What You Need to Know About the Licorice Root in Your Herbal Tea

Licorice root is in a lot of tea blends I've sipped over the years. 

Recently, I saw a social media post from a woman I know who runs a small business out of her farm in Texas. I have always respected her knowledge of herbs and their uses. 

There are herbs she chooses not to use or uses very cautiously. Specifically, while licorice root has several benefits, she explained she wouldn't be comfortable buying teas from a company that included licorice root in basic tea blends with no precautions listed. That just because it's natural, she concluded the post, doesn't mean it's safe.

With a lot of people turning to more natural means of managing their health, myself included, I spoke with experts to go over what you need to know about the licorice root that might be in your herbal teas. Because while it does have many potential health benefits, there are some people who need to be cautious about consuming it.

Licorice root is grown all over Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is one of the oldest medicinal herbs. It's used to flavor certain foods, candies and drinks, and can be used as an herbal supplement.

Says Katherine Maslen, an Australian-based western herbalist, naturopath and host of The Shift Podcast, "Licorice root has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years." 

It seems to be used more often lately. "Perhaps the popularity is increasing because of the research that's around it. But in almost every single traditional Chinese medicine formula you'll find licorice in there," says Maslen. It's one of the herbs she commonly prescribes because of the health benefits.

"It's really soothing and anti-inflammatory for the mucous membranes of the gut," explains Maslen. There's been research done on licorice root preventing and healing gastric ulcers, reflux and indigestion.

In one 2017 study, researchers looked at 58 people who had GERD, or gastrosophageal reflux disease. They found taking daily licorice worked better at decreasing the study participants' symptoms over a two-year span than using popular antacids. 

Maslen adds that another common use for licorice root is managing stress. Licorice root stops the breakdown of cortisol, known as the stress hormone, so it can help lower levels of stress in the body. Maslen says it can also increase levels of DHEA over time, which is one of the hormones that can become depleted when you're experiencing stress. 

"There's also research on licorice for its protective effects of the liver, as an anti-inflammatory and as an anti-viral," says Maslen, noting she likes to use it to help treat the herpes virus. Licorice might even be helpful in easing hot flashes in menopause, and for its anti-cancer properties.

Licorice root contains 300 active compounds. The main one, glycyrrhizin, is known for its sweet taste and health benefits listed above. But it's also linked to some adverse effects. 

Glycyrrhizin can interfere with an enzyme that regulates cortisol, according to Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished. It can increase cortisol levels and affect how the kidneys work. This can cause your body to hold onto more sodium, and excrete more potassium than it should. 

Your kidneys regulate blood pressure by maintaining a balance of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, as well as water. When licorice root affects cortisol levels, it triggers a process of hormone imbalances that ultimately cause the kidneys to have a harder time keeping that balance of electrolytes and water. It also causes the arteries to constrict, which increases blood pressure.

Another concern when too much potassium leaves the body is electrolyte imbalances can also cause arrhythmias, where your heartbeat can go out of normal rhythm, adds Routhenstein. So these heart concerns can certainly affect those who already have high blood pressure, heart failure, or any other heart or kidney concerns. 

But licorice root could still elevate your blood pressure temporarily, even if you're in good health and don't have high blood pressure, Routhenstein explains. You might consider yourself healthy, but don't realize your kidney function is declining or you have slightly high blood pressure. Many people can have elevated blood pressure and not have any symptoms.

Some medications can also interact with licorice roots, especially ones that treat cardiovascular conditions. These can include:

• Blood pressure medications
• Blood thinners such as Warfarin
• Diuretics, known as “water pills”
• Digoxin, commonly used for heart arrhythmias

"Just be cautious with any type of medication that has really strict guidelines around dosages," explains Maslen. 

Maslen says you don't necessarily need to give up licorice root if you have high blood pressure. Look for products that contain deglycyrrhizinated licorice, which is where the majority of glycyrrhizin has been processed out. Maslen says removing glycyrrhizin — the compound responsible for raising blood pressure — doesn't remove the overall benefits of licorice root.

"That's why you'll see [deglycyrrhizinated licorice] in a lot of herbal medicine gut formulas," Maslen explains, adding it's rare to see licorice that isn't deglycyrrhized because health practitioners want to get the high doses of licorice root to heal the gut without the risk of blood pressure problems.

Small amounts of whole licorice root aren't going to be a problem, according to Maslen. Consuming strong cups of licorice tea are where people need to be cautious with high blood pressure or heart issues. 

"As a general rule, the doses you're going to get from a mixed herbal tea blend are very low in the context of medicine and what we would use for them," Maslen says. "Licorice root might be in with three to five other herbs in a tiny teabag." The amount of licorice root you'll actually consume is minimal.

"It's a really valuable herb," says Maslen, "It's just being really careful of blood pressure and certain medications."

Both Maslen and Routhenstein recommend consulting an herbalist, naturopath or dietician with knowledge of herbal remedies who specializes in the health conditions you're concerned about. They can help you go over any potential medication interactions with herbs you want to take, as well as help you decide if certain herbs are right for you. 

Risa Kerslake is an RN and freelance writer who covers health, tech, and parenting topics. Her work has appeared in Discover, US News and World Report, Parents, Healthline, Medscape, and Vice. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and three children. 
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