Quick answer. Mulethi (licorice / Yashtimadhu) is traditionally used to soothe a sore throat and cough and to ease indigestion, and small studies support a throat-soothing and digestive role, but it is best in short courses, not daily for months. Its compound glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium in excess. Avoid it in pregnancy, high blood pressure, and kidney or heart conditions, and with certain medicines. Not a substitute for medical care.
If you grew up in India, your first taste of mulethi was probably a sweet wooden stick handed over for a scratchy throat — or, lately, a reel calling it a fix-it-all root. This guide answers the straight questions: what mulethi is good for, how to take it, how much, whether daily use is safe, and the blood-pressure caution most listicles bury.
What is mulethi (Yashtimadhu / licorice)?
Mulethi is the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza glabra, the sweet-tasting "licorice" plant, Yashtimadhu ("sweet stick") in Sanskrit. Its sweetness comes largely from glycyrrhizin, many times sweeter than sugar and behind both its effects and its cautions.
In classical Ayurveda, Yashtimadhu is madhura (sweet), cooling and unctuous — a Rasayana traditionally used for kasa (cough) and *swarya*/*kantya* (voice and throat), and as a Vata–Pitta pacifier. These are traditional classical concepts from Ayurvedic texts and the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; our BAMS reviewer will confirm the source, part used and indications before this post is finalised.
Mulethi for throat and cough: what it does
Mulethi's reputation as a throat remedy rests on its action as a demulcent — a substance that coats and soothes irritated tissue, a rationale with real human support from an unexpected setting.
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis of 5 randomised trials (609 patients) found that gargling a licorice solution before surgery reduced the incidence of post-operative sore throat (risk ratio 0.44; 95% CI 0.28–0.69) and its severity (standardised mean difference −0.69; 95% CI −0.96 to −0.43), with no significant adverse events [3]. In one underlying trial, 40 adults gargled 0.5 g of licorice in 30 ml of water before anaesthesia, easing sore throat and post-tube coughing versus water [4].
The honest caveat: this is sore throat from a breathing tube during surgery, not the common cold. It supports the soothing, demulcent rationale, but everyday "mulethi for cough and cold" remains largely traditional use, not proven: it may soothe throat irritation but does not resolve a cold, an infection, or any breathing condition. Even throat use belongs in short courses, since the active is still glycyrrhizin. (See our guide to Ayurvedic herbs for cold and flu.)
Mulethi for the gut: indigestion, acidity and H. pylori
Mulethi is most over-promised online for the gut, where the standardized-extract caveat matters most. The strongest single piece of gut evidence is for GutGard, a standardized, flavonoid-rich (low-glycyrrhizin) licorice extract, not raw mulethi or homemade tea. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 50 people with functional dyspepsia (recurring indigestion), GutGard 75 mg twice daily for 30 days significantly lowered total symptom scores at day 15 and day 30 versus placebo (P ≤ .05) and was well tolerated [1]. Fairly read: a standardized extract may help relieve indigestion symptoms, but this is one small trial, not proof that kitchen mulethi does the same.
On Helicobacter pylori (the stomach bacterium linked to ulcers), a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 107 H. pylori-positive people found the same standardized extract at 150 mg once daily for 60 days significantly reduced the bacterial load (urea breath test and stool antigen) versus placebo [2]. Read it narrowly: it lowered the load in one study; it did not clear the infection, and is not a substitute for the antibiotic therapy a doctor prescribes for a confirmed infection or ulcer.
For acidity and ulcers more broadly, be sceptical of "fixes ulcers and acidity" headlines: older controlled trials of DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) tablets did not clearly beat placebo for ulcer repair. Mulethi is traditionally used for stomach comfort, but anyone with persistent acidity or an ulcer should see a doctor rather than rely on a herb.
How to take mulethi: forms, dose and timing
The governing rule for any form is short courses and modest amounts. A daily intake of roughly 1–5 g of licorice root (about 1–10 mg of glycyrrhizin) is estimated safe for most healthy adults, and the European Union set 100 mg of glycyrrhizin per day as the upper limit [5][6]. Keep it occasional, roughly one to four weeks, not months of daily use.
| Form | Typical short-course amount | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chewing stick / raw root | a small piece, chewed | throat soothing | classic "mulethi stick"; counts toward ~1–5 g/day |
| Powder (churna) | ~1–5 g/day of root, short courses | throat tea, digestive comfort | stay under the EU 100 mg/day glycyrrhizin limit |
| Tea / kadha (tulsi, ginger, honey) | ~1–2 g root per cup | soothing the throat | traditional home practice, not proven |
| Gargle (topical) | 0.5 g in ~30 ml water | throat irritation | amount used in a sore-throat trial |
| DGL (deglycyrrhizinated) lozenge / tablet | per product label | regular stomach support | glycyrrhizin removed, the safer form for ongoing use |
| Standardized extract (e.g. GutGard) | per product label | indigestion support | trials used 75 mg twice daily (dyspepsia) or 150 mg once daily |
Dosage varies by age, body type (prakriti) and health; the ranges above are not a prescription. Mulethi can interact with common medicines. Consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before starting, especially if you take anything regularly.
If you want licorice's stomach benefits regularly, DGL is usually the smarter choice: the glycyrrhizin (the part that raises blood pressure and lowers potassium) is largely removed.
