duplicate those results. It has also been shown to increase cortisol and blood pressure. However, it’s absolutely safe if used properly.

Licorice root contains hundreds of beneficial nutrients, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, hormone balancers, anti-depressants, antimicrobials, flavonoids and phytochemicals:

• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
• Relieves the respiratory symptoms of asthma and infections
• Soothes and heals skin conditions like rosacea, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and skin eruptions
• Reduces hair loss, moisturizes scalp and stops dandruff. Promotes healthy hair growth
• Boosts the immune system and anti-microbial, anti-fungal properties cure many bacterial and viral diseases including herpes, shingles and MRSA.
• Slows the progress of HIV (non DGL)
• Helps cure Lyme disease
• Kills fungal infections such as athletes foot, yeast infections and jock itch
• Fights gum disease, gingivitis and tooth decay
• Stimulates the adrenal glands (depression)
• Rejuvenates people with chronic fatigue syndrome
• Relieves the discomfort of menopause
• Treats acid reflux disease and ulcers

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory

Like all adaptogens, licorice has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect the body and organs from oxidative stress.

A study at the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in Shanghai, China tested Licorice’s antioxidant and anti-inflammation protection of chemically damaged rat livers. They concluded that Licorice significantly inhibited Tetrachloromethane damage to the livers of the treated rats.

Many studies have shown that Licorice has anti-inflammatory properties. It is known to reduce minor pain and inflammation and to fight the inflammation that results in several cancers. 

Respiratory Symptoms

Licorice is an anti-inflammatory and demulcent, a soothing substance that protects damaged or inflamed tissue. It is also an expectorant, which thins mucus so it can be expelled from the lungs and throat. When you combine these properties with licorice roots antioxidants you have an herb that relaxes bronchial spasm, soothes sore throats and respiratory channels, and cleans the lungs and helps them heal from the damage smoking and pollution cause. 

Licorice root’s aspirin-like behavior reduces fevers and soothes pain. It’s great for headaches and other sources of mild pain. In addition, it has anti-allergenic properties that help fight hay fever, conjunctivitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

Heal the Skin

Licorice root contains three chemicals that work to sooth and heal the skin. The first chemical is glycyrrhizin, also called glycyrrhizic acid. Glycyrrhizin is a very powerful chemical that mimics cortisol in our bodies. Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in response to physiological stress. By mimicking cortisol glycyrrhizin limits the release of cortisol and reduces inflammation. It also helps other nutrients penetrate the skin when applied topically, which makes it a great addition to gels. It doesn’t work as well in creams or lotions.

The second chemical is glabridin, a phytoestrogen that mimics the biological activities of oestrogen. Oestrrogen stimulates the body into making collagen and hyaluronic acid, which are used to make connective tissue and help keep our skin tight and young looking. Other benefits of glabridin include inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which helps control the color of our skin. It is an effective treatment for discoloration such as age spots or hyperpigmentation.

Research has shown glabridin to reduce the effects of the sun on skin, helping prevent darkening and fighting inflammation.

The final chemical is Liquiritin. Liquiritin is also a skin lightener. However, it doesn’t work by inhibiting tyrosinase like glabridin. Researchers aren’t yet sure of the mechanism it uses, but in a study in Egypt eighty percent of women suffering from melasma had an excellent response.

All of the beneficial chemicals in licorice root have yet to be identified. However, scientists believe there are hundreds of them. When added together the multitude of beneficial chemicals in licorice root create a synergistic powerhouse of nutrients that keep the skin healthy and young looking. 

The same combination of nutrients also helps keep your scalp healthy and prevent dandruff. They even promote healthy hair growth.

Boosts the Immune System and Fights Microbes

Interferon is an immune system chemical that fights attacking viruses. Licorice boosts interferon levels and increases the ability of the immune system to fight off invaders. Because it also has antimicrobial properties, it is a powerful herb for use against infectious diseases.

