Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice root
For the health condition: Appetite (deficient)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other traditional medicine systems, where it is often included in herbal formulas intended to tonify the spleen and stomach. In TCM theory, licorice root is said to harmonize the actions of other herbs and support the digestive system, which includes addressing symptoms such as poor appetite (appetite deficiency). The root is believed to have a sweet and neutral property, making it suitable for use in formulas targeting spleen qi deficiency—a syndrome often associated with diminished appetite, fatigue, and digestive issues.

While there is a rich tradition of using licorice root as a supportive herb for appetite and digestion, direct scientific evidence for its efficacy in treating appetite deficiency is limited. Most modern research on licorice root focuses on its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and gastroprotective properties, rather than its appetite-stimulating effects. A few studies have explored its role in protecting the gastric mucosa and reducing symptoms of indigestion, but these do not directly address its impact on appetite. Thus, its use for appetite (deficient) is primarily grounded in traditional practices rather than robust clinical validation.

In summary, licorice root’s inclusion in herbal formulas for appetite support is justified by historical and traditional use, especially in Asian medical systems, but contemporary scientific evidence specifically for this indication remains minimal.

More about licorice root
More about Appetite (deficient)

Other ingredients used for Appetite (deficient)

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
Acid protease
Agarwood
Agastache
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Alcohol
Aletris
Algae
Algal protein
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
alpinia galangal
ambergris
Amomum
Amor seco
Angelica
Angostura
animal protein
anise
apple cider vinegar
apricot
Arani
Ardisia
Areca
arrowroot
Asam gelugor
ashwagandha
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylodes
atractylone
avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bacteria
bael
bai ji
Baliospermum
balsam
bamboo
baobab
barberry
basil
bayleaf
beef
Beef liver
beet
belleric myrobalan
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
betel
bile salt
bird\'s nest
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
bitter principals
black cumin
black galingale
black gram
black pepper
black salt
blackthorn
Blepharis
blessed thistle
Boerhavia diffusa
boldo
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borneol
bovine liver
boxthorne
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bur-reed
Butea monosperma
butter
buttermilk
butternut
bасора
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
calamus
cannabinol
Cannabis sativa oil
cape aloe
capers
capillary artemisia
capsaicin
capsicum
capsinoids
caraway
cardamom
Carlina
carqueja
carrot
carvone
Casearia esculenta
cassia bark
catnip
cayenne pepper
Celosia
Centaurium erythraea
centaury
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chamomile
chen pi
chervil
chestnut
chickweed
chirata
chive
cinnamaldehyde
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
cistanche
citron
Citrus
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
clove
coca
coconut
Codonopsis
cola nut
colombo
common madia
coriander
Cornus
costus
cowherb
cubeb
culvers Root
cumin
Cyathula
Cymbopogon martini
Cynomorium
dandelion
date
deer root
Dendrobium
Dichrostachys glomerata
dill
dioscorea
dodder
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dog rose
dopamine
durian
egg
Embelia
endive
English horsemint
Evodia
false calumba
fennel
fenugreek
fig
flowering quince
fruit
fu ling
Fumaria parviflora
fumitory
Galangal
garden cress
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic bulb
gentian
gentian root
Gentiana calycosa
Gentiana manshurica
Gentianella alborosea
Gentianella amarella
Gentianopsis barbata
ginger
ginseng
Glechoma hederacea
goji berry
gooseberry
Guava
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
Hemidesmus
herbal blend (proprietary)
Homalomena
honey
honeydew
Horsemint
horseradish
Huang hua
hyacinth bean
Hygrophila
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
inula racemosa
iron
Irvingia gabonensis
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
Jurubeba
Kachnar
Kokilaksha
kola nut
kuding tea
L-tryptophan
Large-leaf gentian
Lebbek
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
licorice root
liquid liver fractions
little ironweed
lodhtree
long pepper
longan
loquat
lotus
lovage
Lycium
Lycopodium
Macaranga indica
mace
malt
mandarin
mango
Marjoram
Marshmallow
Meadow sage
Mentha haplocalyx
Microtea debilis
Milk
Milk Protein
Mint
Momordica
Monoterpenes
Mountain Pepper
Myrobalan
Myrrh
Natsudaidai
Neem tree
Nigella seed
nut grass
Nutmeg
Nymphaea nouchali
Oleoylethanolamide
onion
Onosma bracteatum
Ophiopogon
orange
orchid
Orchis latifolia
oregano
oregon grape
oryza
Oryza sativa
Osha
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
Palmyra
papain
papaya
parsley
Parsnip
paw paw
peach
Pepper
Pepper Bark Tree
perilla
Persimmon
Peucedanum
phytocannabinoids
Pimpinella
pineapple
Pinolenic acid
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
Pistachio
platycodon root
plum fruit
pollen
Polygonatum
polymorpha
Portulaca
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
prickly ash
probiotics
protein
Prunus
pumpkin
Pyrrosia
quassia
quince
Quisqualis
radish
rhizome
Rhus coriaria
rice
root tuber
rose
rosemary
Rubiaceae
rue
Rumex acetosa
Safed musli
Sassafras
Savory
Scabrous Gentian
Sete sangrias
Shen Qu
shen-chu
Sichuan pepper
Sida cordifolia
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Solanum anguivi
Southern Tsangshu
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Spilanthes
Stellaria dichotoma
Sumac
Sweet Annie
sweet flag
Sweet Orange alcohol
Swertia
Sword Bean
Tagetes
Tamarind
Taraxacin
Taraxacum
Taraxol
Tarragon
Tea
Thymus
Tiger Nut
Trichosanthes
Triphala
Tulbaghia
Vervain
Vidanga
vitamin B
Water Pepper
Watercress
Wheat
Winter Savory
Wormseed
Wulinshen
Yellow Dock
Yerba mate
Yohimbine
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Zinc
Zingerone
Zucchini

Other health conditions supported by licorice root

Abdominal Pain
Abrasions
Abscesses
Acid Indigestion
Acne
Addictions (general remedies for)
Addictions (tobacco smoking or chewing)
Addison's Disease
Adenitis
Adrenal Fatigue
Afterbirth Pain
Age Spots
Allergies (respiratory)
Amenorrhea
Anal Fistula or Fissure
Anemia
Appetite (deficient)
Asthma
Autoimmune Disorders
Bronchitis
Canker Sores
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Chicken Pox
Cholera
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colic (adults)
Colic (children)
Colitis
Colon (atonic)
Colon (spastic)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (lymphatic)
Congestion (sinus)
Constipation (adults)
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Croup
Cushing's Disease
Cytomealovirus
Dyspepsia
Eczema
Emphysema
Endometriosis
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Estrogen (low)
Fatty Liver Disease
Fever
Fibrosis
Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed)
Gall Stones
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Glands (swollen lymph)
Goiter
Gonorrhea
Gout
Grave's Disease
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Halitosis
Hangover
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Heart (weakness)
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Hernias
Herpes
Hiatal Hernia
Hiccups
Hot Flashes
Hypotension
Hypothyroid
Impetigo
Indigestion
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Itching
Itching Ears
Jaundice (adults)
Jock Itch
Kidney Infection
Laryngitis
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Liver Detoxification
Lungs (fluid in)
Lyme Disease
Lymph Nodes or Glands (swollen)
Malaria
Mastitis
Measles
Menopause
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
Morning Sickness
Mumps
Nausea and Vomiting
Nephritis
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Night Sweating
Nocturnal Emission
Oral Surgery
Ovarian Pain
Overacidity
Pertussis
Pleurisy
PMS (general)
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Rashes and Hives
Rosacea
Sore Throat
Ulcers