What Is Liquorice Root Good For, and Is It Safe for You?

When a tickly cough settles in, or your stomach feels unsettled after a rich meal, liquorice root is one of the oldest herbs people have reached for. It has a soft, sweet taste and a very long history in herbal medicine.

It also has a surprising story, as the little black Pontefract cakes from old sweet shop jars began life as a liquorice medicine.

Here we look at where liquorice comes from, how a Yorkshire town turned it into one of Britain's best loved sweets, and what herbalists use it for today. Liquorice is not right for everyone, so please read who should not take liquorice root before you try it.

What is liquorice root?

Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a flowering plant in the pea family, and it is the root that herbalists use. Its name comes from the Greek for "sweet root". It grows naturally in warmer parts of southern Europe and western Asia, so it is not a native British plant.

Liquorice root has been used since the time of Hippocrates for stomach complaints and breathing troubles¹.

Roman soldiers are said to have chewed the root on long marches to ease their thirst¹. It has also been part of Egyptian, Arab, Chinese, Tibetan and Indian traditional medicine for thousands of years³.

How did liquorice end up in a Yorkshire town?

Nobody knows exactly how it reached Pontefract. One story says it was brought by monks, possibly from Spain, which may explain why locals once called it "Spanish"¹. Another says it came back with medieval knights from Pontefract Castle returning from the Crusades².

Whichever is true, it settled in happily. Liquorice was grown commercially in Pontefract from the 1500s right through to the 1970s, in plots tucked behind houses and in fields around the town¹.

So why were Pontefract cakes once sold as medicine?

Here is where the story gets interesting. In the early 1600s, liquorice extract from the roots was pressed into small stamped lozenges². These were not sweets at all, but a remedy.

Liquorice was used for coughs, shortness of breath, stomach pains and wounds². Its natural sweetness was useful too, as it helped to hide the taste of more bitter ingredients in other medicines².

Then, in 1760, a local chemist called George Dunhill had an idea. He added sugar to the medicinal recipe, and the liquorice lozenge slowly became the sweet we know today¹.

What do herbalists use liquorice root for today?

Herbalists still reach for liquorice in two main areas, the throat and chest, and the digestive system. It is one of those plants that turns up quietly in many traditional blends.

For coughs and sore throats

Liquorice has a soft, soothing quality that has made it a favourite for tickly coughs and scratchy throats through the winter. It is often paired with thyme, another traditional herb for the chest.

There is a little modern research to support this, too. Studies suggest that a liquorice gargle or lozenge before surgery may help to reduce the sore throat some people get afterwards³.

Our old guide to winter coughs, colds and flu and our recipe for making your own cough syrup both share more traditional ideas.

For the digestive system

Liquorice root has a long tradition of use for an unsettled stomach. Its gentle, coating quality is why it often appears in herbal blends for indigestion and heartburn.

If heartburn is something you struggle with, our post on natural approaches to heartburn and acid reflux is a helpful read.

How can you bring liquorice into your routine?

The simplest way is in a soothing syrup. Our Thyme and Liquorice Syrup combines thyme herb and liquorice root in a herby tasting syrup for the throat and chest.

You can take it off the spoon, stir it into warm water, or add it to a hot toddy on a cold winter evening. It is the kind of thing worth keeping in the cupboard from autumn onwards.

For a more traditional herbal approach, our Liquorice Root Tincture is traditionally used to support the digestive system. As with any tincture, it is best used with guidance from a herbalist.

Before you start, please check who should not take liquorice root below.

What does the research say?

We always like to be honest about the science. Liquorice has a very long history, but high quality research is still limited. There is not yet enough evidence to say clearly that it treats any particular condition³.

So we see liquorice root as a gentle, traditional herb with a lovely story, rather than a miracle cure. It works best as part of a sensible approach to looking after yourself.

Who should not take liquorice root?

Please read this part before trying liquorice root. Liquorice root contains a natural compound called glycyrrhizin, and in large amounts or over a long time it can raise blood pressure and affect the heart³.

Too much liquorice can also cause the body to hold on to fluid¹. That includes eating lots of liquorice sweets, not just taking herbal remedies.

Do not take medicinal liquorice if you have high blood pressure, heart problems or kidney problems, or if you are pregnant³. In these situations it is not safe to use, even in small amounts or for a short time.

Liquorice can also interact with some medicines, including steroids³. If you take any regular medication, do not take liquorice root until you have spoken to your GP or pharmacist.

What about deglycyrrhizinated liquorice?

Some products have had the glycyrrhizin removed, and these are known as deglycyrrhizinated liquorice, or DGL. This form is thought to be gentler and may be safe for up to four months³.

A gentle word before you begin

A cough that lasts more than three weeks, or comes with chest pain, breathlessness or coughing up blood, should always be checked by your GP. The same goes for heartburn that keeps coming back.

If you are not sure whether liquorice is right for you, you are very welcome to book a free consultation with one of our herbalists.

Frequently asked questions

Is liquorice good for a sore throat?

Liquorice has long been used to soothe sore throats and coughs. Some studies suggest a liquorice gargle may help reduce sore throats after surgery³.

Is liquorice good for digestion?

Liquorice root has a long traditional use for indigestion and an unsettled stomach. The scientific evidence is still unclear, so it is best seen as gentle traditional support³.

Can liquorice raise your blood pressure?

Yes, large amounts or long term use can raise blood pressure because of a compound called glycyrrhizin³. Anyone with high blood pressure should avoid medicinal liquorice.

Do liquorice sweets contain real liquorice?

Many traditional British liquorice sweets do contain liquorice extract, but some sweets elsewhere use anise for the flavour instead³. Check the ingredients if you need to avoid it.

Who should not take liquorice root?

Do not take medicinal liquorice if you are pregnant, or if you have high blood pressure, heart problems or kidney problems³. If you take steroids or any other regular medicine, speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking it.

Why were Pontefract cakes once sold as medicine?

They began as small stamped lozenges made from liquorice extract in the early 1600s, used for coughs and stomach complaints². Sugar was added in 1760, turning them into a sweet¹.

Why is there a castle on Pontefract cakes?

The stamp shows Pontefract Castle, the town's famous landmark. It has been pressed onto the little liquorice discs for hundreds of years.

References

1. Pontefract Heritage Group. Liquorice in Pontefract. pontefractheritage.co.uk.
2. The Yorkshire Post. Pontefract Liquorice Festival: the story of the town's centuries old association with liquorice. yorkshirepost.co.uk.
3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Licorice root. nccih.nih.gov.