Licorice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra

Licorice 

Glycyrrhiza glabra

warm, moist, relaxant

Taste: sweet

Family: Fabaceae

Medicinal parts: roots

Actions: demulcent, expectorant, antitussive, emollient, adaptogen, cortisol fixative,

stomachic, digestive, harmonizer

Affinities: gastrointestinal system, liver, adrenals

Notable constituents: quercetin, asparagine, isoflavones, saponins, sterols,

Formononetin, liquiritin, glabranin, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, pectin

Medicinal Applications 

• Licorice is a moistening plant, known for its mucilaginous properties (Swift, Katja et al. “Licorice - Glycyrrhiza glabra”). Mucilaginous herbs contain polysaccharides, which produce a slippery gel that soothes inflamed tissues (Marciano, 2020). Licorice is supportive for the respiratory and digestive system as it aids the healthy production of mucus (Swift, Katja et al. “Licorice - Glycyrrhiza glabra”). Research shows that licorice root is effective for preventing and treating ulcers, it soothes irritated tissues in the stomach lining by increased mucus production (Baby, 2022).

• Licorice is supportive for dry and irritated respiratory conditions through its combined antitussive, expectorant, emollient and demulcent properties (Swift, Katja et al. “Licorice - Glycyrrhiza glabra”) Licorice’s antitussive properties relieve dry and unproductive coughs (Gairola, Seema, et al. 2010) while licorice's emollient and demulcent properties moisten dry lungs  (Swift, Katja et al. “Licorice - Glycyrrhiza glabra”). Licorice is a gentle expectorant, supporting productive coughing (Gairola, Seema, et al. 2010). Licorice root is a main ingredient in many traditional herbal formulas for respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis, colds, cough, and upper respiratory infections (Wahab, Annaduria, et al. 2021). 

• Licorice is a potent ally for digestive health, supporting wound healing and healthy mucus production. Licorice can be particularly supportive for conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease, leaky gut, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcers and constipation. Licorice is considered a prokinetic herb, supporting increased digestive tract motility and aiding as a mild laxative . Licorice is also a probiotic herb, feeding healthy microbes in the gut. Licorice can manage gut health by reducing bacteria overgrowth. Clinical research demonstrates that a methanolic extract of licorice can prevent an overgrowth of candida albican. 

• Licorice has hepatoprotective properties, supporting the health and vitality of the liver. Studies demonstrate that licorice extract can decrease or prevent liver injury in cases of chemotherapeutic agents, prescription drugs and obesity. Current research suggests that licorice reduces liver injury by increasing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Licorice root is a crucial ingredient in TCM for treating liver disease and modern research supports the traditional use of licorice as a hepatoprotective herb. Clinical research demonstrates that licorice is an effective method for treating liver disease and hepatitis.

• Licorice is an effective treatment for maintaining a healthy adrenal system. Licorice interacts with the adrenal cortisol response and it has been clinically proven to influence cortisol levels through the compound glycyrrhizic acid. Glycyrrhizic slows the breakdown of cortisol, this can aid conditions associated with low cortisol such as adrenal fatigue syndrome, tiredness, mood swings and poor immune function. 

• Licorice is useful for many topical applications. The glycyrrhiza compound in licorice has a cortisone fixing effect, meaning the cells react to glycyrrhiza as if it were a natural hormone and it decreases inflammation. Licorice topicals are effective for treating bites, stings, rashes, eczema and psoriasis. Research also demonstrates that a hydroalcoholic extract of licorice root can support the treatment of second-degree burns. 

In Practice

• Licorice is commonly thought of as a harmonizing plant, meaning it increases the efficacy of other herbal medicines. Licorice is beneficial to add into a blend as it creates an increased synergy and impacts the potency of the other herbs. It is also important to consider that licorice is moistening, this can be useful for adding to a formula that is too drying. Another common use of licorice is as a sweetener in formulas, glycyrrhizic acid is estimated to be 50 times sweeter than sucrose and can be used to make a formula taste better. When you're making a herbal formula, consider adding licorice to increase the harmony of your herb blend, compensate for dryness or to sweeten a bitter formula. 

• Licorice is a supportive ally for a healthy digestion. It is appropriate to add to a gut heal tea blend or formula for relief from digestive dryness, irritation and ulcers. For digestion relief, try a digestive bitters formula containing licorice. Taking  1-2 droppers 15 mins before meals can help boost digestion. I have found Canadian Bitters by St.Francis Herb Farm and Boost by Inspirit Wellness helpful formulas for my practice. In 2019 I was prescribed both of these formulas by a Naturopath for digestive ailments and over a year of use I found these tinctures to be a great ally for moderating my digestive issues. Another supportive protocol I’ve experienced with licorice, is taking two 400 mg tablets of deglycyrrhizinated licorice before meals, this is often recommended for supporting people with gastroesophageal reflux disease. 

