Loading...
Home Newsletter Herbal Science About Consult Shop Q&A Sponsor
← Back to Herbal Science
🌿
Digestive

Yashtimadhu

Glycyrrhiza glabra L.
📖 Yashtimadhu, Madhuka, Madhuyashti, Klitaka, Yashtyahva, Jalayashti🇮🇳 Mulethi, Jethimadh, MulahattiFamily: Fabaceae (Leguminosae — the legume family, relevant to allergy cross-reactivity)Part: Root and stolon (dried root and underground stem — the primary part used in all clinical trials, classical preparations, and commercial extracts). API (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India) specifies the dried root and stolon. IMPORTANT DISTINCTION: two fundamentally different commercial forms exist — whole/standard licorice root (containing glycyrrhizin, the compound responsible for the herb's serious blood pressureThe force of blood pushing against artery walls, expressed as two numbers — systolic (pressure during a heartbeat) over diastolic (pressure between beats). and potassiumAn essential mineral that helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals, and supports healthy blood pressure. effects) and DGL or deglycyrrhizinated licorice (with glycyrrhizin largely removed, retaining the flavonoidA large family of plant compounds, often found in colorful fruits and vegetables, that are widely studied for their antioxidant properties. fraction). These two forms have very different safety profiles and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Daily Dose
150 – 750
Safety
Moderate
Best Time
For reflux and dyspepsiaThe medical term for indigestion — general discomfort, fullness, or pain in the upper abdomen after eating.: DGL is traditionally and commercially taken 15-20 minutes before meals, allowing the demulcentA substance that soothes and coats irritated tissue, often used for sore throats or an upset digestive tract. and mucosal-protective flavonoids to coat the gastric and oesophageal lining ahead of food intake — this timing is standard in DGL chewable tablet product guidance. For throat and cough: taken as needed, often as a slow-dissolving lozenge, chewed root, or with honey. For classical RasayanaA category of Ayurvedic herbs and practices aimed at rejuvenation, longevity, and strengthening the body's overall resilience — roughly comparable to the modern idea of a tonic or adaptogen. or MedhyaAn Ayurvedic classification for substances that specifically enhance cognitive function, memory, and intelligence. use: morning administration with milk is the traditional pattern.
📚 Compiled from classical Ayurvedic literature & published research|✅ Expert reviewed by Ashish Pareek, PhD Scholar|Updated 27 July 2026
⚡ Quick Answer

Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), known in English as Licorice, is one of the most widely used herbs in both AyurvedaA traditional system of medicine from India, thousands of years old, that focuses on balance between mind, body, and diet — often using herbs, food, and lifestyle changes rather than isolated drugs. and global traditional medicine, valued particularly for soothing the digestive tract, throat, and respiratory system. A 2025 Phase III randomised controlled trial confirmed a specific flavonoid-rich licorice extractA concentrated preparation made by pulling the active compounds out of a raw herb, usually using water, alcohol, or another solvent — generally stronger, dose-for-dose, than the raw plant material. significantly relieved acid reflux symptoms, and a 2025 meta-analysisA study that combines and re-analyzes the results of many earlier studies together, in order to get a more reliable overall picture than any single study alone could give. of 9...

✨ In Plain English

Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), known in English as Licorice, is one of the most widely used herbs in both Ayurveda and global traditional medicine, valued particularly for soothing the digestive tract, throat, and respiratory system. A 2025 Phase III randomised controlled trial confirmed a specific flavonoid-rich licorice extract significantly relieved acid reflux symptoms, and a 2025 meta-analysis of 9 studies supported its use in peptic ulcer. However, licorice carries one of the most serious and best-documented safety profiles of any common herb: its compound glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and dangerously lower potassium, with published case reports of life-threatening heart rhythm problems. European food safety authorities advise no more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizin daily. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) largely removes this risk and is the form used in most modern clinical trials.

Yashtimadhu benefitsMulethi useslicorice root for acid refluxGERD natural remedyDGL licoricesore throat herbpeptic ulcer natural treatmentlicorice side effects blood pressureGlycyrrhiza glabraheartburn herbal remedycough soothing herbgut lining support

