Licorice root is a plant that is traditionally found in Asia, Greece and Turkey. Licorice root been used in both traditional and non-traditional medicine over the past several thousand years for a variety of purposes.
Licorice root's main component is glycyrrhizin acid. Glycyrrhizin acid is used to treat peptic ulcers and you will also find it in over the counter cough medications because it is an effective expectorant.
In all likelihood, you have had licorice before, just not as a dietary supplement. You have probably had licorice candy or had it in the foods that you eat because it is used as flavoring as well as a way to take the edge off of the bitter taste of certain medicines.
Licorice root was used by people throughout history for stomach issues. Today it is still used for this purpose, although studies have shown that it has benefits for other things as well, again mainly because of the glycyrrhizin acid component of the root.
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Licorice Root Benefits In studies, licorice root has been shown to be beneficial for: Heartburn Peptic ulcers Cough Hepatitis (IV infusion) While licorice root does show benefits in these areas, it is not prescribed by physicians in lieu of other medications... more
In studies, licorice root has been shown to be beneficial for:
While licorice root does show benefits in these areas, it is not prescribed by physicians in lieu of other medications. This is mainly because, in most cases, prescription medications are more effective for all of these conditions than taking licorice root.
There are other areas that supplement companies claim that licorice root supplements are good for, however none of these claims have any clinical evidence for support.
These claims include:
Licorice root is not a miracle cure that will take care of all that ails you so you need to be careful of unsubstantiated claims made about licorice in general.
Licorice root can cause:
In addition, licorice root should not be taken by people with heart problems or high blood pressure as it can make both of these conditions worsen. In some cases, with those that take large amounts of licorice root, heart attack has occurred.
Because licorice root can cause spontaneous abortion, pregnant woman should not take precuts that contain licorice root or any part of the licorice plant.
Licorice can interact with certain medications. In most cases it causes certain medications to stop working or to be less efficient, that is why if you are taking any medication you should talk to your doctor before taking licorice root or any other types of supplements.
Before you purchase your licorice root products, visit your doctor and have your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, hormone levels and potassium levels checked to ensure that you can safely take licorice root products.
Interaction warnings for licorice root include:
In addition, licorice root can interact with other herbs so you need to be cautious when taking herbal supplements for heart health and supplements to regulate bowel movements.
Interestingly, licorice root can also cause sufficient potassium depletion if you drink grapefruit juice while taking it.
Because licorice root can cause increased hormone production, you should not take licorice root if you are taking estrogen or other hormone inducing drugs. Too much estrogen, for example, is directly related to certain types of cancer.
Any small private studies using licorice root have not lasted longer than 4 weeks. In most cases, you will find that there is a warning label on licorice root products to not take the product for more than 6 weeks.
The dosing for licorice root is going to vary widely depending on what you are taking it for, your gender and your weight. In addition, there are liquid, powder and pill options for you to consider when taking licorice root.
In terms of scientific research, licorice root dosing has only been recommended for one ailment and that is for upset stomach. In this case 1mL is taken 3 times a day. The liquid, when taking it as a dietary supplement, recommends 2mL or 56 drops 3 times a day in water.
The cost of licorice root products range from $6 to as much as $50. There doesn’t seem to be any difference in terms of the cost difference between liquids and pills. Licorice root powder can be quite a lot more expensive but it is often sold in very large quantities to food companies as flavoring. Find and compare licorice root and other supplements with the free supplement finder provided!
| Heart Attacks |
| Heart Problems |
| High Blood Pressure |
| Increased Hormone Production |
| Premature Labor |
| Reduction In Potassium |
| Spontaneous Abortion |
| Water Retention |
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| Peptic Ulcers |
| Cough |
| Hepatitis (IV Infusion) |
| Heartburn |