Efficacy and Benefits of Drinking Licorice Root Infusion

Drinking licorice root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) infusion offers several therapeutic benefits, including replenishing the spleen and stomach Qi, relieving cough and expelling phlegm, clearing heat and detoxifying, and alleviating acute spasms and pain. Licorice is neutral in nature and sweet in taste, and its infusion has a pleasantly sweet flavor. It primarily enters the Spleen, Stomach, Heart, and Lung meridians. Clinically, it is commonly used to treat: - Spleen- and Stomach-Qi deficiency of the middle jiao, manifesting as poor appetite, fatigue, lassitude, and loose stools; - Lung-Qi deficiency with cough and phlegm; - Heat-toxin patterns such as sores, carbuncles, sore throat, and swelling; and - Spasmodic or cramp-like pain in the epigastrium, abdomen, or limbs. However, caution is warranted: licorice is contraindicated in individuals with pronounced internal dampness or edema of the limbs, as it may exacerbate fluid retention. Moreover, according to the traditional “Eighteen Contraindications” (Shi Ba Fan) of Chinese herbal medicine, licorice is incompatible with seaweed (Sargassum), genkwa flower (Daphne genkwa), kansui root (Euphorbia kansui), and euphorbia (Euphorbia pekinensis); thus, concurrent use with any of these four herbs must be avoided. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that licorice possesses notable sedative, detoxifying, lipid-lowering, and antiarrhythmic effects. We hope this information is helpful. Wishing you good health!