Chinese liquorice

Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Other names: 甘草 gāncǎo, Chinese liquorice

Edible plant

Chinese

Photo credit: Stickpen (Wikimedia Commons)

Safety information

Toxicity: Serious with overuse. Glycyrrhizin can cause pseudoaldosteronism (raised blood pressure, low potassium, fluid retention); overuse may cause weakness, headache, blurred vision, severe hypertension/hyperaldosteronism requiring hospitalization.

Contraindications: Pregnancy; hypertension; hypokalemia; heart, kidney, or liver disease. Avoid high doses / prolonged use.

Interactions: Potassium-depleting diuretics, digoxin (via hypokalemia), corticosteroids, antihypertensives; can affect drug metabolism.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Contraindicated; unsafe.

Evidence level

Preclinical

Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.

Preparations

powder · root

Part used: root

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

decoction · root/rhizome

Part used: root/rhizome

Traditional use: harmonizing other herbs, tonifies spleen qi, moistens lung, cough/sore throat

Proposed mechanism: glycyrrhizin (triterpenoid saponin)

Dosage note (descriptive only): avoid high doses / prolonged use

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

General preparation guide →

Associated conditions

Cough Sore throat General tonic / wellbeing

Edibility

Edible parts: Root used as natural sweetener/flavoring (glycyrrhizin 30-50x sweeter than sucrose). Edible in small culinary amounts only.

Nutritional notes

Functional sweetener; glycyrrhizin (triterpenoid saponin) is principal sweet/active compound.

Healing traditions

Chinese

Sources (3)

Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Wikipedia), English, accessed 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycyrrhiza_uralensis
Licorice Root (NCCIH/NIH), English, https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/licorice-root
Omar et al., Licorice abuse: time to send a warning message, Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2012, PMC3498851

All sources →