• Licorice is effective for topical applications because of its moistening and cortisone fixing properties. It is helpful for the treatment of dry skin conditions, (Zabihi, Mohsen, et al. 2023) bites, stings and burns. For treating topically with licorice, try making a gel from powdered licorice root.

• Where I live and practice in the West Coast of Canada, licorice ferns grow abundantly in the rain forests along the coast. This sweet root, named Polypodium glycyrrhiza, has a similar anise flavor and contains glycyrrhiza like Glycyrrhiza glabra. Licorice fern has been cultivated by indigenous people as a medicinal plant and famine food. Back in 2016 I had the privilege of learning how to harvest this root and make an infusion with an indigenous elder in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. To prepare for writing this monograph, I organized a herb walk with friends in a local forest, Lynn Canyon, and wildcrafted a small portion of Licorice fern to make an infusion with. We tasted the root fresh on our walk and its sweetness was overpowering and pungent. I'm currently drying this root and looking forward to tasting it in a blend. 

Cautions:

Licorice increases can raise blood pressure. 

It is not recommended as a simple, or in high doses, for those with high blood pressure. 

DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) products sidestep this concern.

Friends: wild cherry, cinnamon, codonopsis, calendula, plantain, angelica, calamus

This is for research purposes and should not be taken as medical advice.

Works Cited 

Baby, Dany P. “Licorice Root: Health Benefits, Safety Information, Dosage, and More.” WebMD, WebMD, 29 Nov. 2022, www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-licorice-root. 

Bethesda. “LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.” U.S. National Library of Medicine , U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 Mar. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590484/#:~:text=Nevertheless%2C%20studies%20in%20cell%20culture,prescription%20drugs%2C%20obesity%20and%20ischemia. 

Gairola, Seema, and Vikas Gupta. “(PDF) Herbal Antitussives and Expectorants - A Review.” Researchgate.Net, researchgate.net, Dec. 2010, www.researchgate.net/publication/279574592_Herbal_antitussives_and_expectorants_-_A_review. 

Hansen, Fawne. “How to Use Licorice Root for Adrenal Fatigue.” Adrenal Fatigue Solution, Adrenal Fatigue Solution, 27 Nov. 2017, adrenalfatiguesolution.com/licorice-root-adrenal-fatigue/. 

Marciano, Marisa. “Mucilage.” The Naturopathic Herbalist, The Naturopathic Herbalist, 20 May 2020, thenaturopathicherbalist.com/plant-constituents/mucilage/. 

Jung, Jae-Chul, et al. “Hepatoprotective Effect of Licorice, the Root of Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Fischer, in Alcohol-Induced Fatty Liver Disease - BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.” BioMed Central, BioMed Central, 22 Jan. 2016, bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-0997-0. 

Mohammed, Yousut, and Khadeejeh Al-Smadi. “Can I Put Cortisone on My Face? The Right Advice on Creams to Fix Irritated Skin.” University of Queensland Australia, University of Queensland Australia, 20 June 2023, medicine.uq.edu.au/article/2023/06/can-i-put-cortisone-my-face-right-advice-creams-fix-irritated%C2%A0skin#:~:text=These%20medications%20work%20by%20entering,to%20very%20potent%20prescription%20formulations. 

Peterson, Christine Tara, et al. “Prebiotic Potential of Herbal Medicines Used in Digestive Health and Disease.” U.S National Library of Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6065514/. 

Sabbadin, Chiara, and Luciana Bordin. “Licorice: From Pseudohyperaldosteronism to Therapeutic Uses.” U.S. National Library of Medicine , U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 July 2019. 

Swift, Katja, and Ryn Midura. “Licorice - Materia Medica Entry Text.” Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.

Swift, Katja, and Ryn Midura. “Licorice - Glycyrrhiza glabra” Family Herbalist Course. https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/take/materia-medica/lessons/3400287-licorice-glycyrrhiza-glabra. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024. 

Volpe, Jenna. “Demulcent Herbs: Unlocking Their Potential for Gut Health & Beyond.”

Wholeisticliving.Com, wholeisticliving.com, 11 Dec. 2023, wholeisticliving.com/2023/06/19/demulcent-herbs/. 

Wahab, Shadma, and Sivakumar Annadurai. “Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice): A Comprehensive Review on Its Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Clinical Evidence and Toxicology.” U.S National Library of Science , U.S National Library of Science , 14 Dec. 2021. 

Zabihi, Mohsen, and Bahareh Hatefi. “Impact of Licorice Root on the Burn Healing Process: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.” Sciencedirect.Com, sciencedirect.com, 2 Mar. 2023, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229923000286.