Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Licorice is very healing by itself, but is one of my favorite herbs to combine with others because of it's sweet, delicious flavor and synergistic properties

Try making a tea with
Licorice & Ginger - for cold weather, warming/clearing, sweet/spicy flavor and balancing properties of each
or
Licorice & Peppermint for cooling/soothing, increasing digestion,& a great afternoon ‘pick-me-up’

Consider adding in other supportive herbs like Nettle, Lemon Balm, Alfalfa, Gingko Biloba, Gotu Kola, etc.

Licorice is one of the oldest and best known remedies for coughs, chest complaints, soothing the throat (upper respiratory ailments), cold symptoms, stomach ulcers and seasonal allergies (licorice root + nettle leaf, etc). The knowledge and use of it dates back to the time of the early days of Egyptian civilization. According to some historians, the early clay tablets found of the plains of Mesopotamia gave many uses of Licorice as a medicine and as an elixir of life. Cultures around the world knew about the many values of Licorice

Licorice lightly stimulates adrenal function, without depleting them

Is one of the most widely used herbs - in foods, medicines, beverages, confections, etc.

Soothes and heals inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts

Herbs rarely have side effects - but with a number of herbs there can be contradictions with either medications, mineral balances, or other special cases

Cautions/Contradictions with Licorice:

In very large doses/long term use, Licorice can induce sodium retention and potassium depletion - which can lead to hypertension and edema. Licorice that has had the compound glycyrrhizic acid removed (called DGL for deglycyrrhizinated licorice) may not have the same degree of side effects

People with high blood pressure (Licorice can raise BP)

Pregnant women should avoid using licorice root as a supplement or consuming large amounts of it as food

Taking licorice root containing glycyrrhizic acid with medications that reduce potassium levels (such as diuretics) might be bad for your heart

Adaptogenic herbs can generally be taken for longer periods of time than most herbs - however, with some (Licorice especially) you should be cautious of taking it long term. For example - take for 1-3 weeks, off for 1-3 weeks. This is highly situational and dependent on individual constitution and potassium levels

You should not consume licorice if you have:
High blood pressure
Liver disease
Low potassium levels
Diabetes
Heart disease
Hormone-sensitive cancers
Fluid retention or edema

It is also contraindicated in those who take prescriptions containing digoxin, ACE inhibitors, corticosteroids, insulin and other diabetic drugs, diuretics, warfarin, laxatives, or any medicines processed by the liver

Consider consulting with an Herbalist, TCM practitioner, or N.D. / M.D. before using licorice.