In Korean medicine cabinets, licorice—or 감초—is a quiet staple. You’ll find it in traditional teas, herbal powders, and digestive remedies. It’s sweet on the tongue but known more for its calming, nourishing effect on the body. At Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic, we don’t just respect its history—we apply its benefits in modern, clinical settings. One such application? Licorice injections.

These injections aren’t trendy shortcuts. Under the careful direction of Dr. Yoo Du-yeol, we use them in select cases of chronic fatigue, adrenal imbalance, and gastrointestinal inflammation—especially when conventional treatment leaves patients without full relief. But licorice injections aren’t for everyone. Like any treatment, they need to be understood in context, tailored to the individual, and part of a broader plan for health restoration.

Let’s explore what licorice injections are, how they work, and where they may fit into your health journey.

What Is a Licorice Injection?

A licorice injection delivers a sterile dose of glycyrrhizin—a bioactive compound found in the licorice root—directly into the bloodstream, typically via intramuscular or intravenous injection. Unlike oral licorice supplements, injections bypass the digestive process and allow for faster, more efficient absorption. Glycyrrhizin carries several properties that make it uniquely therapeutic: it modulates inflammation, supports adrenal hormone balance, protects mucosal linings (like those of the stomach), and even exhibits antiviral and liver-supportive actions.

In Korea and Japan, glycyrrhizin injections have been used medically for decades, especially in the management of chronic hepatitis, allergic disorders, and adrenal fatigue syndromes. At Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic, we rely on these injections as part of a targeted, individualized treatment plan—never as a standalone fix, and always with careful monitoring.

Chronic Fatigue: More Than Just Feeling Tired

One of the most common—and most misunderstood—reasons patients visit our clinic is fatigue. Not just the kind that comes from one bad night of sleep, but a relentless, deep tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest. Many patients brush it off as “normal” or “just stress,” especially in the high-pressure environments of Seoul.

But chronic fatigue is a red flag. When fatigue persists beyond six months, interferes with daily life, and lacks an obvious medical explanation, it may be connected to deeper imbalances in the body. In many cases we evaluate, we find hidden patterns like low-grade inflammation, weakened adrenal response (low cortisol), digestive dysfunction, or immune system dysregulation.

This is where glycyrrhizin can be especially helpful—because it doesn’t just stimulate energy like caffeine or supplements might. Instead, it helps your body manage and conserve its existing resources more effectively.

How Licorice Injections Support Energy and Recovery

Helps the Body Use Cortisol More Effectively

Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone—and it plays a major role in regulating energy, blood sugar, inflammation, and mood. When your body is under long-term stress or recovering from illness, your adrenal glands can struggle to keep up. You might feel foggy in the morning, wired but exhausted at night, or unable to bounce back from even mild exertion.

Glycyrrhizin slows the breakdown of cortisol by inhibiting an enzyme called 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. This means your body holds onto its own cortisol longer, rather than burning through it too quickly. It’s not a stimulant—it’s a subtle recalibration, helping you stabilize your natural rhythms without over-activation.

Calms Inflammation and Immune Overactivity

Another cause of chronic fatigue is inflammation—especially low-grade, systemic inflammation that never quite switches off. Glycyrrhizin has been shown to downregulate inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, which are often elevated in autoimmune disorders, long COVID, and post-viral fatigue syndromes. In our clinic, patients with persistent fatigue after viral illnesses sometimes respond well to a short cycle of licorice injections.

Supports Liver Function and Detoxification

Licorice has long been used to support liver function, particularly in cases of hepatitis or sluggish liver metabolism. The liver is responsible for breaking down hormones, processing toxins, and managing energy balance. If your liver is overwhelmed—even mildly—it can contribute to fatigue, brain fog, and digestive discomfort. In our clinical experience, some patients with unexplained fatigue and mildly elevated liver enzymes have shown improvement after licorice-based support.

Nurtures the Gut-Brain-Immune Axis

Fatigue and digestion are more connected than people realize. When your gut lining is inflamed or compromised (what’s often called “leaky gut”), it can trigger immune responses and drain your energy. Licorice helps reinforce the intestinal barrier, calm inflammation, and restore balance in the microbiome. This is especially useful for patients with fatigue plus GI symptoms like bloating, irregular bowel habits, or food sensitivities.

