Natural licorice, which has a very sweet taste, is extracted from the root of a shrub (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and used medicinally as a capsule, tablet, or liquid extract. Most licorice candy made in the US is flavored artificially and does not contain natural licorice. Glycyrrhizin is the active ingredient in natural licorice. For people who are particularly sensitive to the effects of glycyrrhizin, specially treated licorice products that contain a much lower amount of glycyrrhizin (about one tenth) are available. These products are called deglycyrrhizinated licorice.
(See also Overview of Dietary Supplements and National Institutes of Health (NIH): Licorice Root.)
Claims
People most often take licorice to suppress coughs, to soothe a sore throat, and to relieve stomach upset. Applied externally, it is said to soothe aphthous ulcers and skin irritation (eg, eczema) (1). Licorice has also been claimed to help treat stomach ulcers and complications caused by hepatitis C or other liver diseases (2).
Evidence
Evidence indicates that licorice in combination with other herbs provides relief from the symptoms of functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (3). However, clinical trials of both licorice alone and in combination are limited, and further evaluation is required. There are not enough data to determine whether licorice is effective for stomach ulcers or complications caused by hepatitis C.
A review and meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials (609 subjects) reported that topical licorice prior to endotracheal intubation prevented postoperative sore throats by 56% and cough by 39% (45).
Adverse Effects
Licorice may increase the risk of premature delivery; thus, pregnant women should avoid licorice.
Drug Interactions
Licorice may
Decrease effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs due to an increase in salt and water retention
Increase adverse effects of corticosteroids
Increase or decrease effects of estrogens
Also, some experts believe that licorice has some activity similar to a type of antidepressant called monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors and thus may intensify adverse effects of these drugs.
(See table Some Possible Dietary Supplement–Drug Interactions.)
References
1. Saeedi M, Morteza-Semnani K, Ghoreishi MR: The treatment of atopic dermatitis with licorice gel. J Dermatolog Treat 14(3):153-157, 2003. doi:10.1080/09546630310014369
2. Li X, Sun R, Liu R: Natural products in licorice for the therapy of liver diseases: progress and future opportunities. Pharmacol Res 144:210-226, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.04.025
3. Ottillinger B, Storr M, Malfertheiner P, et al: STW 5 (Iberogast®)—a safe and effective standard in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Wien Med Wochenschr 163(3-4): 65-72, 2013. doi: 10.1007/s10354-012-0169-x
4. Kuriyama A, Maeda H: Topical application of licorice for prevention of postoperative sore throats in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Anesth 54:25-32, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2018.10.025
5. Akbari N, Asadimehr N, Kiani ZComplement Ther Med 50:102401, 2020. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102401
More Information
The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: General information on the use of licorice root as a dietary supplement
