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Licorice root can bring relief to problems like liver disease, stomach pain, ulcers, and bacterial overgrowth when used with care.
With a sweet taste and potent properties, licorice root is a strong herbal ally for digestion.
The same compound in licorice root that makes it 50 times sweeter than sugar—glycyrrhizin—is also naturally antimicrobial and antioxidant, as well as protective against tumors and viruses. Antioxidants can bind to unstable molecules called free radicals or reactive oxidative species that contribute to many diseases.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), licorice root is used for balancing qi—life force—specifically in the spleen, which is considered to be vital for the whole body and the digestive system. It is broadly regarded in Eastern and Western medicine for its specific anti-inflammatory gastrointestinal uses in liver diseases and cancer, heartburn, ulcers, and stomach pain.
More recently, researchers are examining licorice root for treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), according to a 2022 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Calming IBD
Researchers are interested in the connection between the herb and IBD because licorice root acts as a demulcent—creating a coating on mucus membranes to soothe inflammation. It’s also an expectorant, which helps get rid of phlegm. Mucus defects play a role in IBD, possibly causing additional inflammation and/or being the results of inflammation, according to a 2014 study in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Inflammation is part of the natural healing process in acute illnesses and injuries, but ongoing systemic inflammation can be the result of lifestyle factors like diet, viruses, aging, and toxins.
The authors of the 2022 review note that IBD and colorectal cancer rates are growing and contribute to a large number of deaths annually, creating a need for more therapeutic solutions. IBD patients also face a higher risk of cancer.
“The discovery of novel drugs for the treatment of intestinal diseases is urgently needed. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been largely used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. Licorice and its derived compounds possess antiallergic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. These pharmacological properties aid in the treatment of inflammatory diseases,” the review said.
Powerful Compounds
The licorice plant—also known by its scientific name Glycyrrhiza glabra—is native to Asia and Europe and has around 400 compounds, including approximately 300 flavonoids, according to a 2021 review in the journal Plants, which noted that licorice is “one of the most extensively examined herbal drugs” with “solid pharmacological properties.”
Flavonoids have beneficial effects on human health, particularly due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. Flavonoids are associated with lowering the risk of heart disease and are often used in pharmaceuticals and supplements.
Twelve licorice flavonoids have been found to inhibit cancer growth by causing apoptosis, or cell death. The cellular-level actions of licorice root may prevent tissue damage in autoimmune diseases and other inflammatory disorders, the review explained.
The review went on to highlight another licorice compound called isoliquiritigenin, which halts cancer using a combination of mechanisms including apoptosis, as well as autophagy. Autophagy is a cellular process that recycles cellular debris for cellular efficiency. Isoliquiritigenin also halts the growth of new blood vessels, called anti-angiogenesis, a common role of some cancer drugs.
This compound is believed to “act as a natural antioxidant in human hepatoma cells,” according to the review, which reduces reactive oxygen species—molecules associated with disease.
Licorice and the Liver
Licorice has traditionally been used to treat liver cancer and liver diseases—both on the rise due to obesity, poor diet, and other lifestyle factors. The review in Plants specifically pointed out that licorice could be beneficial for livers damaged by alcohol, drug overdose, chemotherapy drugs, environmental pollutants, and other chemicals that contribute to diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and fatty liver disease.
“The liver conducts several critical processes (metabolism, detoxification, and bile production). It protects against foreign chemical exposure by detoxifying and removing them. Because the liver is responsible for the metabolism and elimination of medicines from the body, a healthy liver is critical to general health,” the review stated, noting that licorice is also a TCM remedy for liver disease.
Japan and China are using hepatoprotective medication to specifically boost liver function, including medication that includes glycyrrhizin. The authors of the review noted that it could also have a protective effect against endotoxin-induced damage, caused by the outer membrane of certain bacteria, which can lead to dangerous septic infections.
Other Gut Conditions
The antimicrobial properties of licorice could also have a powerful effect on many other microbial conditions affecting gut health that involve high levels of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
The 2022 review summarized several promising studies showing the potential for licorice to stop the growth of infection-causing microbes, though dosage and sourcing varied. The studies were conducted in vitro, meaning outside the human body.
