Licorice is one of the things that can be taken for arthritis that has no side effects and can actually help ease the pain of arthritis. This is because it has properties that are believed to enhance the action of blupleuri, and acts in the body like cortisone.

Licorice has properties in it that are anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy, and the properties contain in licorice are able to bind to glucocorticoid receptors on cells, which then exert glucocorticoid like effects in the body.

While licorice is able to help the pain of arthritis, with long term use it can cause an elevation in blood pressure, which can be a concern to those arthritis sufferers with high blood pressure. Short term use of this herbal will not cause a continued rise in blood pressure, and should be discussed with the physician for the arthritis patient with high blood pressure prior to taking licorice.