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Throat Coat Tea and Potassium Loss -- box of Throat Coat tea

Answer:

The problem is with licorice root in Throat Coat tea, and this can also be a problem with black licorice candy and other licorice-containing foods.

Throat Coat contains a very large amount of licorice root (760 mg per tea bag) plus another 60 mg of a 6:1 licorice root extract, and these ingredients are likely to be the cause of your issues. Licorice root provides great flavor, but you need to exercise caution and moderation with it because it contains glycyrrhizin. Through an effect on the kidneys, glycyrrhizin in licorice root can cause loss of potassium, fluid retention, increased blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, and lethargy. Throat Coat has a warning on its box regarding these issues, although the warning does not identify the causative agent — licorice root.

Sign in as a member for details to learn more about this risk, which also relates to black licorice candy, dietary supplements (including Advanced Liver Support), and how to minimize the risk.

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21 Comments

Judy23192
July 02, 2025

I have Adrenal Insufficiency and have read that licorice extends the effect of cortisol. Just 4 drops of liquid licorice can help get me through the night. That is much lower than the recommended dose on the bottle.

ConsumerLab.com
July 11, 2025

We've added information about the use of licorice for adrenal support in the following section of our article about adrenal support formulations: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-adrenal-support/adrenal-fatigue/#licorice

Annmarie23081
June 20, 2025

When I was pregnant, I was told to avoid licorice root.

Margaret22259
March 14, 2025

Sad news--I love licorice, but have HBP! I think licorice's effect on BP have been known for years--glad it's finally getting more press. (I wish someone would invent a similar tasting alternative that didn't raise BP!)

Peter18500
January 26, 2024

I've noticed in a couple Yogi brand herbal teas like "Bedtime Tea" and "Breathe Deep" that licorice is frequently lumped together with several other herbs as a "proprietary blend" so that it is impossible to determine just how much licorice they contain. And, yes, it sure would be nice if the US FDA was as protective of it's citizens as EU regulators.

ConsumerLab.com
January 29, 2024

This is a problem with "proprietary blends," as noted in our article about red flags to watch out for when buying supplements https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-to-watch-out-for-when-buying-vitamins-and-supplements/vitamin-and-supplement-red-flags/.

Michael18498
January 26, 2024

Great! Just received 96 licorice root tea bags from Tradition Medicinals. Love the taste but I think it does contain glycyrrhizin.

Sharon22267
March 16, 2025

I drink a cup now and again for sore throat and heartburn and have had no side effects. I have the same brand.

Hanna11224
January 16, 2024

Thank you for this. I have reflux which sometimes comes up into my throat and u drink Throat Coat tea for the soothing relief. I will find something different - perhaps just honey and hot water!

Alison18504
January 26, 2024

I’ve been taking DGL before every meal for 12 years and I do find it helpful for the reflux and I have had no side effects from it.

gary11222
November 11, 2022

Thanks CL for addressing the question further. Sounds like the question remains what else is there in DGL licorice that could affect kidneys and BP or that DGL labeled licorice may not fully remove the chemical. Then also the question is with DGL removed is there any positive effect on reducing ulcer or gastritis pain. No clear research on this issue in solid science apparently, so user be aware of concern using BP monitor as one option post use.

Lauren11221
November 11, 2022

My husband used to love licorice until one night, after consuming some Dutch licorice candy, he began to have chest pain that radiated down his arm. The next day he went to the doctor and found he had high BP, which was new. He was very fit and in his 30s. We couldn’t figure out what was causing the problem until we happened across an article about the effects of licorice. Turns out even a few licorice jelly beans can cause his BP to soar. Today in his 60s he continued to steer clear of licorice and has perfectly normal BP.

The side effects of licorice need to be more widely publicized.

Sally11219
August 26, 2022

The Throat Coat tea is delicious, but I will use less often after this warning. Thanks. NO financial interest here.

Peggy11216
July 04, 2019

For digestive and hormonal issues, you can take DGL - Deglycyrrhizinated licorice. It usually comes in chewable tablets. It is the glycyrrhizin that causes problems and the tablets are made from licorice from which the glycyrrhizin has been removed. Research the correct dosage for your particular problem and take care that you understand the amount you're getting in the tablets because some contain DGL that is more concentrated.

John11214
July 03, 2019

Beware. Glycrrhizic acid presents a significant risk in triggering A-fib. The benefits of licorice root are nowhere near as great as the risks. It should not even be an over the counter supplement.

John11215
September 28, 2020

Agree. I was hospitalized for AFib two weeks after taking licorice root in 2007. My friend refused to believe LR was the reason, so he began taking it. A few days later, he collpased at my house with a rapid heartbeat and blood pressure over 190. It absolutely should not be sold without a Rx (though it's difficult to imagine any intelligent doctor prescribing it), and maybe not even then. Bad stuff - miniscule benefit with major damage risk as you correctly point out.

Einsteinseyebrow
June 02, 2019

A lot of female hormone support supplements also include licorice. Now menopause formula is one. I did get high blood pressure while taking it and chalked it up to the licorice. I discontinued it and within a few day my pressure was back to normal. It's a good thing I keep a tight watch over it because otherwise I may have ended up like the guy mentioned in the study.
The problem is that licorice that is full spectrum is SO effective at relieving hormonal issues such as insomnia and hot flashes, at least for me. I take the supplement very cautiously nowadays.

ConsumerLab.com
June 03, 2019

Hi Patricia - Thank you for sharing your experience with this.

Mark11208
February 27, 2019

I also use throat coat tea, but for leaky gut, as it has the same ingredients recommended to heal that condition, Licorice, Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm. Glycyrrhizic acid is the component of licorice that causes the potassium loss and high blood pressure. I contacted the manufacturer, Traditional Medicinals to ask how much glycyrrhizic acid a tea bag contains, and here is their answer:

"Our organic Throat Coat tea contains 760 mg of organic licorice root (non-extract) and 60 mg of organic licorice root dry aqueous extract 6:1. We use pharmacopeial grade licorice root, which stipulates at least 4% concentration of glycyrrhizic acid. This would equate to approximately 40 mg per tea bag."

A single tea bag with 40 mg is far below the amount required to cause these symptoms(assuming Traditional Medicinals 40 mg figure is true). But drinking many cups a day might. I have reduced my intake to one cup per day and am instead using DGL, which is Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice, it does not contain glycyrrhizic acid, yet retains some of the beneficial properties.

ConsumerLab.com
February 27, 2019

Thanks for adding that information, Mark. Please note, however, that even 40 mg of glycyrrhizin per tea bag of Throat Coat is a substantial amount and if taken daily, can cause adverse effects.

Speedy
October 25, 2023

I just came home from the grocery, where I just bought Traditional Medicinals Organic Throat Coat and decided to check Consumer Labs on some of the herbal ingredients that I am unfamiliar with. So glad I did! Because now, I will be way careful with this and only have one tea bag a week (and I will only do that 2 times a month). And I will be on the watch for blood pressure or any other effects. I normally have low blood pressure (sometimes very low - but still normal). I am so glad I doubled checked here before drinking it tomorrow, because I would have likely been drinking 2 or 3 bags in one day if I liked the flavor of the first bag. So Thankfully for this review!

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