Mundane & Magickal Properties of Liquorice Root (Licorice )
Rebecca HaynesLiquorice, oh sweet, sweet Liquorice!
I must admit, I have always had a soft spot for Liquorice.
Whether it came in the form of Darrell Lea licorice twists, chocolate coated bullets, or indeed the herb itself- all of it is delicious and magickal!! One of the things I remember fondly is my introduction to the herb Liquorice. I had always known about the Liquorice confectionary, and I thought it was just that- a weird name for a lolly. My father, another Liquorice connoisseur, who had a keen interest in herbalism, introduced me to a tea available in Australia called "Black Adder Tea". Prior to this, I thought all herbs had to taste like peppermint, dirt, or flowers, but here was a herb that tasted like - well, sugar. From that day on, I have come to deeply respect Liquorice and I still love a good Black Adder Tea when I need something sweet to drink- but beware if you try it, it is naturally very, very sweet- in fact, the principle glycoside in Liquorice called glycyrrhizin has 50-170 times the sweetness of sugar :0
So what is Liquorice?
Liquorice (glycyrrhiza glabra)
A member of the legume (pea) family (Fabaceae), Liquorice is a herbaceous perennial, which
Liquorice is probably most well known for its uses in confectionary and medicine, however it has also been used for its magickal properties throughout the years.
Mundane Properties of Liquorice Root
Liquorice is a common herb used by Western herbal medicine practitioners, as well as those practicing TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Kampo & Ayurvedic medicine.
Liquorice is most commonly known as a remedy for coughs and colds, as well as chest complaints such as bronchitis. It is a common ingredient in cough syrups and lozenges due to its demulcent (soothing) properties.
It has also been used as an ingredient in flavouring tobacco and the dried root is chewed to freshen the breath. Throughout the world, Liquorice is also commonly used in the culinary world to flavour confectionary and beverages such as teas, liqueurs and soft drinks.
Contraindications: Liquorice should not be consumed by those who are pregnant or have high blood pressure and/or kidney issues. Excessive consumption of liquorice can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and Hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood). Always consult a doctor or qualified herbalist prior to consuming this herb.
Magickal Properties Of Licorice/Liquorice
Botanical Name: Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Common Names/Synonyms: liquiritia officinalis (botanical synonym), Liquorice, Licorice, Lacris (Welsh),Lacrisse (German), Licourice , Lycorys, Reglisse (French), Regolizia (Italian), Sweet Root, Lakrids (Danish, Lakritzenwurzel (German), gancao (Chinese), kanzo (Japanese), kamcho (Korean), yashtimadhu (Sanskrit)
Parts Used: Root
Gender: Feminine
Powers: Love, Lust, Fidelity
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
How To Use Liquorice For Magick
- Liquorice root can be added to a spell bag and carried or placed under the pillow to attract romantic love
- Use liquorice root in love spells as an incense or an anointing oil.
- Anoint a red candle with oil infused with liquorice root when performing candle magic to attract a lover.
- Add Liquorice root to a ritual bath for attraction or to increase passion.
- Serve Liquorice tea to your significant other to promote fidelity in love.
- Burn liquorice in an incense in an environment where you wish to create strong bonds between individuals- such as the home or workplace.
- Liquorice is said to be able to bend people to your will, so if this is something you do, feel free to add liquorice root into your workings!
As always, please note that the Magickal benefits of this herb/plant are not set in stone.
Do your own research before working with each ingredient always and consult your own sources. What is right for me in my situation, may be completely wrong for you.
Let us know what you think about this fantastic plant. Do you work with it? If so, what has been your experience with it? Do you use it for mundane purposes, magickal purposes, or both? We'd love to hear your experiences.
Please note: The author of this blog is not a medical professional & the information presented in this blog is solely for entertainment and informational purposes. No information contained within this bog is intended to serve as professional advice of any description. Please consult a healthcare professional if you are seeking treatment for any medical condition. If you choose to perform any type of self-treatment (mundane or magickal) or follow advice off the internet you do so at your own risk.
References:
Grieve, M. (1978). A Modern Herbal (pp. 487-492). Penguin Books.
Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2001). Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy- Modern Herbal Medicine (pp. 465-475). Churchill Livingstone.
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, December 19). Liquorice. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:23, February 20, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liquorice&oldid=1328307049