AVOID This If You Have High Blood Pressure

The speaker frames licorice as the number one herb to avoid for hypertension, not because it’s inherently toxic, but because it taps into an ancient survival mechanism (sodium retention) that today’s sodium-rich, potassium-poor diet makes problematic. He notes that 98% of people are already deficient in potassium, so licorice’s potassium-depleting action can rapidly turn a mild deficiency into a severe, symptomatic one—muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat. Historical context: licorice was used for millennia and even appeared in a 1926 medical text. The speaker’s caution is directed at unsupervised daily use, especially among older adults and those on medications that already affect potassium (diuretics) or add exogenous cortisol (prednisone). He urges disclosure to doctors if symptoms arise, as licorice can mimic serious disorders. The bottom line: avoid regular licorice root unless you’re certain your potassium status and blood pressure are healthy, and never combine it with corticosteroids.

The speaker introduces DGL as the straightforward solution for those who want the historical benefits of licorice (used for 3,000 years for ulcers, coughs, infections) without the modern-day electrolyte problem. He emphasizes that the herbal world is generally safe and that complications are rare, but when they do occur, they can be serious. DGL represents a best-of-both-worlds approach, preserving the gut-healing and immune-modulating effects while sidestepping the enzyme blockade that makes regular licorice dangerous for a large segment of the population. The underlying message is that people should not abandon a useful remedy out of fear; they should simply choose the safer, deglycyrrhizinated version. Combined with the earlier potassium awareness, the protocol suggests pairing DGL with dietary potassium adequacy for maximum safety.

The speaker emphasizes that the active compound glycyrrhizin blocks the enzyme 11BHSD2, which normally converts cortisol into its inactive form. Without this safety mechanism, cortisol levels rise, leading to sodium retention, potassium wasting, and hypertension. This biochemical cascade can create a clinical picture identical to a hormone-secreting tumor, even though it’s purely herb-induced. The condition is reversible upon stopping the licorice, but if a patient doesn’t tell their doctor they’re taking it, they risk unnecessary testing or misdiagnosis.

The speaker quantifies risk: consuming more than two cups of licorice tea every single day can initiate electrolyte shifts. Similarly, a daily intake of 100 milligrams of licorice candy over a two-week period can escalate to a point where hospitalization becomes possible. This is attributed to the progressive blockade of 11BHSD2 by glycyrrhizin and the corresponding loss of potassium, which is already insufficient in 98% of people. The emphasis is on cumulative, persistent exposure rather than a one-time dose, making it relevant for anyone enjoying licorice tea or candy regularly.

The speaker explains that the body’s sodium-retention mechanisms, once survival adaptations, now work against us because modern diets are high in sodium and low in potassium. With 98% of people already potassium-deficient, adding a substance that further depletes potassium (via cortisol-driven renal wasting) can precipitate muscle cramps, arrhythmias, and energy deficits. Potassium is highlighted as essential for heart rhythm, nerve function, muscle contraction, and glycogen storage, making its depletion particularly dangerous in combination with licorice.