Herb Profile
Licorice
Botanical profile with evidence, safety, and practical fit.
Last reviewed: •3 human studies cited
C PreliminaryUse extra caution — Clinically important risk: hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, arrhythmia, and pseudoaldosteronism, especially with chronic/high dose glycyrrhizin exposure. Details
- Evidence
- Strong Human Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Moderate caution
- Best for
- Anti Inflammatory, Inflammatory signaling
- Avoid / review if
- Hypertension, Kidney Disease, Heart Failure
Monograph visual
Licorice
The Hippie Scientist
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Safety & Cautions
Clinically important risk: hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, arrhythmia, and pseudoaldosteronism, especially with chronic/high dose glycyrrhizin exposure.
60%
Moderate caution — review before use
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- - Hypertension
- - Kidney Disease
- - Heart Failure
- - Hypokalemia
- - Pregnancy
- - And Use Of Digoxin Or Potassium Wasting Diuretics Unless Medically Supervised.
- - High Risk With Diuretics
- - Digoxin
- - Corticosteroids
- - Antihypertensives
Safety classifications
- - Stimulant-Like Profile: Stimulant-like or activating caution language is present.
Full safety note
- - Clinically important risk: hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, arrhythmia, and pseudoaldosteronism, especially with chronic/high dose glycyrrhizin exposure.
Safety labels
- - Stimulant-Like Profile
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Blood-pressure effects
- Agmatine sulfate
- ajoene
- Allicin
- American Ginseng Extract
- Andrographis
- Angelica Dahurica
- Astaxanthin
- Astragalus Membranaceus
- Beetroot extract
- Berberis
- Bicarbonate
- Black Seed
- Black Seed Oil
- Brassica Oleracea
- Buckwheat
- Caffeine
- Capsicum
- Caraway
- Chuanxiong
- Citicoline
- Citrus Bergamia
- Cnidium Monnieri
- Coenzyme Q10
- Coffee Cherry
- Coleus Forskohlii
- Hawthorn
- crocetin
- crocin
- Crocus Sativus
- Cymbopogon Citratus
- Dandelion
- Danshen
- Dendrobium
- Devils Claw Extract
- Electrolyte Mix
- Sodium electrolytes
- Eleuthero
- EGCG
- Epimedium
- Epimedium Brevicornum
- Eucommia
- ferulic acid
- forskolin
- Garlic Extract
- Gastrodia
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- Glycyrrhiza Glabra
- Guarana
- Guayusa
- Hibiscus
- Huperzia Serrata
- L-Tyrosine
- Lemongrass
- Ligusticum Chuanxiong
- Lobelia Inflata
- Luo Han Guo
- Moringa
- Mucuna
- Myristica Fragrans
- Nettle Root
- Nicotiana Glauca
- Nicotiana Tabacum
- Nigella Sativa
- Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
- Notoginseng
- Olive Leaf
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Panax Ginseng Extract
- Parsley
- Poria
- PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
- Punarnava
- Quercetin Phytosome
- Saffron Extract
- Sodium
- Soursop
- Ashwagandha
- Yerba Mate
- Yohimbe
- Yohimbine
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Most useful for practical interpretation when safety context also fits.
StrongStrong Human Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · NF KB Modulation
Research maturity: Preliminary or mixed — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Clinically important risk: hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, arrhythmia, and pseudoaldosteronism, especially with chronic/high dose glycyrrhizin exposure.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
A
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
B
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
C
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
D
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)Cited studies informing this profile. RCTs and reviews shown first.
| Study | Type | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Herb-Drug Interactions and Their Impact on Pharmacokinetics: An Update Cheng W et al. (2023) | — | — | PubMed → |
Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review Nazari S et al. (2017) | — | — | PubMed → |
Review of pharmacological effects of Glycyrrhiza sp. and its bioactive compounds Asl MN et al. (2008) | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
Dose guidance
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Differentiate glycyrrhizin containing licorice from deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Licorice Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Licorice Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways
Preclinical pathways
Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
Inflammatory Signaling ModulationNF KB Modulation
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Licorice, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Licorice
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Affiliate-ready sourcing
Licorice Root product picks
Affiliate recommendations for Licorice. Review safety, dose, and product quality before buying.
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Product Form & Quality Guidelines
When sourcing Licorice, verify the label for:
- Standardized Extract: Confirm active content percentages on the supplement facts panel (e.g. standardized to specific marker compounds) rather than simple raw herb weights.
- Third-Party Testing: Look for independent purity labels (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab, or Eurofins) to ensure the product is free from heavy metals, solvents, and contaminants.
- Form Bioavailability: Ensure the form matches evidence-supported configurations (e.g. standardized active extracts like bacosides, withanolides, or curcuminoids) for optimal onset and digestion tolerance.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Botanical profile context
How to interpret Licorice
Licorice dosage ranges, effects, drug interactions, and harm-reduction safety guide for anti inflammatory. Strong Human Evidence research evidence. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Licorice, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.