When NOT to use mulethi — cautions
This is the most important section — why mulethi should be respected, not sprinkled into everything. The mechanism in plain language: glycyrrhizin blocks an enzyme (11-β-HSD2), letting the stress hormone cortisol act like the salt-retaining hormone aldosterone. Too much, for too long, produces pseudohyperaldosteronism (rising blood pressure, falling potassium, and fluid and sodium retention), and in severe cases heart-rhythm changes [5]. The reassuring part: these effects are typically reversible once you stop [6]. Still, avoid daily high doses.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: avoid. A Finnish study of about 1,049 mother–child pairs linked high maternal glycyrrhizin intake (≥500 mg/week) in pregnancy to lower childhood IQ scores, poorer memory and higher odds of ADHD-type problems, with earlier puberty and higher BMI in exposed girls [7]. It is observational, but the precaution is clear: skip medicinal mulethi if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- High blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease. Because glycyrrhizin pushes blood pressure up and potassium down, these are exactly the people who should not take it.
- Low potassium (hypokalaemia). Mulethi can lower it further.
- Certain medicines: check first. Glycyrrhizin can add to potassium loss or interact with diuretics (water pills), blood-pressure medicines, digoxin and other heart-rhythm drugs, and corticosteroids. If you take any of these, do not start mulethi without your doctor's nod.
- Duration. Even for healthy adults, keep it to short courses; for ongoing stomach support, switch to DGL.
If you are managing a chronic condition or taking prescription medication, please consult your doctor before starting any new supplement.
Our take — how mulethi fits a modern Indian routine
Mulethi earns its place as an occasional, short-course soother: a warm mulethi-tulsi-ginger tea for a scratchy throat, or a brief course for digestive comfort, not a daily spoonful of churna. The glycyrrhizin caution is the whole game: short and modest is sensible; daily and heavy is where blood pressure and potassium get into trouble.
For everyday digestion, the basics do most of the work: eating warm and on time, a short walk after meals, enough fibre and water. Our Ayurvedic remedies for bloating and best Ayurvedic supplements for gut health guides go deeper.
If you prefer a ready digestion blend to measuring churna, look for one transparent about its ingredients, plant parts and purity. KayaSuddhi's Digestive Churna, built around carminatives like ajwain, jeera, saunf and hing, are formulated to support everyday digestive comfort (agni). They contain no mulethi and are not a remedy for acidity, ulcers or infection.
Frequently asked questions
Is mulethi good for cough and sore throat — and how do I use it?
It may help soothe an irritated throat: in trials, a pre-surgery licorice gargle reduced sore throat [3]. At home, people sip mulethi tea (with tulsi, ginger and honey) or chew a small piece of root, in short courses. It soothes irritation rather than resolving a cold or infection, and is not for any breathing condition. See a doctor for a persistent cough.
Does mulethi help acidity, gas or gut problems?
A standardized low-glycyrrhizin extract (GutGard) eased indigestion symptoms in a small 30-day trial, so mulethi may help relieve indigestion, but that result is for a specific extract, not kitchen mulethi, and the evidence for ulcers is limited and mixed [1]. For persistent acidity or an ulcer, see a doctor.
What are the side effects of mulethi?
In excess, glycyrrhizin can cause high blood pressure, low potassium, and fluid and sodium retention, and in severe cases heart-rhythm changes, a picture (pseudohyperaldosteronism) usually reversible once you stop [5][6]. It is far more likely with daily, high-dose, long-term use than occasional short courses.
Who should not take mulethi?
Avoid medicinal mulethi if you are pregnant or breastfeeding [7], or have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or low potassium. Check with a doctor first if you take diuretics, blood-pressure medicines, digoxin or other heart-rhythm drugs, or corticosteroids, since glycyrrhizin can add to potassium loss or interact with them.
Related reading
- Best Ayurvedic supplements for gut health
- Ayurvedic remedies for bloating after eating
- Ayurvedic herbs for cold and flu
- Ayurvedic remedies for acidity and heartburn
- Ayurvedic weight management in India: the complete guide
Sources
- Raveendra KR, Jayachandra, Srinivasa V, et al. An Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GutGard) Alleviates Symptoms of Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;2012:216970.
- Puram S, Suh HC, Kim SU, et al. Effect of GutGard in the Management of Helicobacter pylori: A Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;2013:263805.
- Kuriyama A, Maeda H. Topical application of licorice for prevention of postoperative sore throat in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. 2019;54:25–32.
- Agarwal A, Gupta D, Yadav G, et al. An evaluation of the efficacy of licorice gargle for attenuating postoperative sore throat: a prospective, randomized, single-blind study. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2009;109(1):77–81.
- Omar HR, Komarova I, El-Ghonemi M, et al. Licorice abuse: time to send a warning message. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2012;3(4):125–138.
- Isbrucker RA, Burdock GA. Risk and safety assessment on the consumption of Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza sp.), its extract and powder as a food ingredient, with emphasis on the pharmacology and toxicology of glycyrrhizin. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2006;46(3):167–192.
- Räikkönen K, Martikainen S, Pesonen A-K, et al. Maternal Licorice Consumption During Pregnancy and Pubertal, Cognitive, and Psychiatric Outcomes in Children. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2017;185(5):317–328.
- Classical reference — Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) described as a madhura (sweet) Rasayana used for kasa, *kantya*/*swarya* (throat and voice) and vrana-ropana in Ayurvedic materia medica and the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (traditional concept; reviewer to confirm).
KayaSuddhi is an Ayurvedic D2C brand based in Delhi NCR.
About this content. This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The statements have not been evaluated by AYUSH or FSSAI as treatment claims. KayaSuddhi products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider or BAMS-certified Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, lactating, on prescription medication, or managing a chronic condition.
Written & researched by
The KayaSuddhi Team
We are a small team of Ayurveda writers, researchers and reviewers in Delhi NCR. We track the health questions real people are asking, read the latest studies, and turn them into honest, practical guides — so you can make informed choices, not follow hype.
