Most people know Licorice as the black candies you can get at the store. Licorice is actually an herb though. Licorice can have a laxative effect as well as an anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive system.

Licorice can be found in digestive teas or you might also try DGL which stands for ‘Deglycyrrhizinate Licorice’. This is licorice where the glycyrrhizin within it has been removed. Glycyrrhizin is a compound that gives licorice it’s sweet flavor altough it is not an actual sugar. Too much Glycyrrhizin can cause side effects such as high blood pressure(hypertension) or excessive fluid retention(edema). However some believe that licorice’s benefits may be due to glycyrrhizin, though no studies have been done to prove decisively one way or another.

Licorice can be helpful for IBS symptoms such as gas & bloating or constipation.