Licorice Root Tea Benefits: What the Evidence Says

Licorice root tea can help with hydration, temporarily soothe a dry throat, and provide a naturally sweet flavor without added sugar, but evidence for specific health benefits is limited. If you are considering licorice root tea, its potential effects need to be weighed against safety concerns, particularly with frequent use.

3 potential benefits of licorice root tea

For help exploring drink ideas, try the ai detox recipe generator; its suggestions are not a substitute for checking whether licorice root is safe for you.

The most reliable benefit is hydration: licorice root tea is mostly water. The other two benefits are practical possibilities rather than proven medicinal effects of licorice root. A warm drink may feel soothing, and its natural sweetness may make an unsweetened drink more appealing.

Research on licorice root includes studies of extracts and other preparations, but that evidence does not automatically apply to a brewed cup. Products and brewing methods vary, so the amount of licorice compounds in one tea may differ from another.

Can licorice root tea help with hydration?

1. Hydration

Mechanism: The water in licorice root tea contributes to fluid intake. Staying hydrated supports normal body functions, including the work of the kidneys, which help remove waste from the blood.

How to use it: If licorice root is suitable for you, a cup can be one way to consume fluid. You do not need to drink it routinely for hydration, and plain water is a straightforward option without the particular risks of licorice root.

Evidence strength: It is well established that water contributes to hydration. This is not a unique effect of licorice root, and there is no need to claim that the root improves on the water itself. Consider the benefit in the context of your overall fluid intake rather than treating one cup as a special remedy.

Hydration needs vary with activity, climate and health. People who have been advised to limit fluids should follow their clinician’s advice rather than add drinks specifically for this purpose.

Can licorice root tea soothe a dry throat?

2. Temporary throat comfort

Mechanism: A warm liquid can moisten a dry throat and feel soothing as it is swallowed. That immediate comfort is different from treating the cause of soreness, and it does not establish that licorice root has a medicinal effect on the throat.

How to use it: If you choose licorice root tea, let it cool to a comfortable drinking temperature. Do not force yourself to drink it very hot; the warmth should feel pleasant, not painful.

Evidence strength: The claim is about the comforting sensation of a warm drink, not a demonstrated treatment effect of licorice root tea. Research has not established that licorice root tea treats a sore throat or shortens an illness.

Temporary dryness can improve with fluids, but persistent or worsening symptoms deserve attention. Seek medical advice if a sore throat is severe, persists or is accompanied by concerning symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Can licorice root tea be naturally sweet without added sugar?

3. Sweet flavor without added sugar

Mechanism: Licorice root contains naturally sweet compounds, giving the tea a sweet flavor even when no sugar is added. Flavor and sugar content are not identical: a sweet taste alone does not mean sugar has been added.

How to use it: Check the ingredient list for added sweeteners if avoiding them matters to you. Prepare the tea without adding sugar or honey if you want to preserve that advantage. A blend may contain ingredients other than licorice root, so do not assume every product is unsweetened.

Evidence strength: The flavor is a characteristic of licorice root, not a proven health outcome. If an unsweetened cup replaces a drink with added sugar, it may reduce the added sugar in that choice; research has not shown that licorice root tea causes weight loss or improves blood sugar.

Natural sweetness also does not make licorice root harmless. Some compounds that contribute to its properties can have important effects on blood pressure and potassium, especially with repeated use.

What does licorice root tea not do?

Licorice root tea is not a detox cure or a way to flush toxins from the body. 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. Fluids support normal body functions, but licorice root tea has not been shown to give those organs a special cleanse.

It should not be used in place of treatment for a medical condition. For example, a randomized trial of licorice root hydrogel for burns studied an extract applied to the skin, not tea taken by mouth. Its findings cannot establish that drinking licorice root tea heals burns or other wounds.

Likewise, research involving licorice extracts, syrups or specially processed products cannot establish a benefit from an ordinary cup of tea. The preparation, amount of active compounds and route of use can all differ. Avoid relying on the tea to treat inflammation, an infection or any other diagnosed condition.

How should you drink licorice root tea?

Choose and prepare it carefully

Read the package to identify the ingredients and follow its preparation instructions. There is no established amount or frequency of licorice root tea that is risk-free for everyone, and labels do not always tell you how much glycyrrhizin—the compound responsible for many of its safety concerns—is in a prepared cup.

If you choose to drink it, keep use occasional rather than treating it as a daily health regimen. A stronger brew or a larger serving is not proven to provide greater health benefits and could increase exposure to licorice compounds.

Some products are described as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL. They are processed differently from ordinary licorice root, so findings or instructions for DGL products should not be assumed to apply to regular licorice root tea.

Who should be careful?

Licorice root can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. A review of clinical findings on licorice root describes these risks and notes that some people are more sensitive than others. Effects can be more concerning with repeated use, and it is not possible to judge safety from taste alone.

Avoid licorice root tea during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, ask a clinician before using it because safety information is insufficient. Ask a child’s clinician before offering licorice root tea to a child.

Speak with a clinician before using it if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or low potassium. Also check first if you take diuretics, corticosteroids, digoxin or medicines for blood pressure: licorice root may worsen side effects or interfere with their effects. Do not stop or change prescribed medication on your own.

Other licorice-containing products can add to your exposure. Check labels if you use more than one, and do not assume that an herbal product is safe simply because it is natural.

When should you seek help?

Stop consuming licorice root and seek urgent medical care for severe weakness, fainting, chest pain or a rapid or irregular heartbeat. These symptoms can have serious causes and should not be assessed at home.

For questions about regular use, a known health condition or a possible medication interaction, speak with a clinician or pharmacist before drinking the tea. They can help assess your circumstances without relying on an estimated serving size.

Sources

• A 2020 review of licorice root clinical findings and safety discusses potential effects and risks, including high blood pressure and low potassium.
• A 2023 randomized trial of licorice root hydrogel for burns examined a topical extract, not licorice root tea.