Licorice root is two things under one name. Whole root carries the sweet compound that blocks the enzyme switching off the body's main stress hormone — the source of every serious harm on record: rising blood pressure, potassium loss, swelling, dangerous heart rhythms. Processed forms strip it out, keeping digestive benefit. Ageing claims rest on cell cultures and worms. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Serum potassium | 4.2–4.8 mmol/L | First and most sensitive marker of mineralocorticoid excess |
| Blood pressure (home, seated) | Below 120/80 mmHg | Directly tracks the principal dose-limiting effect |
| Plasma renin activity | 0.5–2.0 ng/mL/hour | Suppression confirms licorice is driving mineralocorticoid activity |
| Serum aldosterone | 4–20 ng/dL | Falls alongside renin, confirming the mechanism rather than another cause of hypertension |
| Serum sodium | 137–142 mmol/L | Rises with sodium retention, often before weight or pressure change |
| Serum magnesium (red blood cell) | 5.0–6.5 mg/dL | Magnesium is lost alongside potassium and its depletion blocks potassium repletion |
| Alanine aminotransferase | 10–26 U/L (women), 10–33 U/L (men) | Tracks the hepatic benefit claimed for licorice in liver disease |
| Total testosterone | 600–900 ng/dL (men), 15–45 ng/dL (women) | Detects the androgen-lowering effect, unwanted in men and intended in women |
| Morning salivary cortisol | 0.10–0.30 µg/dL at waking | Shows whether cortisol exposure is being extended as intended |
| Body weight | No established target; track change from the individual's own baseline | A 1–2 kg gain without diet change is the earliest sign of fluid retention |
Cadence: Potassium and blood pressure at baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks, then every 3 months while use continues; first recheck moves to week 1 with concurrent diuretics, corticosteroids, or antihypertensives. Deglycyrrhizinated preparations need no electrolyte schedule; annual routine bloodwork is sufficient.