Can You Drink Licorice Root Tea Every Day?

No, licorice root tea is not a good unsupervised daily drink because its glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium with repeated use. The amount of this compound in licorice root tea varies between products, so a cup count alone does not reliably establish the risk.

Can you drink licorice root tea every day?

Daily licorice root tea is not advisable as a routine habit without checking with a healthcare professional, particularly if you have a health condition or take medication. An occasional cup may be a different exposure from repeated use, but there is no reliable rule that makes it safe for everyone.

A review of licorice compounds and their effects describes glycyrrhizic acid, also called glycyrrhizin, as a major active compound and discusses adverse effects. A 2021 narrative review of herbal toxicities also identifies licorice root as a preparation with potential risks. These reviews do not establish that a particular licorice root tea is safe to drink every day.

For a safer approach, avoid making licorice root tea an automatic daily choice. If you want to use it regularly, ask a clinician or pharmacist about your individual risks and show them the product label.

How much licorice root tea is safe each day?

There is no established universal safe daily amount of licorice root tea in cups or grams. Products can contain different amounts of licorice root and glycyrrhizin, and brewing can affect how much ends up in the cup.

The practical method is to avoid treating any standard number of cups as a safety guarantee. To plan an alternative, try the ai detox recipe generator.

Check the ingredient list for licorice root in both single-ingredient teas and herbal blends. A blend may not make licorice root prominent on the front of the package, and drinking several products containing it can increase your overall exposure. Licorice root can also appear in some supplements and candies.

Some products use deglycyrrhizinated licorice, often shortened to DGL, from which much of the glycyrrhizin has been removed. Do not assume a product labeled DGL is completely glycyrrhizin-free or automatically safe for daily use; ask a healthcare professional if you are considering regular use.

A package’s suggested serving is a preparation instruction, not a guarantee that the tea is suitable for your health circumstances. This is especially important when the label does not state the amount of glycyrrhizin in a serving.

What are the long-term effects of licorice root tea?

Glycyrrhizin interferes with an enzyme that normally helps protect the body from cortisol’s effects on salt balance. This can lead to salt and water retention and increased potassium loss. Blood pressure may rise, and low potassium can affect muscles and heart rhythm.

Risk depends on the product, exposure over time and individual factors; it cannot be predicted from the number of cups alone. Effects do not necessarily appear only after years of use, and the available evidence does not provide a dependable cutoff for when problems will begin.

High blood pressure or low potassium may not produce obvious early symptoms. Swelling, muscle weakness and an unusual heartbeat are possible warning signs, but the absence of symptoms does not prove that regular use is harmless.

If you have been drinking licorice root tea regularly, tell your clinician, especially if you have noticed symptoms or a change in blood pressure. They can decide whether you need a blood pressure check or blood tests rather than relying on how you feel.

Who should limit licorice root tea and when should they get help?

People with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or a history of low potassium should avoid regular licorice root tea unless their clinician specifically advises otherwise. These conditions can make the effects on blood pressure, fluid balance or heart rhythm more concerning.

Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using licorice root tea if you take diuretics, blood pressure medicines, digoxin or corticosteroids. Licorice root can complicate blood pressure or potassium management, and medication risks depend on your circumstances. Do not stop prescribed medication to make room for the tea.

During pregnancy or breastfeeding, avoid regular use unless a healthcare professional advises it. Check with a child’s healthcare professional before giving them licorice root tea regularly; adult serving suggestions should not be assumed suitable for children.

If you develop new swelling, muscle weakness or palpitations, stop drinking licorice root tea and contact a clinician promptly. Seek emergency care for chest pain, fainting, severe weakness, trouble breathing or a severe or persistent irregular heartbeat.