About Yashtimadhu

Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), known in English as Licorice, is a perennial herb of the Fabaceae family whose sweet-tasting root has been used continuously across Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese, Middle Eastern, and European medicine for over two millennia. Its root contains approximately 300 flavonoids and 20 triterpenoids, including the flavonoid glabridin and the triterpenoid saponinA plant compound that forms a soap-like foam when mixed with water — found in many adaptogenic herbs and traditionally associated with a range of effects on the body. glycyrrhizin — a compound roughly 50 times sweeter than sucrose that gives licorice its characteristic taste and is simultaneously responsible for both some therapeutic activity and the herb's well-documented safety concerns. A 2025 Phase III double-blind randomised placeboAn inactive substance given to some participants in a study so researchers can compare it against the real treatment and see whether the treatment's effect is genuinely due to the substance itself.-controlled trial demonstrated that GutGard, a flavonoid-rich deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract standardised to over 3.5% glabridin and over 10% total flavonoids with minimal glycyrrhizin, significantly improved gastroesophageal reflux symptoms compared to placebo. A 2025 systematic reviewA structured, thorough summary of all the available research on a specific question, following a defined method to reduce bias in what studies get included. and meta-analysis of 9 studies involving 618 participants assessed licorice for peptic ulcer disease. Critically, glycyrrhizin inhibits the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), producing a cortisolThe primary stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Chronically elevated cortisol is linked to weight gain, sleep problems, and immune suppression.-driven mineralocorticoid effect known as pseudoaldosteronism — causing sodium and water retention, potassium loss, and hypertensionThe medical term for high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.. A meta-analysis of 18 studies confirmed these effects with chronic ingestion of 100 mg or more of glycyrrhizic acid daily, and case reports document severe hypokalaemia, life-threatening arrhythmias, and deaths following chronic high-dose consumption. This dual nature — genuine therapeutic value alongside a real, dose-dependentDescribing an effect that changes in strength depending on how much of a substance is taken — more of the substance produces a bigger (or different) effect., potentially serious toxicity — makes correct product selection and dosing more important for licorice than for almost any other commonly used herb.

🌍 Habitat:

Native to the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of western and central Asia. Cultivated extensively across Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India (particularly Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab), China, and parts of Europe. A perennial herb reaching 1-2 m, with an extensive root and stolon system that is the harvested medicinal part. Commercial supply is met primarily through cultivation and managed wild collection; some regional wild populations face harvest pressure, though the species is not listed as globally threatened.

📖 Historical & Ayurvedic Background

Yashtimadhu occupies an unusually broad position in Ayurvedic pharmacology, functioning simultaneously as a therapeutic herb, a taste-modifying and formulation-harmonising agent in compound preparations, and one of the four classical Medhya RasayanaThe four classical Ayurvedic herbs specifically designated for cognitive and neurological rejuvenation — Shankhpushpi, Brahmi, Yastimadhu, and Mandukaparni. (cognitive rejuvenative) herbs — a combination of roles few single herbs occupy.

CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:

  • Charaka SamhitaA classical compiled text in Ayurveda, such as Charaka Samhita or Sushruta Samhita, containing foundational medical knowledge., ChikitsaThe Ayurvedic term for treatment or therapy. SthanaA major section or chapter division in classical Ayurvedic texts — for example Sutrasthana (general principles) or Chikitsa Sthana (treatment). 1.3.30-32 — Yashtimadhu is one of only four herbs named as Medhya Rasayana (specifically intellect-and-memory-promoting rejuvenatives), alongside Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), and Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)
  • Charaka Samhita — additionally listed among the Jivaniya Mahakashaya (ten life-promoting/vitalising herbs), Sandhaniya (tissue-uniting/healing), Varnya (complexion-promoting), Kanthya (voice and throat-improving), and Chardinigrahana (anti-emetic) groups — an exceptionally wide range of classical group memberships
  • Sushruta Samhita — included in the Kakolyadi Gana, and prescribed for Vrana (wound healing), Raktapitta (bleeding disorders), and as a Sandhaniya (tissue-healing) agent
  • Bhavaprakasha NighantuA classical Ayurvedic materia medica text that categorises medicinal plants, minerals, and foods with their properties. (16th century CE) — describes Yashtimadhu as Madhura rasaIn Ayurveda, the immediate taste of a substance when it touches the tongue (like sweet, bitter, or astringent) — each taste is believed to have specific effects on the body beyond just flavor. (sweet taste), Guru (heavy), Snigdha (unctuous), Sheeta viryaIn Ayurveda, the heating or cooling potency of a substance once it's in the body — classified mainly as either heating (ushna) or cooling (shita). (cooling potencyThe amount of a substance needed to produce a given effect — a more potent substance needs a smaller dose.), Madhura vipakaIn Ayurveda, the effect a substance has after it's fully digested — which can be different from how it tastes going in. Thought to influence long-term effects on the body. (sweet post-digestive effect); attributed actions include Vatapittahara (pacifying VataThe Ayurvedic dosha associated with movement, air, and space — linked to things like circulation, nerve function, and the mind. When out of balance, it's associated with anxiety, dry skin, and irregular digestion. and PittaThe Ayurvedic dosha associated with fire and transformation — linked to digestion, metabolism, and body temperature. When out of balance, it's associated with inflammation, irritability, and acidity.), Kanthya (throat-beneficial), ChakshushyaAn Ayurvedic therapeutic action meaning beneficial for the eyes and vision. (eye-beneficial), BalyaAn Ayurvedic therapeutic action meaning strength-promoting — herbs that build physical strength and tissue integrity. (strengthening), Varnya (complexion-enhancing), and Vranaropana (wound-healing)

