By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

When I was a kid, my favorite candy was licorice. Nothing was better than an afternoon spent with a long rope of the sticky sweet stuff. It was also great fun to watch my tongue turn an alarming shade of black.

Of course these days, I still enjoy licorice—but for a whole different reason.

Licorice has been used treat everything from low energy levels to heartburn for the past 4,500 years. Now studies show that the compounds in licorice really do have healing powers.

Just take a look at the benefits:

• Gives you more energy. Chronic stress boosts the stress hormone cortisol. Over time, this can be hard on your adrenal glands and can eventually lead to unrelenting fatigue. Licorice root blocks the body’s breakdown of cortisol and restores the hormone to normal levels.¹ Take licorice root supplements with breakfast and lunch, not in the evening, to help restore a normal cortisol pattern.
• Heartburn help. Licorice is considered a demulcent—that is, an herb that provides a soothing coating to the upper digestive tract. Chewable DGL licorice supplements can soothe heartburn. I often recommend it to patients suffering from ulcers and gastric reflux (GERD).²

• Reduces inflammation. Licorice has broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory properties—and that’s important because nearly every disease involves inflammation, including heart disease and cancer.³
• Supports healthy blood sugar levels. Some studies suggest taking licorice root can also help reduce blood sugar and insulin resistance. These are two of the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes) and type 2 diabetes.⁴

Licorice is truly an herb that can benefit everyone!

But before you stock up, it’s crucial to know that there are two different types of licorice used in dietary supplements.

One type is the whole licorice root extract containing glycyrrhizic (pronounced gli-sir-eyes-ic) acid. This type of licorice is helpful in resolving adrenal exhaustion, but it may raise your blood pressure if you use too much or use it for too long.

If you suffer from adrenal exhaustion, opt for a “whole” licorice root supplement or tincture. But before taking licorice for adrenal exhaustion, check with your doctor to make sure you have a correct diagnosis. Some of the key symptoms include fatigue, low blood pressure and dizziness when standing up.

If you truly do have adrenal fatigue, I recommend taking 5-6 grams of a licorice supplement each day. Any more than that should only be taken under a doctor’s supervision. If you prefer, you can drink 2 to 3 cups of licorice tea a day. To make, simply steep ½ ounce of the herb in a pint of boiling water for 15 minutes.

For all other needs, use a chewable DGL licorice supplement. This type of licorice has had the glycyrrhizinic acid removed. You can take this de-glycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) whenever you need it to relive digestive symptoms, tame chronic inflammation or for blood sugar issues. It’s perfectly safe and won’t affect your blood pressure. But for best results, chew one 200-300 mg tablet 3 times a day right before eating.

References:

1. Shang H. Glabridin from Chinese herb licorice inhibits fatigue in mice. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternarive Medicine. 2009;7:17-23.
2. Wittschier N. Aqueous extracts and polysaccharides from liquorice roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) inhibit adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to human gastric mucosa. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2009;125:218-223.
3. Thiyagarajan P. Modulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory mediators by an extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra and its phytoconstituents. Inflammopharmacology. 2011;19:235-241.
4. Park HG. Licochalcone E has an antidiabetic effect. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 2011 Aug 11. [Epub ahead of print]