LICORICE ROOT: A Biologically Active Herb

Dan Mowrey states:

Licorice root is one of the most biologically active herbs in the world. Licorice root is an effective treatment for stomach ailments, because it exerts a soothing action on the muscosal surfaces of the GI tract, and it is frequently used to help these tissues heal. The licorice root derivatives, glycryuhetinic acid (GLA), deglycrihyinated licorice (DGL), and carbenoxolene sodium (CS) have all been proven to be among the best anti-ulcer medications available. Whole licorice and its derivatives appear to have the ability to inhibit gastric acid secretion with the advantage of being devoid of other adverse anti-cholinergic properties.

Licorice root helps prevent and heal skin problems. The conditions that increase the occurrence of acne-like symptoms during certain stages of the menstrual cycle may be affected by the consumption of licorice root.

The anti-inflammatory properties of the root have been considered responsible for its effectiveness in the treatment of numerous skin disorders, including eczema, dermatitis, impetigo, and traumatized skin.

It should be mentioned that the antipyrelic (fever reducing) effects of GLA have been shown to be equal to those of the widely used sodium salicylate. (48)

Fever reduction is important to hepatitis C patients. My experience for several years was that I was always at about 99.8 degrees. My fever would rise after eating. It was extremely uncomfortable to live day after day, year after year, just a little bit hot.

Every time a doctor would record my slightly elevated temperature, I would ask why it was high. The usual answer was, "you probably just have a bug." Taking licorice really helped this problem.

Licorice root is used to remove buildup of toxic metabolic substances in the body, because it increases the liver's ability to filter out these wastes.

In the treatment of liver diseases (e.g. hepatitis and cirrhosis), GLA has proven extremely promising. In Chinese medicine, licorice is often used as a remedy for jaundice and is considered a great liver detoxifier. According to Dan Mowry:

Experimental work has validated the usefulness of licorice in the treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and related liver disorders. Licorice is a good tonic for the adrenal glands and Addison's disease.

This is very important for the hepatitis C patient because you need to support your adrenal gland in many ways in order to conquer the virus.

Mowrey continues:

Licorice appears to both mimic and potentiate the action of the adrenal-caiticosteroids, though it also differs in action from these chemicals in several important ways.

Licorice components have been found to exert a positive effect on the course of several adrenal insufficiencies, even in Addison's Disease, which is characterized by near total adrenal exhaustion.


In later stages, the hepatitis C patient may develop severe joint pain, which I did. This pain was compounded one hundred fold by interferon. Mowrey writes:

The anti-arthritic properties of GLA and the aqueous extracts of licorice have also been shown. Comparisons of licorice root to hydrocortisone are frequently made in the medical literature in England, China, and countries other than the USA

In relation to the immune system, (which hepatitis C patients must become obsessed with boosting), licorice root and its derivatives have recently shown extremely promising results as interferon inducers, which is especially good news for the treatment of hepatitis C. (When was the last time your hepatitis C doctor told you that)?

At concentrations well tolerated by uninfected cells, glycyrhezic acid inhibits both growth and cytopathic effect of vaccinia, as well as herpes simplex, Newcastle disease, and vesicular stomatits viruses while being ineffective on polio virus.


It is suggested that glycyrhezic acid interacts with virus structures (conservable proteins) producing different effects according to the viral stage affected: inactivation of free virus particles extracellularly; prevention of intercellular uncoating of infecting particles; impairment of the assembling ability of virus structural components. Dr. Mowry further states:

As a general cautionary measure, persons with a history of hypertension, renal failure, or who are currently using cardian glycosides may wish to avoid the use of licorice root altogether.

During my treatment I took:
One 500 mg. licorice capsule two times per day, five days a week.
I also drank two cups of licorice tea five days a week.