Liquorice root | Glycyrrhiza glabra | Organic
$3.00 – $12.50
Liquorice root is a prized herbal remedy, with a long history of traditional use and many actions which make it valuable for a variety of different applications. It has a very sweet taste, approximately 50 times sweeter than sucrose, hence its latin name Glycyrrhiza.
It is extremely useful as a demulcent, soothing the digestive tract and the lungs due to its polysaccharide component. It is used for cough remedies – see our blog here about this subject.
The Triperpeonoid saponins have adrenocorticoid actions where they reduce the conversion of cortisol to inactive cortisone, making the cortisol effectively active for longer without explicitly raising the plasma levels. This creates an anti-inflammatory action due to the effect of cortisol on inflammation. However this can create side effects so Liquoice root is contra-indicated in those who are sensitive to the effects of mineralocorticoids such as those with obesity, fluid retention, high blood pressure, high sodium and low potassium levels. Glycyrrhizin also directly binds to the gluco-corticoid receptors weakly initiating its effects. Liquorice can lower potassium levels which adds to its list of contraindications including those with kidney disease.
Liquorice can also lower testosterone levels which makes it useful for women with hirsutism, however in some studies it has not affected plasma testosterone levels significantly.
Immunity – Liquorice root has been shown to increase interferon levels, as well as enhance T-cell production within 24 hours and it also has antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial actions towards the following: Helicobacter pylori, Streptococcus mutans, Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Legionella spp, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans, Epstein Barr, HSV, SARS1, HIV, Hepatitis B.
Liquorice root has a hepatoprotective action either through antiviral effects directly or via antioxidant pathways as well.
There is also some potential for components of Liquorice root having antiviral action against SARSCov2 which is currently being researched (5) (6) (7).
As an anti-inflammatory Liquorice root has been studied using a placebo controlled trial against Ibuprofen for dysmenorrhea and has been shown to be as effective in relieving pain (8).
Several flavonoids from Liquorice root have antioxidant effect in vitro and the Isoflavones glabridin and glabrene also have endocrine effects benefiting post-menopausal women.
Liquorice root (Licorice) is found in our Lung Elixir, No Rest for the Wicked tonic, Lung Tea, Anti-Rheumatic tea, The Sweetest Root tonic, Hair of the Dog tea, Work tea, Hayfever Tea, Bladder tea, Get up & Go tea, Spring Tonic, Skin & Tonic, The Hangover tonic, Manflu tonic, General tonic, Cough Medicine, Chopped liver, Heavy Nettle and I Pee Nightly tonic. As you can see Liquorice is a valuable herb.
All of our teas are organic or wild harvested from natural surroundings. Enjoy!
This information is for educational purposes. Please do not self-treat disease using herbs alone. Always consult with a qualified & registered herbalist and inform your doctor and pharmacist about your use of herbal remedies.
- Fisher, C, 2009 Materia Medica of Western Herbs
- Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Phytother Res. 2018 Dec;32(12):2323-2339. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30117204/
- Antiviral effects of Glycyrrhiza species. Phytother Res. 2008 Feb;22(2):141-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17886224/
- Glycyrrhizin, an active component of liquorice roots, and replication of SARS-associated coronavirus. Lancet. 2003 Jun 14;361(9374):2045-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12814717/
- Identification of bioactive compounds from Glycyrrhiza glabra as possible inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and non-structural protein-15: a pharmacoinformatics study. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2020 Jun 18;1-15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32552462/
- Potential Leads from Liquorice against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease using Molecular Docking Simulation Studies. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 2020 Aug 16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32807047/
- Symptomatic Protective Action of Glycyrrhizin (Licorice) in COVID-19 Infection?. Front Immunol. 2020 May 28;11:1239. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32574273/
- The effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. on Primary Dysmenorrhea compared with Ibuprofen: A Randomized, Triple-Blind Controlled Trial. Iran J Pharm Res. Fall 2019;18(Suppl1):291-301. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32802108/
Additional information
| Ingredients | Dried Liquorice root organic |
|---|---|
| Actions | Expectorant, Demulcent, Anti-inflammatory, Mild laxative, Adrenocorticotropic, Hepatoprotective |
| Constituents | Triterpenoid saponins – Glycyrrhizin, Flavonoids – liquiritigenin, isoliquirtigenin, liquirtin, apioside, isoliquiritin, licochalcone A, glabridin, glabrene, fomononetin, Bitter – glycymarin, Polysaccharides, Salicylates, Sterols – B-sitosterol, Coumarins – umbelliferone, Phenolic acids |
| Contraindications | Liquorice root should not be used by those on cardiovascular medications or in those with high blood pressure, low potassium, a high sodium diet, fluid retention or kidney disease or concomitantly with diuretics and corticosteroids. Not to be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. |
| Instructions | Steep 1/2 teaspoon of herb for 10-20 minutes. Reuse the tea 1-2 times until it is spent. Drink 1-2 times daily. |
| Size | 20 grams tea, 30 grams tea, 50 grams tea, 10 gram stick, 30 gram stick, 20 grams powder, 50 grams powder |
| Country of origin | Liquorice root is native to South east Europe and south West Asia. This tea is harvested in USA, Spain or South Africa. |
