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Herb Profile
Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) carries a Grade C rating — limited evidence.
Last reviewed: •3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited
Use extra caution — Clinically important risk: hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, arrhythmia, and pseudoaldosteronism, especially with chronic/high dose glycyrrhizin exposure. Details
- Evidence
- Limited Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Moderate caution
- Best for
- Anti Inflammatory, Inflammatory signaling
- Avoid / review if
- Hypertension, Kidney Disease, Heart Failure
At a glance
From this profile's structured data- Evidence
- Grade C
- Safety
- Clinically important risk: hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, arrhythmia, and pseudoaldosteronism, especially with chronic/high-dose glycyrrhizin exposure.
- Profile context
- anti-inflammatory
Next stepsWhere to go next — guides & comparisons
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Safety
Safety & Cautions
Clinically important risk: hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, arrhythmia, and pseudoaldosteronism, especially with chronic/high dose glycyrrhizin exposure.
Elevated caution
Caution level: Elevated. One caution category applies — read it before use.
- Stimulant-Like ProfileStimulant-like or activating caution language is present.
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
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Blood-pressure effectsCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 81 of 81 pairings in this mechanism group.
- Agmatine sulfate — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Dahurica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astaxanthin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus Membranaceus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Beetroot extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Berberis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Bicarbonate — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Black Seed — Theoretical interaction certainty
+69 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.
LimitedLimited Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · NF KB Modulation
Research maturity: Emerging research — 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.
Study design details
Evidence Grade
Grade C: Limited Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Meta-analysis
- Risk of Bias
- Low
- Consistency
- Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a meta-analysis, drawn from 4 recorded studies, 1 in people.
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.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (5)1 human evidence source · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable
Filter by study class
Showing 5 of 5 studies.
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 5 structured sources, including 1 human evidence source; 0 are human trials.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background | Meta-analysis Statistically combines results from multiple eligible studies; confidence still depends on the quality, consistency, and directness of those studies. | — | — | — | — | — | A meta-analysis of 26 clinical trials (985 participants) found small reductions in body weight/BMI but also an increase in diastolic blood pressure. This is a useful benefit-risk tradeoff and reinforces blood-pressure caution. | PubMed → |
Herb-Drug Interactions and Their Impact on Pharmacokinetics: An Update Cheng W et al. · Curr Drug Metab · 2023 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review Nazari S et al. · Phytother Res · 2017 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Review of pharmacological effects of Glycyrrhiza sp. and its bioactive compounds Asl MN et al. · Phytother Res · 2008 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Background | Other / unclear The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy. | — | — | — | — | — | A 2026 literature analysis of 120 reports/trials identified recurrent licorice-related adverse-reaction patterns including hypokalemia/pseudohyperaldosteronism, hypertension/arrhythmia and allergy. Higher-risk contexts included older age, hepatic/renal disease, off-label dosing and co-use with thiazide diuretics or drugs that disturb electrolytes/heart rhythm. | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- No standardized dose
- 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)
- Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
- NF KB Modulation
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Licorice, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
Compare related active botanicals
Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.
Guides that use Licorice
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Sourcing options
Licorice Root product picks
Recommendation status
Product recommendations are not shown for this profile because the current site safety and monetization policy does not permit them.
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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