Is Licorice Root Tea Good for Acid Reflux?

Partly: licorice root tea may feel soothing if it does not worsen your acid reflux, but its proposed protective effect on the esophageal lining is unproven. A cup of licorice root tea is not an established treatment for acid reflux.

Is licorice root tea a good choice for acid reflux?

Licorice root tea may be a comforting drink for some people, but there is no good clinical evidence that it relieves acid reflux. Any temporary comfort should not be taken as proof that it has reduced reflux or healed irritation.

It is also not risk-free: compounds in licorice root can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. If you have frequent reflux, are pregnant, take certain medications or have heart or kidney problems, check the cautions below before considering it.

How might licorice root tea affect acid reflux?

Acid reflux happens when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, the tube that carries food to the stomach. This can cause a burning feeling in the chest or a sour taste in the mouth, although symptoms vary.

Licorice root contains plant compounds that have been proposed to support the protective mucus lining of the digestive tract. Whether an ordinary cup of licorice root tea delivers enough of these compounds to affect the esophagus is unknown.

There is no established evidence that licorice root tea prevents stomach contents from flowing back, neutralizes acid or heals an injured esophagus. Feeling better after a warm drink does not show which, if any, of those effects occurred.

What does the evidence say about licorice root tea for acid reflux?

There are no clinical studies available here demonstrating that licorice root tea improves acid reflux. That means there is no established effective amount, brewing strength or length of use for this purpose.

Some licorice root products are sold as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL. They are processed to remove much of the glycyrrhizin, a licorice root compound associated with important side effects. DGL products are not the same as ordinary licorice root tea, and claims about one product should not be assumed to apply to another.

Even if an ingredient has a proposed effect in a laboratory or in another preparation, that does not establish a benefit from drinking the tea. Product composition can differ, so a label's wellness claims are not proof of reflux relief.

How can you use licorice root tea more safely?

If none of the cautions below apply and you want to try licorice root tea, choose a plain product and follow its preparation directions. Those directions tell you how to brew it; they do not establish an effective reflux dose or prove that regular use is safe.

Notice whether the tea makes your symptoms better, worse or no different. Avoid relying on it as a daily remedy, and stop using it if it seems to trigger symptoms. A simple record of what you drank, when symptoms occurred and what else you ate can help you discuss patterns with a clinician.

For reflux generally, smaller meals and staying upright after eating may help some people. Triggers differ, so avoid additions that you know bother you rather than assuming every ingredient affects everyone the same way. See the best drinks for acid reflux for more options.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

Glycyrrhizin in ordinary licorice root can cause fluid retention, high blood pressure and low potassium. These effects can be especially concerning for people with high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease. Ask a clinician before using licorice root tea if you have any of these conditions.

Also check with a clinician or pharmacist if you take diuretics, blood pressure medicines, digoxin or corticosteroids: licorice root can increase risks associated with these medicines. Do not stop or change a prescribed medication because of the tea.

Avoid licorice root tea during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, ask a clinician before using it; check with a child's clinician before offering it to a child.

See a clinician if reflux is frequent, persistent or worsening, or if you have difficulty swallowing or unexplained weight loss. Seek urgent medical care for vomiting blood or black stools. Chest pain, especially with shortness of breath, fainting or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, needs emergency assessment rather than being assumed to be reflux.