CLASSICAL THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS (KARMAIn this context, the specific therapeutic action a substance has on the body — not to be confused with the broader philosophical idea of karma. For example, an herb's karma might be described as a digestive stimulant or nerve tonic.):

  • Kanthya — throat and voice-improving; one of Yashtimadhu's most consistently cited and enduring classical uses, still the basis for its ubiquitous presence in cough and throat preparations
  • Medhya — intellect and memory-promoting, as one of the four classical Medhya Rasayana herbs
  • Vatapittahara — pacifies both Vata and Pitta doshas, the classical basis for its soothing use in inflammatory and acidic conditions
  • Vranaropana and Sandhaniya — wound-healing and tissue-uniting
  • Chardinigrahana — anti-emetic, reducing nausea and vomiting
  • Balya and Jivaniya — strengthening and life-promoting/vitalising
  • Rasayana — rejuvenative

CLASSICAL ROLE AS A FORMULATION HARMONISER:

Across Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese, and Unani medicine independently, licorice occupies a distinctive role as an agent added to compound formulations to harmonise, moderate, and improve the palatability of other, harsher ingredients. This cross-cultural convergence on the same functional role for the same herb is notable — three separate medical traditions arrived independently at using licorice as a formulation-balancing agent, a use that persists in modern pharmaceutical practice where licorice is still used as a flavouring and demulcent excipientAn inactive ingredient, such as a filler or binder, included in a supplement or medication to help with its manufacturing, stability, or delivery..

Rasa (Taste)

Madhura (sweet — dominant and defining; licorice is among the sweetest substances in the materia medica, with glycyrrhizin approximately 50 times sweeter than table sugar)

GunaIn Ayurveda, the inherent physical qualities of a substance — such as heavy or light, oily or dry, hot or cold — used to predict how it will affect the body. (Quality)

Guru (heavy), Snigdha (unctuous)

Virya (Potency)

Sheeta (cooling potency)

Vipaka (Post-digest)

Madhura (sweet post-digestive effect)

DoshaOne of three fundamental energies in Ayurveda — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — believed to govern different physical and mental functions. Ayurvedic practitioners try to keep them in balance for good health. Effect

Vata-Pitta shamaka (pacifies Vata and Pitta doshas):

  • Pitta (fire-transformation energy) — pacified strongly through Madhura (sweet) rasa and Sheeta (cooling) virya; this is the classical basis for Yashtimadhu's extensive use in acidity, heartburn, inflammatory conditions, and burning sensations
  • Vata (movement energy) — pacified through Madhura rasa, Snigdha (unctuous) guna, and Guru (heavy) quality; supports its use in dryness, throat irritation, and Vata-type debility
  • KaphaThe Ayurvedic dosha associated with earth and water — linked to structure, lubrication, and stability in the body. When out of balance, it's associated with sluggishness, weight gain, and congestion. (water-earth energy) — Yashtimadhu MAY AGGRAVATE Kapha due to its Madhura rasa, Guru guna, and Snigdha quality; classical texts specifically caution against prolonged use in Kapha-predominant individuals or in conditions involving congestion, oedema, or fluid retention — a caution that aligns remarkably well with the modern documented mechanism of sodium and water retention
Karma (Action)

Kanthya (throat and voice-improving — the most enduring classical use), Medhya (cognitive and memory-promoting; one of four classical Medhya Rasayana herbs), Vatapittahara (pacifies Vata and Pitta), Vranaropana (wound-healing), Sandhaniya (tissue-uniting), Chardinigrahana (anti-emetic), Balya (strengthening), Jivaniya (vitalising), Varnya (complexion-promoting), Chakshushya (eye-beneficial), Rasayana (rejuvenative), Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)

