Is Licorice Root Tea Good for Indigestion?

Partly: licorice root tea might ease indigestion if compounds in licorice root can soothe the upper digestive tract, but that mechanism and the tea’s benefit remain unproven. A clinical trial found an improvement with a combination of herbal extracts that included licorice root, not with licorice root tea alone. Safety matters because licorice root can raise blood pressure and lower potassium.

When might licorice root tea help indigestion?

Licorice root tea is a possible, but unproven, option for occasional mild indigestion. Indigestion can involve discomfort or burning in the upper abdomen, feeling unusually full after a meal, or becoming full quickly. These symptoms have several possible causes, so a response to tea would not establish what caused them.

The available research does not show which people, if any, are likely to benefit from licorice root tea. It also does not establish how much tea would be effective or safe for indigestion. For a broader look at options, see the best drinks for indigestion.

How could licorice root tea work?

Licorice root contains plant compounds that researchers have studied as part of herbal preparations for digestive symptoms. It is possible that such compounds affect the upper digestive tract, but research has not established a specific way that brewed licorice root tea relieves indigestion in people.

An extract and a tea are not interchangeable. Extracts can contain different amounts and combinations of compounds than a cup brewed from licorice root. The strength of a tea can also vary with the product and preparation, so results from an extract cannot be used to predict what a cup of tea will do.

What does the evidence say about indigestion?

In a 2004 randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 120 people with functional dyspepsia received a preparation containing licorice root extract and other herbal extracts, or a placebo. During the first 4 weeks, symptom scores improved more with the active preparation than with the placebo.

That finding is encouraging for the specific combination, but it cannot show that licorice root was responsible for the improvement. The trial did not test licorice root tea. Functional dyspepsia also has a specific clinical meaning; occasional indigestion is not necessarily the same condition.

A 2025 review of the same herbal combination discusses controlled studies and possible mechanisms. It does not establish that licorice root alone, or licorice root tea, relieves indigestion. Overall, the evidence for the tea is limited and indirect.

How can you use licorice root tea safely?

If you are an adult without the risk factors below and want to try licorice root tea for mild, occasional symptoms, check the product label and follow its preparation directions. Avoid treating the label as proof that the product is effective or safe for everyone. Products can differ in their licorice root content, and there is no established tea dose for indigestion.

Do not rely on licorice root tea as a regular remedy or use increasingly strong preparations to chase relief. Stop using it if you feel worse or notice concerning effects, and speak with a clinician if symptoms keep returning. If you take medication, ask a pharmacist or clinician whether licorice root is appropriate before trying it.

Keep track of when discomfort occurs, including whether it follows meals or appears alongside other symptoms. That information can help a clinician assess persistent indigestion without assuming the tea or a particular food is the cause.

Who should avoid licorice root tea, and when should you seek help?

Licorice root can contain glycyrrhizin, a compound that can cause the body to retain salt and water and lose potassium. This can raise blood pressure and, in some circumstances, contribute to abnormal heart rhythms. The amount in a cup is not necessarily clear from the label.

Avoid licorice root tea unless a clinician advises otherwise if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or low potassium. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use if you take medicines, particularly diuretics, blood pressure medicines, corticosteroids or heart medicines such as digoxin. Do not stop prescribed medication to make room for the tea.

During pregnancy or breastfeeding, avoid licorice root tea unless your clinician specifically recommends it. Do not give it to children without advice from their pediatric clinician.

See a clinician for persistent or recurring indigestion, trouble swallowing, ongoing vomiting or unexplained weight loss. Seek urgent care for palpitations or significant muscle weakness after using licorice root. Go to an emergency department for sudden severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, black tarry stools or chest pain—especially with sweating, shortness of breath, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw.