Sanibel Outlets Farmers Market. January 3, 2020. Paul Goldfinger photo ©.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD
The licorice guy in the photo says that the red licorice outsells the black by a wide margin, but for those of us who like licorice, black is the way to go. There are claims of harms and benefits from the licorice root, but those claims refer to black licorice.
Licorice can help alleviate heartburn (GERD). So one could suck on a piece of licorice for that complaint. Other medical claims have been made, such as constipation, cough relief, immune boosting, and anti-inflammatory properties, but only the gastrointestinal claims seem to be valid. See the comments below about scientific proof of benefits.
Licorice root, an herb, contains a substance called glycyrrhizin. If taken in large amounts, black licorice can cause low serum potassium levels and maybe heart rhythm problems. But that risk is if you eat over 2 ounces per day, everyday, for at least two weeks.
Here is what the FDA says (Food and Drug Administration—a US government agency) :
“When consumed in high amounts, glycyrrhizin, a sweet compound found in licorice root, causes potassium levels to temporarily drop, which in turn may cause abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, swelling, lethargy and, in extreme cases, even heart failure. These issues normally go away once consumption stops.”
“If you have a fondness for black licorice, FDA is offering this advice:
- No matter what your age, don’t eat large amounts of black licorice at one time.
- If you have been eating a lot of black licorice and have an irregular heart rhythm or muscle weakness, stop eating it immediately and contact your healthcare provider.
- Black licorice can interact with some medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Consult a health care professional if you have questions about possible interactions with a drug or supplement you take.”
So, here at the Blogfinger Off-Shore School of Medicine in Ocean Grove, we advocate “everything in moderation.”
We take our cue from my childhood when I chewed Black Jack gum. It was black and tasted like licorice, and you could stick it to your front teeth and make believe they were missing. It was great fun.
Best bet: Take licorice in small doses, and you will survive.
GLORIA GAYNOR:
Thanks Jeneba:
WebMD says, “There is some good evidence to support the use of specific licorice combination products for heartburn. But there is limited scientific evidence to support the use of licorice for other conditions.”
From the U. of Rochester: “A few clinical trials outside the U.S. show that licorice extract given as a shot may help treat the hepatitis C virus. But more research is needed. ”
“NIH says there are insufficient data available to determine if licorice is effective in treating any medical condition.”
Unfortunately (or maybe it is, in fact, fortunately) there are no medicinal qualities to black licorice candies. You need licorice root supplements for that.