✅ Health Benefits

YashtimadhuMulethilicoriceGlycyrrhiza glabraacid refluxGERDheartburnpeptic ulcerfunctional dyspepsiasore throatcoughDGLdeglycyrrhizinated licoriceglycyrrhizinMedhya Rasayanagut healthgastritishypokalaemia riskblood pressure caution

🔗 References

🔍 Also Listed Under

Herbs for Acid Reflux & GastritisHerbs for DigestionHerbs for Memory & Brain HealthHerbs for Respiratory Health

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yashtimadhu safe during pregnancy?
  • Classical and published sources indicate: AVOID (glycyrrhizin-containing licorice) — glycyrrhizin consumption during pregnancy is specifically not recommended due to documented harmful effects on the placenta, where it affects the transfer of maternal stress-related hormones (cortisol) to the developing fetus by inhibiting the placental 11β-HSD2 enzyme that normally protects the fetus from maternal cortisol. A systematic review has also examined the association between licorice use and hypertension in pregnancy. This is among the better-substantiated pregnancy cautions for any commonly used herb and is mechanistically well explained.
  • Always consult your doctor before using Yashtimadhu during pregnancy.
Is Yashtimadhu safe while breastfeeding?
  • Classical and published sources indicate: USE CAUTION — limited specific human lactation safety data exists for licorice. Given glycyrrhizin's documented systemicAffecting the whole body, as opposed to a single, localised area. effects on blood pressure, electrolytes, and cortisol metabolismThe chemical processes in the body that convert food into energy and build or break down substances needed for life., and the absence of clear data on transfer into breast milk and effects on the nursing infant, avoiding glycyrrhizin-containing licorice during breastfeeding is the conservative and appropriate approach. DGL products, lacking meaningful glycyrrhizin, present a lower theoretical concern but still lack dedicated lactation safety study.
  • Always consult your doctor before using Yashtimadhu while breastfeeding.
What are the side effects of Yashtimadhu?
  • THE PRIMARY SAFETY CONCERN — PSEUDOALDOSTERONISM (GLYCYRRHIZIN-CONTAINING PRODUCTS):
  • This is the defining safety issue for licorice and is well documented in a meta-analysis of 18 studies:
  • Increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure
  • Decreased plasma potassium (hypokalaemia) — the most clinically dangerous effect
  • Sodium and water retention, causing oedema and weight gain
  • Suppressed plasma renin activity and aldosterone
  • SEVERE REPORTED OUTCOMES:
  • Published case reports document severe hypokalaemia, muscle weakness (myopathy), life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and deaths following chronic or excessive licorice ingestion. Documented cases include severe hypokalaemia and arrhythmias in a 54-year-old man after drinking licorice tea daily for two weeks — illustrating that toxicity does not require exotic doses or long timeframes in susceptible individuals
  • RISK FACTORS FOR TOXICITY:
  • High dose and long duration of use — the two primary established risk factors
  • ConstipationDifficult, infrequent, or incomplete bowel movements, often due to low fibre intake, dehydration, or reduced gut motility. or slow gut transit — enhances bacterial conversion of glycyrrhizin to its active toxic metabolites
  • Pre-existing cardiovascular diseaseA group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. — associated with the most severe reported outcomes
  • Concurrent diuretic or corticosteroid use
  • Older age
  • OTHER REPORTED EFFECTS:
  • Headache and lethargy, often related to electrolyteA mineral, such as sodium, potassium, or magnesium, that carries an electrical charge in the body and is essential for nerve and muscle function. disturbance
  • Menstrual irregularities have been reported with prolonged use
  • DGL FORMS: deglycyrrhizinated licorice largely avoids the above concerns and was well tolerated with a favourable safety profile in the 2025 Phase III trial, making it the substantially safer option for ongoing digestive use
What is the recommended dosage of Yashtimadhu?
  • Typical daily range: 150 – 750
  • Traditional preparation: Classical Ayurvedic dosing: • Yashtimadhu ChurnaA finely powdered Ayurvedic herbal preparation. (root powder): 1-3 g/day, typically with honey, milk, or ghee depending on indication • Yashtimadhu KwathaAn Ayurvedic water decoction — prepared by boiling herbs in water, usually until the volume is reduced to one quarter. (decoctionA traditional preparation method where tougher plant parts (like roots, bark, or seeds) are simmered in water for an extended time to extract their active compounds.): 30-50 mL twice daily, prepared from the root • For Kanthya (throat) use: small amounts of powder with honey, or a piece of root chewed directly — a widespread traditional practice Modern standardised extract dosing (the form with clinical trial support): • DGL/GutGard-type standardised extract: doses used in published trials, typically in the 150-300 mg/day range for the standardised flavonoid