Digestive Health: Licorice’s Traditional and Modern Role

Licorice’s reputation as a digestive healer isn’t just folklore—it’s backed by modern pharmacology. At Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic, we often consider licorice injections for patients with chronic gastritis, reflux, or other inflammatory gut conditions that haven’t fully responded to standard treatment.

Here’s how it works:

Protects the Stomach Lining: Glycyrrhizin promotes the secretion of protective mucus in the stomach and reduces acid-related damage. This is especially beneficial for patients who have gastritis from stress, medications, or chronic Helicobacter pylori exposure.
Eases IBS and Functional GI Disorders: For patients with bloating, gas, or vague abdominal discomfort without structural disease, glycyrrhizin’s anti-inflammatory properties can bring relief—especially when paired with diet and microbiome care.
Reduces Inflammatory Triggers in the Gut: By calming the immune response in the GI tract, licorice can reduce symptoms tied to food sensitivities, gut permeability, and immune hyper-reactivity.

Is It Safe? What You Need to Know

Like all therapies, licorice injections come with potential side effects and must be used responsibly. The most common concerns relate to how glycyrrhizin interacts with electrolytes and blood pressure. Excess or prolonged use may lead to:

Elevated blood pressure
Water retention
Low potassium levels
Muscle weakness or irregular heartbeat

That’s why we take great care in our clinic to screen patients thoroughly before starting treatment. We regularly monitor blood pressure, kidney function, and serum electrolytes. In most cases, we use short, intermittent treatment cycles—such as one to two injections per week for four to six weeks—followed by a reassessment. For patients with high blood pressure, heart disease, or chronic kidney conditions, we may recommend alternative therapies or adjust the dose carefully.

The key is personalization. There is no “one-size-fits-all” dose or schedule. Every patient has a different threshold, and we work closely with you to ensure that the benefits outweigh any risks.

Who Might Benefit Most?

From our clinical perspective, the patients who tend to benefit most from licorice injections include:

Adults with chronic fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep
Individuals recovering from long COVID, mononucleosis, or chronic viral infections
Patients with persistent bloating, gastritis, or digestive inflammation
Individuals with mild adrenal burnout symptoms (low morning energy, poor stress resilience)
Those with food sensitivities and signs of intestinal hyperpermeability

If any of these resonate with you, licorice injections might be worth exploring—but only after a comprehensive evaluation. At Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic, we never recommend injection therapy without clear medical reasoning and test-based guidance.

What to Expect at Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic

When patients come to us asking about fatigue, gut discomfort, or alternative therapy options, we begin with listening. Then we use testing—labs, imaging, dietary history, stress patterns—to get a full picture. Only then do we consider licorice injections as one part of a larger plan.

Here’s what a typical treatment process looks like:

Initial Assessment: Includes a full consultation, blood tests, and physical evaluation. We check for adrenal patterns, thyroid function, digestive health, liver enzymes, and nutrient status.
Tailored Dosing and Delivery: Injections are given intramuscularly or intravenously, depending on your specific needs and tolerance. Dosing schedules are conservative and personalized.
Follow-Up Monitoring: We check your response after each session—energy, digestion, mood—and track labs to ensure safety.
Supportive Therapies: Depending on your case, we may recommend dietary adjustments, herbal medicine, probiotics, stress-management strategies, or further testing.

Our goal is to help you feel stronger—not temporarily stimulated, but truly restored.

Why Choose Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic?

Under the guidance of Dr. Yoo Du-yeol, Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic has become a trusted space for patient-first, diagnosis-driven care. We blend Western diagnostics with Eastern insight, and we approach every patient as a long-term partner in health—not a number or a case.

Our clinic philosophy is grounded in three core values:

Clarity: We don’t chase fads. We explain every decision, every treatment.
Personalization: No two fatigue stories are the same. We match the treatment to your unique body.
Continuity: Our care doesn’t stop with a single injection. We walk with you through recovery, maintenance, and growth.

Final Thoughts

Licorice injections are not a magic solution—but for the right patient, at the right time, they can be a meaningful part of recovery. If you’ve been feeling chronically tired, weighed down by digestive discomfort, or simply out of balance, it may be time to look deeper.

Start with questions. Start with data. And find a clinic that sees the full picture. At Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine Clinic, we’re here to help you reconnect with your energy—gently, thoughtfully, and sustainably.

If your story sounds familiar, consider scheduling a comprehensive consultation. Sometimes the next step isn’t more willpower or more supplements—it’s insight, and the right kind of care.