Is Licorice Root Tea Good for IBS?

No, licorice root tea is not a proven treatment for IBS: its proposed gut-soothing action has not been shown to relieve IBS symptoms. If you are considering licorice root tea, its potential risks matter as much as the lack of evidence for benefit.

Is licorice root tea a good choice for IBS?

Licorice root tea cannot be recommended as an evidence-based way to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some people may find a warm drink comforting, but comfort is not the same as a demonstrated effect on abdominal pain, bloating or bowel habits.

If you have new or persistent bowel symptoms, speak with a clinician rather than assuming they are IBS. For a discussion of other options, see the best drinks for IBS.

How might licorice root tea affect the gut?

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin and other plant compounds sometimes described as soothing or anti-inflammatory. Those proposed actions do not establish that a brewed tea improves IBS symptoms. The amounts of compounds in a cup can also vary with the product and how it is prepared.

IBS symptoms can arise from several processes, including changes in how the gut moves and how sensitively it responds to normal activity. A proposed effect on inflammation does not show that licorice root tea addresses those processes in a helpful way.

Glycyrrhizin has another, better-understood effect that is relevant to safety: it can interfere with hormone regulation, causing the body to retain sodium and water and lose potassium. This can raise blood pressure and, in some circumstances, contribute to abnormal heart rhythms.

What does the evidence say about licorice root and IBS?

We found no clinical studies of licorice root for IBS. There is therefore no direct evidence here that licorice root tea reduces IBS pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, or that it improves quality of life.

Claims about a plant ingredient should not be treated as proof about a tea. Even if a compound has a plausible action, that does not establish the effect of the amount consumed in a brewed drink.

Symptoms can also fluctuate on their own. An improvement after drinking licorice root tea would not, by itself, show that the tea caused the change. No evidence-based dose or duration for using it for IBS can be recommended from the available evidence.

How should you use licorice root tea if you have IBS?

Consider asking a clinician or pharmacist before trying licorice root tea, especially if you take medicines or have another health condition. Choosing not to use it is reasonable: it is not needed for IBS care, and there is no established IBS benefit to weigh against its risks.

If a clinician agrees that an occasional cup is reasonable for you, check the product label and follow its preparation directions. Package instructions do not establish an effective IBS dose or guarantee that a product is safe for everyone. Avoid treating it as a substitute for a care plan or prescribed medication.

Check the full ingredient list, too. Some blends contain other ingredients, such as sweeteners, that may affect your symptoms independently of licorice root. You can note what you drank and any symptoms afterward, then discuss the pattern with your clinician; a diary can help guide a conversation but cannot prove cause and effect.

For persistent IBS symptoms, a clinician or registered dietitian can help identify an appropriate management plan. This may include a structured dietary approach with reintroduction of foods, rather than indefinite restriction or reliance on an unproven tea.

Who should be careful, and when should you seek care?

People with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or low potassium should avoid licorice root tea unless their clinician says it is appropriate. Ask a clinician before giving it to a child or using it during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Licorice root can also interact with medicines, including diuretics, some blood pressure medicines, digoxin and corticosteroids. Tell your clinician or pharmacist about the product and all medicines you take; do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own.

Products labeled deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, have glycyrrhizin removed or reduced. They are not interchangeable with ordinary licorice root tea, and they should not be assumed to treat IBS or be risk-free.

Seek urgent medical care for severe or suddenly worsening abdominal pain, a large amount of blood in the stool, black tarry stool, fainting, chest pain, or a racing or irregular heartbeat. Contact a clinician promptly about blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, fever or bowel symptoms that wake you from sleep. These signs need assessment rather than self-treatment with tea.