Licorice root is a common ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas that are used for a variety of neurological conditions like dementia and epilepsy, but the evidence is mixed. Though there is some evidence to suggest that formulations containing licorice might be beneficial to memory or in addition to seizure medications, more research is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.[1][2] For neurologic conditions such as ALS and hereditary ataxia, evidence is still unclear regarding the efficacy of licorice as a therapy.[3][4]
Mixed evidence also exists regarding the role of licorice in cardiovascular health. Overall, licorice may worsen hypertension, because glycyrrhizin in particular is believed to increase blood pressure.[5][6][7] Glabridin, one component of licorice, may help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which could mitigate the damage done in conditions like atherosclerosis.[8][9] When used in combination with spironolactone (an androgen-receptor and glucocorticoid-receptor antagonist), licorice may mitigate adverse effects such as reduced blood volume.[10] However, the evidence for licorice improving blood flow or vascular health in general remains unclear.