Licorice for Your Liver: Good News!

Licorice has a long history as a traditional herb for liver health. Modern science is catching up!

Licorice has a very long history in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine as a liver herb. A new systematic review and meta-analysis has put that traditional use to the scientific test.

The analysis included 15 controlled studies that compared licorice, alone or combined with other herbs, to either placebo or standard care. The studies included a total of 1,367 people.

Alanine transaminase (ALT) is a liver enzyme that is released into the bloodstream and becomes elevated when the liver is damaged. Aspartate transaminase (AST) is a liver enzyme that’s elevation could point to liver damage or disease.

The results of this new study showed that licorice significantly lowers both ALT and AST compared to the control groups, suggesting that licorice enhances liver function.

This meta-analysis provides scientific support for licorice’s traditional role as a valuable herb for the liver.

Phytother Res. 2024 Sep;38(9):4614-4627.

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For much more on licorice, see our book Healthy Herbs: Your Everyday Guide to Medicinal Herbs and Their Use.

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