What Are Licorice Root's Benefits and Downsides?

How is licorice root used?

Medicinal use of licorice dates back to ancient Egypt, where the root was made into a sweet drink for pharaohs ( 1 , 2 ).

It has also been used in traditional Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Greek medicines to soothe an upset stomach, reduce inflammation, and treat upper respiratory problems ( 2 , 3 ).

当代用途

Today, many people utilize licorice root to treat ailments like heartburn, acid reflux, hot flashes, coughs, and bacterial and viral infections. It’s regularly available as a capsule or liquid supplement ( 2 ).

Additionally, licorice tea is said tosoothe sore throats，而局部凝胶则可以治疗痤疮或湿疹等皮肤疾病（ 4 ).

更重要的是，甘草被用来调味一些食物和饮料（ 5 ).

奇怪的是,许多licorice candies are flavored not with licorice root but with anise oil — an essential oil from theanise plant(Pimpinella anisum) that has a similar taste.

计划t compounds

While it contains hundreds of plant compounds, licorice root’s primary active compound is glycyrrhizin ( 1 , 3 ).

Glycyrrhizin is responsible for the root’s sweet taste, as well as itsantioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties ( 1 , 3 , 6 ).

However, glycyrrhizin is also linked to many of the adverse effects of licorice root. As a result, some products usedeglycyrrhizinated licorice(DGL), which has had the glycyrrhizin removed ( 1 ).

summary

Licorice root is used both as a flavoring agent and medicinal treatment. It comes in many forms, including teas, capsules, liquids, and even topical gels.

Potential benefits

Current research shows promise for several of licorice root’s medicinal uses.

May aid skin conditions

Licorice root contains over 300 compounds, some of which demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects ( 3 , 7 , 8 ).

特别是，动物和试管研究将糖苷与抗炎和抗菌益处联系起来（ 1 , 3 , 5 ).

As a result, licorice root extract is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including acne and湿疹.

In a 2-week study in 60 adults, applying a topical gel containing licorice root extract significantly improved eczema ( 4 ).

Though topical licorice gels have also been used totreat acne，对其有效性的研究混合在一起，非常有限（ 9 ).

May reduce acid reflux and indigestion

Licorice root extract is often used to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as酸回流, upset stomach, and heartburn.

In a 30-day study in 50 adults with indigestion, taking a 75-mg licorice capsule twice daily resulted in significant improvements in symptoms, compared with a placebo ( 10 ).

甘草根提取物还可以减轻胃食管反流疾病（GERD）的症状，包括胃酸反流和heartburn.

In an 8-week study in 58 adults with GERD, a low dose of glycyrrhetinic acid in combination with standard treatment resulted in significant improvements in symptoms ( 11 ).

Another study in 58 adults with GERD noted that the daily use of licorice root was more effective at reducing symptoms over a 2-year period than commonly used antacids (12).

虽然这些结果是有前途的,更大的人类圣udies are necessary.

May help treat peptic ulcers

Peptic ulcers are painful sores that develop in your stomach, lower esophagus, or small intestine. They’re commonly caused by inflammation resulting fromH. pylori细菌 （ 13 ).

Licorice root extract and its glycyrrhizin may helptreat peptic ulcers.

One study in mice found that licorice extract doses of 91 mg per pound (200 mg per kg) of body weight protected against these ulcers better than omeprazole, a common peptic ulcer medication ( 14 ).

While more research is needed in humans, a 2-week study in 120 adults showed that consuming licorice extract in addition to a standard treatment significantly reduced the presence ofH. pylori( 15 ).

可能具有抗癌特性

Due to its content of numerous plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, licorice root extract has been studied for its protective effects againstcertain types of cancer( 16 ).

In particular, licorice extract and its compounds have been linked to slowing or preventing cell growth in skin, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers ( 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ).

由于研究仅限于试管和动物，因此其对人类癌症的影响尚不清楚。

Yet, licorice root extract may help treat oral mucositis — very painful mouth sores that people with cancer sometimes experience as a side effect ofchemotherapyand radiation ( 20 , 21 ).

对60名头颈癌的60名成年人进行的一项为期2周的研究表明，局部用甘草膜与口服粘膜炎的标准治疗一样有效（ 20 ).

May ease upper respiratory conditions

Due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, both licorice root extract and tea may aid upper respiratory conditions.

In particular, animal studies conclude that glycyrrhizin extract from licorice root helps relieveasthma, especially when added to modern asthma treatments ( 22 , 23 , 24 ).

尽管有限的人类研究显示出相似的结果，但需要更严格的长期研究（ 25 ).

Additionally, limited test-tube and human studies suggest that licorice root tea and extract may protect againststrep throat并防止手术后喉咙痛（ 26 ,27).

尽管如此，仍需要进一步的研究。

可能预防腔

Licorice root may help protect against bacteria that can lead to cavities.

一项为期3周的研究为66个学龄前儿童提供了无糖的棒棒糖，在上学期间每天两次含有15毫克的甘草根。消费棒棒糖大大减少了Streptococcus mutansbacteria, which are the maincause of cavities( 28 ).

