Licorice Extract — Support for Adrenals, Throat, Digestion, and Mucosa
Licorice extract is a classic root remedy used in traditional European, Middle Eastern, Chinese, and folk herbal medicine for throat comfort, digestive irritation, respiratory support, adrenal-style stress support, and soothing mucous membranes. Traditionally, licorice has been valued when tissues feel dry, irritated, inflamed, or worn down. For a practical “When There Is No Doctor” home toolkit, licorice belongs in the throat-digestion-and-resilience section—but it is also one of the herbs that needs clear caution because it can strongly affect blood pressure and potassium levels 🌿
Licorice extract is commonly taken in small amounts diluted in water, tea, or juice. In traditional herbal practice, it may pair well with slippery elm, marshmallow root, mullein, wild cherry bark, plantain, chamomile, ginger, or dandelion depending on whether the focus is throat comfort, cough support, stomach lining, digestion, or stress resilience. Licorice is sweet, moistening, and harmonizing, which is why herbalists often use it in formulas to support irritated tissues and balance stronger herbs.
The primary active constituents in licorice include glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, flavonoids, liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin, polysaccharides, and other plant compounds. Glycyrrhizin helps explain many of licorice’s traditional actions, but it is also the compound responsible for many of its safety concerns. NCCIH notes that large amounts of glycyrrhizin-containing licorice can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention, and low potassium, which can lead to heart problems.
Licorice should be avoided or used only with professional guidance by anyone with high blood pressure, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, kidney disease, liver disease, low potassium, edema/fluid retention, or hormone-sensitive conditions. It may interact with diuretics/water pills, blood pressure medications, corticosteroids, digoxin or other heart medications, blood thinners, diabetes medications, hormone medications, and multiple prescriptions. Memorial Sloan Kettering specifically warns that licorice may lower potassium, worsen hypertension, reduce the effect of blood pressure medications, and increase the effects of cardiac glycosides.
Licorice is typically avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless guided by a qualified practitioner. It should not be used long term or in high doses without monitoring. Anyone who develops weakness, swelling, severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, or very high blood pressure should stop use and seek medical care.
At Earth Essence Health and Wellness, I use Mountain Rose Herbs licorice extract because stronger roots need clean sourcing, dependable quality, and careful education. Mountain Rose Herbs is one of the herbal companies I personally trust, and licorice fits well into a traditional apothecary when used wisely for throat, digestion, respiratory comfort, and mucous membrane support.
