Licorice Root for Acid Reflux And Heartburn

Research suggests that licorice root, particularly in specialized extract forms, may help reduce symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn, with two randomized controlled trials reporting significant improvements in heartburn and regurgitation compared to placebo. Studies indicate that proposed mechanisms include histamine H2 receptor blocking activity and mucosal protection rather than straightforward acid suppression, findings supported by preclinical animal and cell-line studies examining licorice compounds in isolation and in multi-herb formulations. The overall body of evidence, however, is limited in scope and quality — much of it comes from animal studies, single case reports, multi-ingredient products where licorice's individual contribution cannot be isolated, and a 2019 review that characterized the broader evidence base for herbal reflux remedies as insufficient relative to their widespread use. Safety is also a meaningful consideration, as a case report documents serious cardiac complications linked to prolonged high intake of licorice, and while deglycyrrhizinated forms are designed to reduce this risk, the research as a whole does not yet provide a complete picture of long-term safety or effectiveness for this use.