Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice (various)
For the health condition: Colds (antiviral)

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Synopsis

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

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, for supporting respiratory health and treating symptoms of colds, such as cough and sore throat. The root is believed to have soothing, expectorant, and demulcent properties. In TCM, licorice is often included in herbal formulas to "harmonize" the effects of other herbs and relieve symptoms associated with viral upper respiratory infections.

From a scientific perspective, in vitro studies have demonstrated that certain compounds in licorice, such as glycyrrhizin, may possess antiviral activity against some viruses, including those that cause respiratory illness. However, robust clinical evidence demonstrating licorice’s effectiveness in treating or preventing the common cold in humans is limited. Most available research consists of laboratory or animal studies, or clinical trials using multi-herb formulas with licorice as one of several components, making it difficult to isolate licorice's specific effect.

Overall, while licorice is traditionally used to support colds and may have some biological plausibility based on laboratory findings, the direct clinical evidence in humans is weak or insufficient. Its use for colds is therefore primarily justified by tradition, with a moderate (2/5) level of supporting evidence.

More about Licorice (various)
More about Colds (antiviral)

Other ingredients used for Colds (antiviral)

Allspice
Aloe vera
anthocyanins
arabinogalactan
waterhyssop
basil
berry flavor
beta-pinene
bilberry
bisabolol
black cumin
black currant
black garlic
blueberry
Indian frankincense
cat's claw
catechins
cinnamon
citrus bioflavonoids
citrus oil
clove
turmeric
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
green tea
honeysuckle
knotweed
lactoferrin
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
lemon
licorice root
luteolin
mastic gum
monolaurin
oregano
perilla
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
pineapple
pomegranate
quercetin
resveratrol
rhizome
rosemary
schizonepeta
shiitake mushroom
spirulina
thyme
vitamin C
vitamin D
Wasabi
zinc
xanthium (cockleburs)
hyssop
papaya
mugwort
neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
commiphora
buckthorn
pau d'arco
morus
lemongrass
chrysanthemum
ganoderma
morinda
oriental arborvitae
zanthoxylum
fulvic acid
goji berry
indigo leaves
soursop
Ash
Agastache
Autumn elaeagnus
Alpha-terpineol
Apigenin
Allicin
Anamu
AHCC
Andrographolide
Amentoflavone
Asam gelugor
Acacetin
Aureobasidium pullulans
Andrographis
Asteracea
Allyl Sulfide
Allyl isothiocyanate
Alliin
Allium tuberosum
Atractylone
Bee Propolis
Black Seed
Baikal Skullcap
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Broussonetia
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Black galingale
Bitter Grass
Bee hive
Basidiomycota
berry
Bee products
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Baicalin
Bassia scoparia
Borneol
Caffeic Acid
Camellia sinensis
Coconut
Curry leaf
Chinese Mountain Ant
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Coriolus mushroom
Carrageenan
Carvacrol
Capillary Artemisia
Citron
Citrus
Chinese Raisintree
Cowherb
Cistus
Common madia
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Celosia
Chondrus
Deoxyandrographolides
David's Milkberry
European Elder
Echinacea
Elder
Essential Oil Blend
Fruit
Flavonoids
Fungus
Flavonones
Flavones
Goldthread
Glyceryl monolaurate
gamma-terpinene
Garlic
Gallesia
Gallotannin
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Galangal
Glycyrrhizin
Honey
Hedyotis
Houttuynia
Honey loquat syrup
Himalaya Berry
Isatis
Indian Kinotree
Litsea
Lomatium
Lichen
Laggera pterodonta
Ligustilides
Luffa
Ligustrum
Labrador Tea
Liverwort
Ligusticum
Mineral ascorbate
Melia
Monoterpenes
Mangostin
Mushroom
Neoandrographolides
Naphthoquinones
Nymphaea nouchali
Osha
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
Propolis
Phellodendron
Phyllanthus
Phenylpropanoids
Phaeophyceae
Paris polyphylla
Piper nigrum
Patrinia
Polygonum
Petiveria
Ravinsara
Reed Herb
Sophora
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Sesquiterpenes
Salvia
Solanum indicum
Sambucus nigra
Shogaol
Sandalwood
saponins
Shikimic Acid
Terpenoids
Tea
Thymus
Tamaricaceae
Triterpenes
Tayuya
Theaflavin
Trametes
Tagetes
Thiosulfinate
Visnea Mocanera
Violet
Verbascoside
Viola
White Tea
Xanthorrhizol
Zingiberene

Products containing Licorice (various)

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.