Licorice is an herb used to treat many ailments such as viral infections and sore throats. However, it contains a powerful active ingredient called glycyrrhiza that can have harmful side effects and can interact with certain medical conditions and medications. Talk to your doctor before ingesting or using licorice, and tell her about any other supplements, herbs or medications you take to avoid potentially harmful interactions.
Forms
Licorice comes in a variety of forms, including dried root, tincture, tablet, capsules and extract. You can also use the dried root to make a powder or tea. There is form of licorice called DGL, which stands for "deglycyrrhizinated licorice;" this means that the glycyrrhizin has been removed. This type of licorice is often recommended for the treatment of peptic ulcers or acid reflux. While DGL licorice may not produce the same harmful side effects as the licorice that contains glycyrrhizin, it is still important to discuss the herb with your doctor.
Side Effects
The glycyrrhizin in licorice can cause several harmful side effects. Ingesting too much can result in a condition known as pseudoaldosteronism, which can make your system highly sensitive to the hormones in your adrenal cortex. This in turn can cause headaches, fatigue, water retention and high blood pressure, and it may cause a heart attack. High doses of licorice can also upset the balance of electrolytes in your body as well as inhibit your ability to absorb calcium and potassium, which can result in mineral deficiencies.
Other Precautions
Most people should not consume any form of licorice for longer than four to six weeks, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. You should not take licorice at all -- unless your physician tells you otherwise -- if you have osteoporosis, hypertension, heart disease, fluid retention, diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure or liver disease. You should not take licorice if you are pregnant, because it may heighten your chances of preterm labor.
Drug Interactions
Licorice can interact with certain drugs such as ACE inhibitors or diuretics used to treat high blood pressure. It can also interfere with the absorption and distribution of corticosteroids, laxatives, medications for diabetes, oral contraceptives, MAO inhibitors and other drugs. Always talk to your doctor before taking licorice in any form. If you develop any of the adverse side effects of this herb or believe it is interfering with your medication, stop taking licorice and seek medical attention.
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