Research in the 2022 review also illustrated that licorice could kill Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albicans. An overgrowth of E. coli in the gut can cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Candida overgrowth has been linked to IBD.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) responds well to licorice, as well. H. pylori overgrowth causes peptic ulcers and can lead to gastric cancer.
“Licorice root is really loved for ulcers and for heartburn—whenever there’s a burning, painful sensation—because it’s very cooling and soothing and very mucilaginous in nature,” herbalist Rosalee de la Forêt told The Epoch Times.
A 2014 study published in Pharmacognosy Research compared licorice with bismuth subsalicylate in patients undergoing treatment with three additional medications for H.pylori infections.
Both the licorice and bismuth treatment approaches worked effectively on pain and healing tissue, confirmed by exams. The study authors noted that research has shown licorice may be useful for killing all H.pylori strains rapidly and alleviating symptoms of ulcers—without adverse effects on other healthy gastrointestinal flora.
Another study, published in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research in 2015, demonstrated the efficacy of licorice for ulcers and noted that while drugs work well for peptic ulcer diseases, they are costly and have limited use due to side effects.
“Researchers are now focused on antiulcer agents that are less expensive, less toxic and very effective. Medicinal plants are among the most attractive sources of new drugs with hopeful results in peptic ulcer management,” the article stated.
Danger in Dosing
Many studies on licorice caution that dosing hasn’t been specifically clarified in the research—studies use varied forms, dosing, and even varieties of licorice that make it hard for consumers to navigate. Because licorice is also used in a number of food products for flavoring, it’s important for consumers to be mindful of their total daily dosage.
Dosing is a particular concern with heavy or frequent usage increasing risks, particularly hypertension. Clinical herbalists may be able to offer additional guidance.
“If we take it in large doses every single day, some people are pretty susceptible to developing high blood pressure from that,” Ms. de la Forêt said. “If somebody has a tendency to high blood pressure, and even if they don’t, I’d be cautious of taking more than three to five grams of licorice root every day.”
Dried licorice root can be found in powder, capsule, tablet, or liquid form. Some extracts do not contain glycyrrhizin—removed to cut down on the side effects—and those are referred to as “deglycyrrhizinated” licorice.
According to Mount Sinai, some studies suggest the deglycyrrhizinated form of licorice is “ better for stomach or duodenal ulcers.”
Ms. de la Forêt said deglycyrrhizinated teas are often the safest bet for long-term use.
Another way to more safely use licorice root is to “harmonize it with other herbs,” according to Lily Choi, an acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who specializes in pain management.
Licorice root is considered an “essential herbal medication” in TCM and is found in about 90 percent of herbal formulation blends, according to the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Licorice root is also incorporated into many patented drugs commonly used in China since, according to Chinese medicine, it balances spleen qi.
Spotlight on the Spleen
Ms. Choi explained to The Epoch Times that in TCM, spleen deficiencies are related to poor metabolism, low energy, and excess phlegm. The spleen, considered in Western medicine a remnant that’s unnecessary at worst and a lymphatic organ that filters out toxins at best, is significant in Eastern teachings.
Licorice root is highly regarded in TCM, she said because it’s among the herbs that can strengthen the spleen.
“A lot of times when people have gut imbalances, they have weak spleens,” Ms. Choi said. “It’s a very powerful herb, but we always say that single herbs should be used with caution and not every day. If you want to use it every day, it would be best used every day in a formula.”
She suggested using it as a tincture blend or as a tea, which could be taken every two to three days. Licorice root on its own could also be mixed with goji berry, chrysanthemum, or lotus—all of which have benefits for digestive health, according to Ms. Choi.
Blending licorice root with other herbs can mask unpleasant flavors, too, with its potent sweetness. “An herb like licorice root is good to sprinkle into your routine,” she said. “It harmonizes all herbs, and allows the herbs to go where they need to go in the body.”
Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or treat. Please consult your primary care physician before starting any new herbal treatment plan.
Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.theepochtimes.com by Amy Denney where all credits are due.
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