Is Licorice Root Tea Good for Stomach Ulcers?

Partly: licorice root compounds have potential anti-inflammatory effects, but licorice root tea is unproven for stomach ulcers and should be considered only alongside clinician-directed care. A 2008 review of licorice root research describes its traditional use for ulcers, but does not establish that the tea heals them. Ask a clinician before drinking licorice root tea if you have an ulcer or think you may have one.

Is licorice root tea a treatment for stomach ulcers?

No. A stomach ulcer is a sore in the stomach lining, and licorice root tea is not a substitute for finding and treating its cause. Even if a drink feels soothing, that does not establish that an ulcer is healing.

Common causes include infection with Helicobacter pylori and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. Treatment depends on the cause and may include acid-reducing medication and, for H. pylori, antibiotics. A clinician can recommend appropriate testing and follow-up.

Testing may include a breath or stool test for H. pylori, or an endoscopy to examine the stomach lining. The appropriate tests depend on your symptoms and circumstances. Tell your clinician about medicines and supplements you use, including over-the-counter pain relievers.

For more on choosing drinks while seeking care, see the best drinks for stomach ulcers.

How might licorice root work?

Licorice root contains several compounds, including glycyrrhizin and polyphenols. A 2001 review of licorice compounds discusses possible anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activities, including effects on enzymes involved in inflammation. These are proposed mechanisms, not proof that brewed tea repairs an ulcer.

The compounds in a cup can vary with the product and how it is prepared. Research on an isolated compound or concentrated extract therefore cannot establish the effect of an ordinary cup of licorice root tea.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, often called DGL, has most of its glycyrrhizin removed and is not equivalent to ordinary licorice root tea. Do not assume that findings about one product apply to another, or that a DGL product is proven to heal an ulcer.

What does the evidence say about stomach ulcers?

The available evidence is limited. The reviews describe traditional use and pharmacological research on licorice root and its compounds; they do not establish that licorice root tea heals stomach ulcers in people.

These reviews are not clinical trials of the tea. They do not show whether adding licorice root tea to usual care improves ulcer healing compared with usual care alone or a placebo.

The distinction matters because a substance can show a promising effect in experimental research without working as a practical treatment. The reviews also do not provide a validated amount, brewing method or duration for using licorice root tea to treat an ulcer.

An improvement in discomfort after drinking the tea would not prove that it caused the improvement or that the ulcer has healed. Medical assessment remains important, particularly because ulcers can sometimes bleed or cause other serious complications.

How should you use licorice root tea safely?

If you have stomach pain or suspect an ulcer, contact a clinician rather than trying to manage it with tea alone. If you have a diagnosed ulcer, follow your treatment plan and keep recommended follow-up appointments. Do not stop prescribed medication because symptoms improve.

Before using licorice root tea, ask your clinician or pharmacist whether it is appropriate for you, especially if you take medicines or have a medical condition. There is no established tea dose for healing stomach ulcers. If your clinician agrees that you can drink it, follow the product directions rather than using it as a concentrated remedy.

Product directions describe preparation, not a proven ulcer treatment, and do not guarantee that the tea is safe for you. Check the ingredients: a blend may contain other herbs as well as licorice root.

Stop drinking the tea and ask for advice if it makes you feel worse. If an H. pylori infection is found, ask your clinician about completing treatment and any recommended testing afterward; a soothing drink cannot clear the infection reliably.

Who should be careful, and when should you get help?

Ordinary licorice root can cause the body to retain sodium and water and lose potassium. This can raise blood pressure and, in some cases, contribute to an irregular heartbeat. Risk is especially important for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, low potassium or a history of heart rhythm problems.

Check with a clinician or pharmacist before using licorice root tea if you take diuretics, digoxin, corticosteroids or blood pressure medicines. Avoid it during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless your clinician specifically advises otherwise; check with a child's clinician before giving it to a child. Do not stop or change prescribed medicines on your own.

Seek emergency care for vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, black tarry stools, sudden severe abdominal pain, or fainting. Contact a clinician promptly for persistent or worsening stomach pain, repeated vomiting, unexplained weight loss or unusual weakness, even if you have not been diagnosed with an ulcer.