Medicinal use of licorice dates back to ancient Egypt, where the root was made into a sweet drink for pharaohs ( 1 , 2 ). It has also been used in traditional Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Greek medicines to soothe an upset stomach, reduce inflammation, and treat upper respiratory problems ( 2 , 3 ).
What is licorice plant used for?
It was used traditionally for treating a variety of conditions, including lung, liver, circulatory, and kidney diseases. Today, licorice root is promoted as a dietary supplement for conditions such as digestive problems, menopausal symptoms, cough, and bacterial and viral infections.
Is licorice used in medicine?
Licorice root has been used in both Eastern and Western medicine to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from the common cold to liver disease. It acts as a demulcent, a soothing, coating agent, and as an expectorant, meaning it helps get rid of phlegm.
Are there any health benefits in licorice?
Licorice root contains over 300 chemical compounds and flavonoids. Glycyrrhizin, the most active chemical compound found in licorice, has been studied for its medicinal properties. This powerful phytochemical has been proven to reduce body fat, heal stomach ulcers, and fight infections.
Is licorice a natural antibiotic?
More than 20 triterpenoids and nearly 300 flavonoids have been isolated from licorice. Recent studies have shown that these metabolites possess many pharmacological activities, such as antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and other activities.
Can I drink licorice tea everyday?
Licorice root tea is safe when consumed in moderation, but it can affect your blood pressure when consumed in excess. If you have any questions or concerns about drinking licorice root tea, it’s a good idea to double check with your doctor to make sure it’s right for you.
Is licorice anti-inflammatory?
Conclusion: Licorice and its natural compounds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities. More pharmacokinetic studies using different models with different dosages should be carried out, and the maximum tolerated dose is also critical for clinical use of licorice extract and purified compounds.
Is liquorice good for your liver?
In particular, recent studies on hepatoprotective effects of licorice suggest that it can reduce liver injury by enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity [7, 10].
Is licorice good for hair?
Licorice powder promotes blood circulation in the scalp and nourishes the roots by supplying vital nutrients to the hair follicles. This helps arrest hair fall as well as condition the hair, adding a healthy shine to it.
Is licorice tea good for sleep?
In botanical medicine, liquorice is known as an adrenal gland tonic, which means that it can help calm frazzled nerves that may keep you up at night.
What is the healthiest licorice?
Red Licorice vs.
WINNER: Red licorice. Many people assume that black licorice root can alleviate health issues. This hasn’t been proven, but eating large quantities of black licorice may be dangerous to people 40 and older because a compound in it has been linked to heart problems, according to the FDA.
Who should not take licorice root?
It should not be consumed by children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers. 12 Licorice also should be avoided in people with hypertension, low potassium, edema, and kidney or liver problems.
Is black licorice medicinal?
It has been used as a treatment for heartburn, stomach ulcers, bronchitis, sore throat, cough and some infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis; however, NIH says there are insufficient data available to determine if licorice is effective in treating any medical condition.
What does eating too much licorice do?
Eating more than 57g (2 ounces) of black liquorice a day for at least 2 weeks could lead to potentially serious health problems, such as an increase in blood pressure and an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
Is licorice an antifungal?
Licorice has well-documented antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties 2.
What are the side effects of licorice tea?
Excessive consumption of liquorice can cause hypertension and hypokalaemia, which may lead to cardiac arrhythmias and myopathy. The pathogenesis involves the action of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), the active metabolite of liquorice, on the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2).
Is there caffeine in licorice?
Caffeine-free. *Licorice root is not intended for use during pregnancy and while nursing, or if you have heart disease or high blood pressure.
Can licorice help you lose weight?
Licorice was able to reduce body fat mass and to suppress aldosterone, without any change in BMI. Since the subjects were consuming the same amount of calories during the study, we suggest that licorice can reduce fat by inhibiting 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 at the level of fat cells.
Does licorice tea raise blood pressure?
It explained that liquorice contains glycyrrhizinic acid, which sets off a chain reaction of biochemical events in the body and can result in high blood pressure.
Is licorice good for arthritis?
Licorice. Licorice was found to be as effective, if not more so, than Advil (ibuprofen) against the inflammation that causes arthritis, according to a study published in 2014 in Natural Product Communications.
Is licorice good for diabetics?
Conclusion. Licorice and its metabolites have a great therapeutic potential for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, a better understanding of their pharmacological mechanisms is needed for evaluating its efficacy and safety.