Mulethi (Licorice - Ayurvedic) for Kidney Health

Research suggests that certain active compounds in licorice root, particularly glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid, may offer protective effects on kidney tissue in preclinical settings, with studies indicating potential benefits against contrast-induced acute kidney injury, cisplatin-induced renal fibrosis, and diabetic nephropathy through mechanisms involving inflammation suppression and cell death pathways. However, the available supporting evidence comes entirely from laboratory and animal studies, with no human clinical trials represented in the current body of research, which limits how directly these findings can be applied to human kidney health. Balancing these preliminary findings, multiple reviews consistently document that licorice consumption — particularly in excess — can cause sodium retention, potassium loss, and pseudohyperaldosteronism, effects that are known to place meaningful stress on the kidneys and cardiovascular system and have resulted in hospitalizations. The overall picture is therefore mixed: while the bioactive compounds in licorice show mechanistic promise for kidney protection in controlled laboratory contexts, the well-documented physiological risks associated with licorice intake in humans represent a significant counterweight that researchers and reviewers have repeatedly flagged, particularly for older adults, women, and individuals with preexisting conditions such as hypertension.