But are you aware that some botanicals have found a home on market shelves alongside (or even inside) vitamin and mineral supplements due to their proven effects on specific organ systems or physical conditions? One such botanical wonder is licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Yes, it’s the same licorice used to flavor the confectionery of the same name. But it has several medicinal uses, too.

Licorice soothes inflamed mucus membranes, making it an excellent choice for coughs, sore throats, allergies, and urinary tract infections. Licorice’s anti-inflammatory effects are attributed to the chemical constituent glycyrrhizin and various flavonoids. Glycyrrhizin works to calm inflammation throughout the body by inhibiting the breakdown of cortisol, while flavonoids provide antioxidants and act to heal the mucosal cells.

The medicinal uses of licorice don’t end there. It stimulates fatigued adrenal glands to produce sufficient amounts of adrenal hormones, giving you more get-up-and-go. It’s also effective against viral conditions such as hepatitis and mononucleosis, and it has been shown to protect over-taxed livers from damage. As medicine, licorice is typically available in tea, tincture, or capsule form. In Chinese medicine, licorice is often used as a base for botanical formulas. Its sweet taste makes it an excellent flavoring for botanical tinctures (and candy, too!), and it helps to focus the actions of other herbs in the formula for greater effectiveness.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is a form of licorice in which the glycyrrhizin has been removed. Available as a powder or chewable tablets, its niche is the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, making it a go-to remedy for ulcers of the mouth, stomach, and small intestine. It has also been shown to inhibit Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacteria associated with stomach and intestinal ulcers.

As with any medicine, consulting a physician before using licorice medicinally is a good idea. Large and/or frequent doses of glycyrrhizin have been associated with blood pressure increases, water retention, and potassium depletion.

Licorice has been a favorite treat for hundreds of years. It was known to be a favorite of Alexander the Great, Caesar, and Napoleon Bonaparte! Licorice is still popular in many countries; in the UK liquorice allsorts are a favorite. In fact, Yorkshire was the first place that licorice was mixed with sugar to create the treat we have come to know today.




Karen Brothers, ND student, NCNM


To learn more about this soothing, energizing, and harmonizing herb, check out the references below. And

   Gaby, Alan R. and Healthnotes, Inc. The Natural Pharmacy. New York:
   Three Rivers Press, 2006.
   Gaby, Alan R. Nutritional Medicine. Concord, NH: Fritz Perlberg
   Publishing, 2011.
   Murray, Michael and Pizzorno, Joseph. Encyclopedia of Natural
   Medicine. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1998.
   Tilgner, Sharol. Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth 2nd ed.
   Pleasant Hill, OR: Wise Acres, LLC, 2009.

Labels: herbs, licorice, liquorice, medicinal, natural, root