Licorice and Fennel: The Digestive, Throat-Soothing Duo

Licorice (yashtimadhu) and fennel (mishreya) are two gentle herbs, tridoshic or close to it, that tradition readily pairs in tea. turmeric/">Licorice soothes and protects the mucous membranes of the throat and stomach; fennel relaxes the belly and helps release trapped gas. Together, they cover a common issue: an irritated throat and temperamental digestion, a duo especially appreciated after a meal or in the evening.

Why combine licorice and fennel?

The two herbs complement each other without overlapping. Licorice acts by coating and soothing the digestive and ENT mucous membranes, with a naturally sweet taste that softens the blend. Fennel, carminative and antispasmodic, relaxes the belly and releases gas without a warming effect. The combination is gentle, tridoshic, and works well as an evening tea with no risk of nervous stimulation — unlike more warming blends built around ginger or pepper.

What do studies show on each herb?

For licorice, a randomized double-blind clinical trial conducted by Raveendra and colleagues, published in 2012 in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, evaluated a licorice extract (GutGard) in patients with functional dyspepsia, with symptom improvement comparable to a reference treatment (see the study on Google Scholar).

For fennel, a randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted by Alexandrovich and colleagues, published in 2003 in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, tested a fennel seed oil emulsion in 125 infants with colic, with colic resolving in 65% of treated infants versus 23.7% in the placebo group (see the study on Google Scholar). This study used a specific emulsion given to infants under medical supervision: it documents fennel's antispasmodic activity, but is in no way a recommendation for self-treatment in infants — see our fennel article on this exact point.

How to prepare a licorice-fennel tea

1. Mix equal parts of cut licorice root and lightly crushed fennel seeds (about 1 teaspoon of each for a large cup).
2. Bring to a gentle simmer in cold water for 5 minutes (licorice, being a hard root, releases its compounds poorly with a simple infusion poured over it).
3. Turn off the heat, cover, and let steep for an additional 10 minutes to preserve fennel's volatile aromatic oils.
4. Strain and drink warm, after a meal or in the evening.

This blend is close to our licorice-fennel tea recipe already online, worth checking out for the full step-by-step version.

Precautions to stack

• High blood pressure: avoid. This is licorice's major contraindication (glycyrrhizin): in excess or over the long term, it can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. See the detail in our licorice article.
• Pregnancy: licorice is not advised for regular consumption during pregnancy; fennel, in culinary doses, is generally acceptable, but repeated concentrated infusions should be avoided as a precaution (estragole).
• Duration: no more than 4 to 6 weeks in a row for preparations containing non-deglycyrrhizinated licorice.
• Allergy: fennel belongs to the apiaceae family (celery, carrot, coriander); use caution if you have a known allergy to this family.

General precaution guidelines are detailed in our safety and precautions guide.