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Licorice Root: Not Candy, But an Herbal Remedy
by Amy Scholten, MPH

Mention the word licorice,? and most people think of the chewy
black candy that theyve been eating since they were kids. But
licorice is also a potent herb that has been used since ancient
times for medicinal purposes.

Licorice root, or glycyrrhiza glabra, comes from a purple and
white flowering perennial that originated in the Mediterranean
region and central and southwest Asia. Traditionally, it has been
boiled to extract its sweetness, and has been used in making
licorice candy. But licorice root, by itself or in compounds with
other herbs, has many medicinal uses.

Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, a substance that can cause
fluid retention, increased blood pressure, and loss of potassium,
when taken in large amounts, or in moderate amounts for two weeks
or more. To prevent this effect, some manufacturers remove
glycyrrhizin from the licorice root, to produce a
licorice-related product called deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or
DGL.

Proposed Uses of Licorice
Gastric ulcers and stomach irritation " Licorice is believed to
have a protective effect on the cells lining the stomach and
appears to increase blood flow. A combination therapy containing
DGL and ordinary antacids has been used to prevent and treat
ulcers. Several poorly designed studies hint that regular use of
this combination can heal ulcers as effectively as Zantac and
similar drugs. However, if DGL does work, it will need to be used
continuously to prevent ulcers from recurring. Ulcers are caused
by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, which must be eradicated by
drug therapy for permanent recovery from ulcers.

Weak evidence also suggests that DGL might help protect the
stomach from the irritation and ulcers caused by nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs.

Mouth sores " DGL might help relieve the discomfort of canker
sores in the mouth, although there havent been any studies on
this subject. The main problem with DGL is that it must be sucked
to coat the canker sores, and some people find its taste
objectionable.

Eczema, psoriasis, and herpes " A topical licorice cream (often
mixed with chamomile extract) is sometimes used to treat various
skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and herpes, but there
is no evidence that it is effective.

Cough, asthma " Whole licorice (not DGL) has been used as an
expectorant for coughs and asthma; however, this use should be no
longer than one week.

Sore throat - Whole licorice and DGL have been used for soothing
a sore throat.

Chronic fatigue syndrome " The glycyrrhizin in licorice may mimic
the effects of adrenal hormones. For this reason, its possible
that licorice may be beneficial for people with chronic fatigue
syndrome who have low levels of certain adrenal hormones.
However, this approach to treatment can be dangerous and should
not be tried without medical supervision.

Other conditions " Whole licorice has been proposed as a
treatment for other conditions including cancer, hepatitis, and
menopausal symptoms. At this time, however, there is no
meaningful evidence that it is effective for these conditions.

Dosage and Safety Issues
For ulcer treatment, the standard dose of DGL is two to four 380
mg tablets taken before meals and at bedtime. For mouth pain, the
tablets can be slowly dissolved in the mouth.

The standard dose of whole licorice is 5-15 grams per day.
However, many medical experts do not recommend using doses this
high for more than one week. Excessive use of licorice (not DGL)
may increase blood pressure, and cause fluid retention, headache,
and loss of potassium.

A maximum adult dose of 0.3 grams of licorice root per day has
been recommended by experts for long-term use. Larger doses
should only be taken under the supervision of your doctor.

Other Side Effects

Note that some licorice candies, as well as smokeless tobacco?
contain substantial amounts of licorice, and can cause licorice
side effects.

Whole licorice reduces testosterone in men, and therefore may
adversely affect fertility or libido. Licorice use should be
avoided by women who are pregnant or nursing, or who have had
breast cancer.

Drug Interactions

When taken with thiazide diuretic medication, licorice may
increase potassium loss. Sensitivity to digitalis glycosides may
occur with loss of potassium. Licorice should not be taken with
the following medications:

 a.. Cardiac glycosides
 b.. Stimulant laxatives
 c.. Diuretics
 d.. Steroids
 e.. Any potassium-depleting drugs

If youre considering taking licorice root or DGL, talk to your
doctor first to rule out potential drug interactions or other
concerns.

RESOURCES:
The Longwood Herbal Task Force
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
http://www.mcp.edu/herbal

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
http://www.nccam.nih.gov

SOURCES:
Complementary Therapies
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences