What Is Licorice Tea Good For?

Licorice tea has long been used to soothe an upset stomach. But does this treatment hold up? Here, we look at licorice tea benefits and drawbacks, plus how much licorice tea is too much.

So, what is licorice root tea good for? While there's not a ton of research to support the drink's purported benefits, there is some evidence to suggest that it may help soothe certain conditions.

And glycyrrhizin, a compound found in licorice root that gives licorice its taste, is the primary active substance that may provide these perks, according to a July 2015 review in ​Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B.​

Here are the potential licorice tea health benefits:

Licorice tea is often used to ease an upset stomach from conditions like heartburn or acid reflux, according to the University of Michigan Health.

In fact, there are some small studies that demonstrate this licorice tea benefit. For instance, a March 2013 study of 58 people with GERD found that those who took a low dose of glycyrrhetinic acid in addition to their regular treatment had a more significant decrease in symptoms than those who did not, per research in ​Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology​.

However, larger studies are needed to better establish this link.

Licorice root contains hundreds of compounds that may have an antibacterial or anti-inflammatory effect on your skin, per the ​Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B​ review.

Accordingly, applying topical licorice root extract may help ease symptoms of skin conditions like eczema, according to the University of Michigan Health.

The extract has also been used to tackle other skin issues like psoriasis and canker sores, per the University of Michigan Health, but there is little evidence to support these uses, so talk to your doctor before trying it.

Another health benefit of licorice tea is that the glycyrrhizin and other compounds found in the root may have antioxidant effects that protect against cell damage. These protective properties may also safeguard against some cancers, according to a January 2015 review in ​Current Pharmacology Reports​.

But licorice tea isn't always good for you. Though it's generally considered safe in moderate amounts, you can't drink licorice root tea everyday because too much of it can potentially lead to health issues, per the NCCIH.

Here are some safety considerations to note before you sip the tea:

Eating too much licorice root can lead to side effects, which may be due to a buildup of glycyrrhizin, according to the NCCIH. These issues can include:

• High blood pressure
• Low potassium levels
• Muscle weakness

These symptoms may be particularly harmful to people with existing heart or kidney conditions, so if you have either of these issues, avoid trying the tea without first talking to your doctor.

Another drawback of licorice root tea is that it can interfere with how well certain medications work, according to an October 2019 review in ​Foods​. As a result, it's best to avoid licorice if you're taking any of the following medicines:

• Blood pressure medication
• Diuretics
• Blood-thinning medication

If you're not sure how licorice interacts with your medications, check with your doctor before trying the drink to make sure it's safe for you.

It's also best to skip licorice root tea during pregnancy, as the ingredient may interfere with the baby's development, according to the ​Foods​ review.

Eating licorice products may also increase your risk of miscarriage and preterm labor, per a July 2015 study in the ​Oman Medical Journal​.

There's no specific limit to how much licorice tea you should drink every day, so make sure to follow the dosage instructions listed on the label of your tea of choice, according to the University of Michigan Health.

In general, though, the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggest that adults don't take more than 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizin acid each day. One cup of licorice tea contains about 31.5 milligrams of glycyrrhizin on average, per June 2015 research in ​BMJ Case Reports​, which means you shouldn't have more than 3 cups of the drink.

However, the contents of tea can vary from brand to brand, so check the label to make sure your drink (or other licorice product) doesn't exceed that glycyrrhizin upper limit.

And overall, it's best to talk to your doctor about the safest daily dose of licorice tea for you.