extract • DGL chewable tablets: commonly 380-760 mg taken before meals, a widely used commercial format CRITICAL SAFETY DOSING LIMIT: • EFSA guidance: no more than 100 mg glycyrrhizin per day for adults — roughly equivalent to approximately 50 g of licorice root • This limit applies to whole licorice root, licorice tea, and licorice confectionery, NOT to DGL products where glycyrrhizin has been removed • Lower thresholds apply for people with hypertension, kidney disease, heart conditions, or during pregnancy DURATION LIMIT: prolonged continuous use of glycyrrhizin-containing licorice is a documented risk factor for pseudoaldosteronism. Traditional and regulatory guidance generally advises limiting continuous use of whole licorice to a few weeks rather than indefinite daily consumption.
  • Best time to take: For reflux and dyspepsia: DGL is traditionally and commercially taken 15-20 minutes before meals, allowing the demulcent and mucosal-protective flavonoids to coat the gastric and oesophageal lining ahead of food intake — this timing is standard in DGL chewable tablet product guidance. For throat and cough: taken as needed, often as a slow-dissolving lozenge, chewed root, or with honey. For classical Rasayana or Medhya use: morning administration with milk is the traditional pattern.
  • Maximum documented safe dose: For glycyrrhizin-containing licorice: the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advises no more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizin per day for adults, roughly equivalent to approximately 50 g of licorice root. This is a regulatory guidance threshold, not an absolute safety guarantee — individual factors including age, pre-existing cardiovascular disease, kidney function, constipation status, and concurrent use of diuretics or corticosteroids all meaningfully affect the toxicity threshold, and adverse effects have been documented in susceptible individuals at lower intakes. Duration matters as much as dose: prolonged continuous use is an established independent risk factor. For DGL (deglycyrrhizinated) products, the glycyrrhizin-related limit does not apply in the same way, and doses used in clinical trials (typically 150-300 mg standardised extract daily) were well tolerated.
Who should avoid Yashtimadhu?
  • HYPERTENSION (high blood pressure) — glycyrrhizin-containing licorice directly and measurably raises blood pressure
  • Avoid whole licorice, use DGL only if licorice is desired
  • Existing hypokalaemia (low potassium) or conditions causing potassium loss — licorice actively worsens this and can precipitate dangerous arrhythmia
  • Heart disease, heart failure, or history of arrhythmia — published case reports document life-threatening arrhythmias and cardiac arrest with licorice in cardiovascular patients
  • Kidney disease — impaired electrolyte handling amplifies the risk of the sodium-retention and potassium-loss effect
  • PREGNANCY — glycyrrhizin has documented harmful effects on placental function, affecting the passage of maternal stress hormones to the fetus
  • Consumption during pregnancy is specifically not recommended
  • Concurrent diuretic therapy (particularly loop and thiazide diuretics) — additive potassium loss, a genuinely dangerous combination
  • Concurrent corticosteroid therapy — glycyrrhizin potentiates corticosteroid effects by inhibiting cortisol breakdown
  • Concurrent digoxin therapy — licorice-induced hypokalaemia significantly increases digoxin toxicity risk
  • Liver disease with impaired biliary excretion — glycyrrhizin metabolites are cleared via biliary Mrp2 transport
In what forms is Yashtimadhu available?
  • DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice) chewable tablets — the most common modern format for digestive use
  • Glycyrrhizin removed, largely avoiding the blood pressure and potassium risks
  • GutGard standardised extract — the specific flavonoid-rich deglycyrrhizinated extract used in the 2012 functional dyspepsia and 2025 Phase III GERD trials, standardised to glabridin and total flavonoid content
  • Yashtimadhu Churna (whole root powder — traditional Ayurvedic form
  • Contains full glycyrrhizin content and therefore carries the EFSA-relevant safety considerations)
  • Licorice root tea (contains glycyrrhizin
  • A documented source of pseudoaldosteronism in case reports where consumed daily over weeks)
  • Whole dried root sticks (traditionally chewed, particularly for throat use)
  • Licorice confectionery (real licorice sweets contain glycyrrhizin and have been implicated in published toxicity case reports — a genuinely underappreciated exposure route)
  • Licorice extract in cosmetic and skin-brightening products (topicalApplied directly to the skin or a specific body surface, rather than taken internally., glabridin-focused)
⚠️ Educational Information Only

This information is compiled from classical Ayurvedic literature and published research for educational and reference purposes. It is not medical advice, has not been evaluated by any drug regulatory authority, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition.

Share