Raw Licorice Root … Safety & Interactions
Gan Cao · Radix Glycyrrhizae
Use with caution. Practitioner review recommended before use.
Contraindications
- Uncontrolled hypertension, edema, hypokalemia, or severe heart failure
- High-dose or prolonged unsupervised use
Cautions
- Raw licorice is still real licorice ... it can retain sodium, waste potassium, raise blood pressure, and complicate cardiac disease.
- Because Gan Cao sits in so many formulas, cumulative exposure from multiple products is easy to underestimate.
Drug Interactions
| Drug Class / Substrate | Mechanism | Severity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loop or thiazide diuretics ... additive potassium loss and arrhythmia risk | |||
| Digoxin and other cardiac glycosides ... hypokalemia may increase toxicity risk | |||
| Corticosteroids ... additive mineralocorticoid-like effects | |||
| Antihypertensives or antiarrhythmics ... electrolyte shifts may complicate therapy | |||
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.