Licorice root is used as an herbal remedy for a variety of health conditions, including for arthritis. Research is lacking on the use of licorice for this purpose, and licorice also appears to interact with some medications that treat rheumatoid arthritis. Consult a qualified health-care provider before taking licorice root in medicinal amounts.
Effectiveness
Evidence indicates that licorice is possibly effective for treating one condition -- heartburn -- when used in combination with several other herbs, reports Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. However, evidence is insufficient to evaluate the effectiveness of licorice for treating arthritis or nearly any other condition for which it has purported benefits.
Properties
Laboratory and animal research shows that licorice has antibacterial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A study published in 2010 in the "Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology" found that when licorice extract and roasted licorice extract are taken together, their anti-inflammatory properties protect against acute inflammation and chronic inflammation in disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Cyclosporine Interaction
The March 26, 2009, issue of "Arthritis Today" discusses animal research from Taiwan, indicating that licorice may interfere with the immunosuppressant medication cyclosporine, which is used by some rheumatoid arthritis patients. Rats being fed cyclosporine along with pure glycyrrhizin, an active chemical compound in licorice, or cyclosporine combined with natural licorice extract, had decreased levels of the drug in their bodies compared with rats not eating the herbal substances. If you take cyclosporine, ask your doctor if you should avoid herbal products or foods containing licorice extract.
Methotrexate Interaction
Previous studies showed that licorice appears to increase serum concentrations of methotrexate, another immunosuppressant medication used by rheumatoid arthritis patients, according to "Arthritis Today." Animal research published in the March 11, 2009, issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" found that glycyrrhizin and licorice both significantly increased the length of time methotrexate stayed in the body. The authors conclude that using glycyrrhizin or licorice while taking methotrexate calls for caution.
References
- Medline Plus: Licorice
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Licorice
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Licorice
- "Arthritis Today"; Licorice May Block Arthritis Drug; Jennifer Davis; March 26, 2009
- "Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology"; Anti-inflammatory Effects of Licorice and Roasted Licorice Extracts; K.R. Kim, et al.; 2010
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Glycyrrhizin and Licorice Significantly Affect the Pharmacokinetics of Methotrexate in Rats; S.P. Lin, et al.; March 11, 2009
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