Licorice contains more than 20 triterpenoids and nearly 300 flavonoids. The following are the most active against microbial infections:

• Glycyrrhizin
• 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid
• liquiritigenin
• licochalcone A
• icochalcone E
• glabridin

According to a review study by scientists at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, in Beijing, China, Licorice is effective against the following viruses:

• HCV─anti-hepatitis C virus
• HIV─human immunodeficiency virus
• CVB3─coxsackievirus B3, a gastrointestinal enterovirus
• DHV─duck hepatitis virus
• EV71─enterovirus, hand, foot and mouth disease
• CVA16─coxsackievirus, hand, foot and mouth disease in children, pneumonitis
• HSV─herpes simplex virus
• Flu virus─(most variants, including H5N1)
• Cold virus─(most variants, hasn’t been tested against all 200 species)
• Rotavirus
• RSV─anti-human respiratory syncytial virus

The viruses listed are the only ones that have been tested and documented. They are some of the toughest to kill, so it probably kills many more.

Licorice uses a different mechanism depending on the virus. For example, it prevents the HIV virus from adhering to the cell wall, the herpes virus from replicating, and inhibits the H5N1 virus from binding to DNA. In some cases it simply strengthens the immune system against the invading virus.

The same scientists found that Licorice is also a broad spectrum antibiotic: 

“It is effective against both Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis.”

It is also effective against the MRSA bacteria, bacteria that cause gum and mouth diseases, yeast infections, and fungal infections such as jock-itch and athlete’s foot.

As we grow older and our immune systems start to weaken, many of us suffer from shingles. Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. If we had chickenpox as a child, it is still present in our body in a dormant state, but our weakened immune system allows it to activate. The result is shingles. Licorice root’s combination of antiviral properties along with its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties make it the perfect treatment for shingles. It kills the virus and soothes the skin. Make a tea from the ground root and drink it at least three times a day.  

Acid Reflux and Ulcers

Licorice root works wonders in the digestive tract. It controls stomach acid to relieve heartburn and acts as a very mild laxative. It is known to cure ulcers. It is also beneficial for people with irritable bowel syndrome, calming the inflammation and spasm in the digestive tract. 

Finally, recent studies have found that by limiting arterial damage from hydrogenated and oxidized fats, licorice helps prevent plaque formation in the arteries, helping to keep the heart healthy. 

Undocumented Benefits

The following are health benefits claimed for Licorice root, but for which I was unable to find convincing documentation. 

• Inhibits your body’s production of excess uric acid (gout)
• Helps control body odor
• Relieves the symptoms of bursitis
• Soothes sore throat and moisturizes the body

Dosage

Supplement dosage with glycyrrhizin: 150 to 300 mg daily.

Dosage with the glycyrrhizin removed: Up to 1800 mg daily for up to four weeks.

Side effects and warnings 

The glycyrrhizin in licorice root can cause high blood pressure, water retention, and may decrease testosterone levels. 

If you already have high blood pressure, consult with a doctor before using licorice root. 

The supplement, DGL, is licorice root without the glycyrrhizin. While DGL provides many of the health benefits of licorice root, it does not provide the full spectrum of benefits. 

Licorice is a powerful medicine. I’m not sure it should be classified as an adaptogen because it can be dangerous for some people. I suggest you use it carefully, and use the DGL form when possible. Also, don’t use it for more than a month at a time. 

Finally, always read the labels of foods, candies, tobacco products, and alcohol products before ingesting them when taking licorice root. It is FDA approved as a food additive, and ingesting it inadvertently in a food or other edible while taking it as a supplement could lead to an overdose.

Side effects include missing a menstrual period in women, decreased sexual function in men, headache, water and sodium retention.

chewing tobacco flavored with licorice might cause high blood pressure and other side effects.

Don’t use licorice if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Using licorice when you are pregnant can cause miscarriage.

Don’t ingest licorice if you have high blood pressure.

Licorice has been associated with heart failure in people who have heart disease.

If you have breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: don’t use licorice. It may act like estrogen in the body.

Don’t take licorice if you have low blood potassium levels or hypertonia. 

Don’t take licorice if you have ED or have low testosterone levels

Don’t use licorice if you have kidney disease.

Stop taking licorice at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.