Is Licorice Root Tea Good for Your Lungs?

Partly, licorice root tea may temporarily soothe an irritated throat when drunk warm, but it is not proven to improve lung function or treat lung disease.

Does licorice root tea help your lungs?

Warm licorice root tea may feel comforting if your throat is irritated. That effect is not the same as improving the health of your lungs: an irritated throat and a lung problem are not necessarily the same thing.

There is no good clinical evidence that drinking licorice root tea improves lung function, clears the lungs or treats a respiratory illness. If you enjoy it, think of it as an occasional beverage rather than a lung remedy.

How could licorice root affect the lungs?

Licorice root contains several plant compounds, including glycyrrhizin and licochalcone A. Researchers have investigated some of these compounds for their effects on inflammation and cells involved in airway function. What happens to isolated cells in a laboratory, however, does not establish what happens in a person's lungs after drinking tea.

The lungs have their own protective systems. Mucus traps some inhaled particles, and tiny hairlike structures called cilia help move mucus out of the airways. Licorice root tea has not been shown to improve this process or remove pollutants from the lungs.

The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste, while sweat removes only trace amounts. For more context on how to detox your lungs naturally, focus on reducing smoke exposure and following appropriate medical care rather than relying on a drink.

What does the evidence say?

In a 2017 laboratory study, researchers exposed human airway smooth muscle cells to isolated licochalcone A. The compound reduced growth-factor-stimulated cell proliferation, a process researchers study in relation to changes in the airways in asthma.

That study did not test licorice root tea in people. It cannot tell us whether a brewed cup delivers a useful amount of licochalcone A, improves breathing or changes the course of asthma.

A 2021 review of licorice discusses traditional respiratory uses, research on licorice compounds and potential toxicity. Traditional use and laboratory findings are not proof that licorice root tea works as a lung treatment. More clinical research on the actual drink would be needed to establish benefits and risks for lung health.

How much licorice root tea is safe?

There is no established safe daily amount of licorice root tea for lung health. Glycyrrhizin content can vary between products and preparations, so a cup is not a reliable measure of exposure. The listed research does not establish a safe frequency or dose for using the tea as a respiratory treatment.

If you are a healthy adult and choose to drink licorice root tea occasionally for flavor, use a commercially labeled product as directed rather than making it a daily lung treatment. Following the label does not guarantee safety, especially if you have a medical condition or take medication. Avoid concentrated licorice root products unless a clinician advises you about them.

Some products contain deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, from which most glycyrrhizin has been removed. That does not prove that a DGL product benefits the lungs or is risk-free; check the label and ask a clinician if you are unsure what a product contains.

Who should be careful with licorice root tea?

Glycyrrhizin can cause the body to retain sodium and water and lose potassium. This can raise blood pressure and, in some cases, contribute to muscle weakness or an abnormal heart rhythm. Risk is particularly concerning with repeated use or concentrated products.

Avoid licorice root tea during pregnancy, and check with a clinician before using it while breastfeeding or giving it to a child. People with high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, liver disease, or low potassium should also seek medical advice before drinking it.

Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use if you take diuretics, blood pressure medicines, digoxin, heart-rhythm medicines or corticosteroids. Licorice root can worsen side effects or interfere with management of these conditions. Do not stop or change prescribed medication to use the tea.

Stop drinking licorice root tea and contact a clinician promptly if you develop swelling, muscle weakness or palpitations. Seek emergency care for severe trouble breathing, chest pain, blue lips or coughing up blood. For a persistent cough, new wheezing or worsening respiratory symptoms, arrange a medical assessment rather than relying on tea.