Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice root
For the health condition: Colds (general)

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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 medicine systems, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and various European herbal traditions, as a remedy for respiratory ailments such as colds, sore throat, and cough. Traditionally, it was believed to soothe mucous membranes, reduce throat irritation, and act as an expectorant. In TCM, licorice is often included in formulas to harmonize and enhance the effects of other herbs in cold remedies.

Scientific research does suggest that licorice root contains compounds such as glycyrrhizin and liquiritin, which exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects in laboratory and animal studies. Some in vitro studies have shown that licorice extracts can inhibit the growth of certain viruses and bacteria. However, there is a lack of robust, high-quality clinical trials in humans specifically evaluating the efficacy of licorice root for treating or preventing the common cold. The evidence supporting its use for colds is thus mainly traditional, with some preliminary scientific rationale based on its constituent compounds, but not enough to be considered scientifically validated for this indication.

Overall, while licorice root’s use for colds is rooted in tradition and supported by theoretical mechanisms, clinical evidence in humans is limited. Individuals should also be aware of potential side effects and contraindications, especially with prolonged or high-dose use.

More about licorice root
More about Colds (general)

Other ingredients used for Colds (general)

3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Abies spectabilis
Abrus
Acacia
Aconite
Aerva lanata
Agastache
Ajuga
Alcohol
Algae
Allicin
Alliin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl isothiocyanate
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
American Liverleaf
Amomum
Amor seco
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
anthocyanins
apple
apple cider vinegar
arabinogalactan
Aralia
Arani
Ardisia
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
ash
aster root
Asteraceae
astragalus
atractylodes
atractylone
avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
bamboo
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barberry
Barleria
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee hive
bee pollen
bee products
bee propolis
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bermuda grass
berry
beta-pinene
Bidens pilosa
bioflavonoids
birch
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
bitter principals
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black garlic
black nightshade
black pepper
black salt
black seed
black tea
blackberry
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
blueberry
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
boneset
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Bougainvillea
boxthorne
Broussonetia
buckthorn
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
bur-reed
burdock
Butea monosperma
bасора
cajuput
calamus
Camellia sinensis
capillary artemisia
capsaicin
capsaicinoids
capsicum
cardamom
carrot
Carthamus
carvacrol
cassia bark
caterpillar mushroom
cayenne pepper
Celosia
chamomile
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese raisintree
Chinese silkvine
chive
Chlorophytum
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
chrysophanics
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
Cistus
citron
Citrus
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cloudberry
clove
coconut
coconut milk
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
cola nut
colostrum
commiphora
common madia
coriander
costus
cowherb
cowslip
culvers Root
cumin
Curcuma
curcumen
Curcuminoid
currant
curry leaf
David\'s milkberry
deoxyandrographolides
Desmodium
Dianthus
dodder
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dog rose
dragonhead
dulse leaf
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Eclipta
Elder
elderberry
Embelia
English horsemint
Ephedra
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Elder
European five-finger grass
Evodia
fang-feng
fat liver oil
ferula assafoetida
Ficus simplicissima
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavonones
flowering quince
forsythia
frankincense
fruit
fulvic acid
Gallesia
gamma-terpinene
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic
garlic bulb
giant blazingstar
Gigartina
ginger
ginseng
Glechoma hederacea
Glycyrrhizin
Gnaphalium
goldthread
gooseberry
grape
Greek mountain tea
green chiretta
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
heal-all
Hedyotis
Helicteres isora
hemp
Herb Robert
honey
honey loquat syrup
honeysuckle
horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
hyacinth bean
Hygrophila
hyssop
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian fagonia
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
iridoid glycosides
iridoids
Isatis
joe-pye
jujube
jungli-bean
Kokilaksha
kuding tea
Kukicha
L-cysteine
labrador tea
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Laggera pterodonta
Lebbek
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemongrass
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
Ligustrum
lime
limonene
linalool
Litsea
little ironweed
liverwort
lodhtree
Lomatium
long pepper
loquat
lotus
lovage
luffa
lychee
lysozyme
mace
mallow
mandarin
manzanita
maple
marigold
Marjoram
Marsh Tea
Marshmallow
Mastic gum
Maytenus ilicifolia
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
Melia
Menthol oil
Milk
Mineral ascorbate
Momordica
Monardella odoratissima
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Moringa
Mountain Pepper
Mugwort
Mushroom
Mustard
mustard seed
Myrcene
Nardostachys
Natsudaidai
Neem tree
Nettle
Nimbidin
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
onion
Onosma bracteatum
Ophiopogon
orange
oregano
oregon grape
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
Oryza sativa
Osha
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
papaya
Paris polyphylla
Patrinia
paw paw
peach
pear
Pelargonium
peony
Pepper
perilla
Persimmon
Petiveria
Peucedanum
Phaeophyceae
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
Phenylpropanoids
Phosphate ascorbate
Phyllanthus
Physalis angulata
pineapple
Piper chaba
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
pistacia integerrima gall
plantain
Pluchea
plum fruit
Polygonatum
Polygonum
pomegranate
Portulaca
Propolis
Prunus
pumpkin
purslane
Pyrrosia
quail egg
quercetin
Quillaja
radish
raspberry
ravinsara
reishi mushroom
rhizome
Rooibos
rose
rose hips
rosemary
Rubiaceae
Rubus
sage
Sagebrush
Salvia
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
Sargassum
sarsaparilla
Sassafras
Scabrous Gentian
Schisandrins
schizonepeta
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
Sesbania
Sesquiterpenes
Sete sangrias
Shark Liver Oil
Shogaol
Sichuan Lovage
Sichuan pepper
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sicklepod
siler root
Sinigrin
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
Sophora
Southern Tsangshu
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
spirulina
spruce
squawvine
Sumac
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
Szechuan lovage
Tamaricaceae
Tayuya
Tea
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Thiosulfinate
thyme
Thymol
Thymus
Tinospora cordifolia
Tremella
Trichosanthes
Triterpenes
Tulbaghia
turmeric
typhonium
Umckaloabo
vegetable blend (proprietary)
Vervain
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin B
vitamin C
vitamin D
Wasabi
Water Pepper
Waterhyssop
Wax Gourd
White Tea
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Wulinshen
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yeast
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
Zinc
Zingerone
Zingiberene
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