✿Lesher Wellness
← All ingredients

Licorice root

Also called: Glycyrrhiza glabra, DGL

A sweet root used to soothe the stomach lining. Its DGL form is gentle; whole licorice root has strong effects on blood pressure.

Supplements can interact with medications and aren't right for everyone, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with a chronic condition. Ask your provider before you start.

Studied for

  • Heartburn and reflux (DGL)
  • Soothing the stomach lining (DGL)
  • Sore throat (as tea)

Found naturally in

  • Licorice root tea
  • Black licorice candy made with real licorice root

Label red flags

  • Whole licorice taken daily without supervision
  • Label doesn't say whether it's DGL or whole root

Check with a provider

  • High blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease (whole root)
  • Low potassium, or taking diuretics or digoxin (whole root)
  • Pregnancy (avoid whole root)

Supplements that contain it

6 products in Dr. Lesher's dispensary list licorice root on the label.

Check with your provider before taking any of these, especially if you're pregnant or take medications.

Parts of the body it affects

Explore what each area does and the conditions that can affect it.

Illustration of the large intestine (colon)

Digestive tract

Your stomach and intestines absorb nutrients and hold most of your body's immune tissue, which makes the gut a common target in autoimmune disease.

Illustration of an adrenal gland sitting on top of a kidney

Adrenal glands

These small glands on top of your kidneys make cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline, which manage energy, blood pressure, and your stress response.

Illustrations: Servier Medical Art, CC BY 4.0

Dr. Lesher, ND

Ready to find the root cause?

Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.

Book a consult now