Test-tube studies also show licorice root extract to be effective at protecting against bacteria commonly linked to cavities and蛀牙( 29 , 30 ).

However, more research is needed on the optimal dose and form of licorice root.

Other potential benefits

甘草根提取物与其他一些潜在的好处相关。它可能：

• 帮助糖尿病。在一项为期60天的大鼠研究中，每天摄入甘草根提取物可显着改善血糖水平和肾脏健康。人类尚未确认这种效果（ 31 ).
• 减轻更年期症状。Licorice root extract has been proposed as a潮热的处理在更年期。但是，有关此目的有效性的证据是有限的（ 32 , 33 ).
• Boost weight loss.Some studies indicate that licorice root extract lowers体重指数（BMI）and supports weight loss. Yet, other studies have not found any effects on weight ( 34 , 35 ).
• 帮助治疗丙型肝炎。One test-tube study noted that adding glycyrrhizin to a standard hepatitis C treatment significantly reduced the virus’s spread. While promising, these results have not been confirmed in humans ( 36 , 37 ).

summary

Licorice root may have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Early research suggests that, as a result, it may ease upper respiratory infections, treat ulcers, and aid digestion, among other benefits.

潜在的副作用和预防措施

食品药品监督管理局（FDA）认为甘草根通常被认为是可用于食品的安全性（ 2 ).

但是，FDA当前未评估或验证补充剂的成分标签的纯度，有效性或准确性。

Additionally, the short-term use of licorice root supplements and teas is widely considered safe. However, large doses may produce adverse effects, and individuals with certain health conditions may wish to avoid it.

Licorice root overdose

Both chronic use and large doses of licorice root products may lead to glycyrrhizin accumulation in your body.

Elevated levels of glycyrrhizin have been shown to cause an abnormal increase in应力激素皮质醇，这可能导致您的液体和电解质水平失衡（ 38 ).

As a result, chronic and large doses of licorice root products may trigger several dangerous symptoms, including ( 2 , 38 , 39 ）：

• low potassium levels
• 高血压
• muscle weakness
• 心律异常

虽然很少见，但可能会发生甘草中毒。它可能导致肾衰竭，充血性心力衰竭或肺部液体过多（肺水肿）（肺水肿）（ 2 ).

Thus, individuals with high blood pressure, congestive heart failure,kidney disease，鼓励钾水平或低钾水平，以避免完全含有甘油蛋白的甘草产品。

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Consuming lots of licorice — and glycyrrhizin in particular — during pregnancy may negatively affect your baby’s brain development.

In one study, children born to mothers who ate large amounts of glycyrrhizin-containing licorice products during pregnancy were more likely to havebrain impairmentslater in life (40).

所以，pregnant women应避免甘草补品并限制食品和饮料中的甘草摄入量。

Due to a lack of research, children and breastfeeding women should also avoid licorice products.

Drug interactions

Licorice root has been shown to interact with several medications, including ( 2 ）：

• 血压药物
• blood thinners
• cholesterol lowering medications, including statins
• 利尿剂
• 基于雌激素的避孕药
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

People taking any of these medications should avoid licorice root products unless their healthcare provider instructs otherwise.

Summary

长期使用和大剂量的甘草根可能导致严重的液体和电解质失衡。儿童，孕妇和母乳喂养的妇女以及患有肾脏疾病，心脏病或高血压的儿童应避免使用甘草产物。

Dosage and forms of licorice root

作为补充，甘草根提取物有几种形式，包括胶囊，粉末，tinctures, topical gels, and teas. The root itself can also be purchased either fresh or dried.

There’s currently no standard dosage recommendation. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Scientific Committee of Food (SCF) both recommend limiting glycyrrhizin intake to no more than 100 mg per day (41).

值得注意的是，那些吃大量甘草产品的人可能获得的数量可能还要多。

此外，由于产品并不总是表明甘氨酸的量，因此很难确定安全量。结果，与您的医疗保健提供者讨论安全有效的剂量很重要。

Another option is to look for deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) powders or capsules.

These supplements are free of glycyrrhizin, which is responsible for most of licorice’s side effects. Still, as this compound also contributes numerous benefits, it’s unclear whether DGL products have the same positive health effects.

Summary

您可以将甘草根作为茶，tin剂，粉末或补充剂。它也可以局部用作凝胶。虽然没有标准剂量的甘草根，但您应该将总甘氨酸摄入量限制为每天不超过100毫克。

底线

甘草根已数千年用于治疗各种疾病，包括呼吸系统疾病和消化困扰.

Its plant compounds demonstrate potent antioxidant,消炎（药）, and antimicrobial effects. Though it may relieve acid reflux, eczema, peptic ulcers, and other health issues, more comprehensive human studies are needed.

Still, licorice has adverse effects if it’s overconsumed or eaten frequently. Consult your healthcare provider before trying licorice root supplements or teas.