Evidence supporting the use of: Glycyrrhetinic acid
For the health condition: Congestion (lungs)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Glycyrrhetinic acid is a bioactive compound derived from glycyrrhizin, the main sweet-tasting component of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra). The traditional use of licorice root in herbal medicine includes the treatment of respiratory ailments such as cough, sore throat, and lung congestion. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, licorice is used as an expectorant and demulcent to soothe irritated mucous membranes and to assist in clearing mucus from the respiratory tract.
While glycyrrhetinic acid itself is not typically isolated and used directly in folk remedies, its parent compound (glycyrrhizin) and licorice extracts are commonly included in traditional formulas for lung congestion. The mechanism is thought to involve anti-inflammatory and mild expectorant effects, potentially helping to reduce swelling and irritation in the airways and promote mucus clearance. However, there is a lack of robust, high-quality clinical trials specifically evaluating glycyrrhetinic acid or licorice for lung congestion. Most scientific research focuses on anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and corticosteroid-like effects in vitro or in animal models, with limited direct translation to human respiratory congestion. Thus, its use for lung congestion is primarily justified by tradition, with modest supporting evidence from preclinical studies, but not by strong clinical trial data.
More about Glycyrrhetinic acid
More about Congestion (lungs)
Other ingredients used for Congestion (lungs)
Abies spectabilisAconite
Adenophora
Agastache
Alantolactone
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl isothiocyanate
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpinia galangal
ambergris
Amor seco
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
aster root
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
Baikal Skullcap
balloon flower
balsam
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
basil
bayleaf
bee hive
bee products
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
berry
beta-pinene
Bidens pilosa
bisabolene
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Bombax
boneset
borage
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
cajuput
calamus
Camellia sinensis
capsaicinoids
capsicum
cardamom
Carthamus
cayenne pepper
chamomile
chen pi
Chinese raisintree
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
Cistus
Citrus
Clerodendrum trichotomum
clove
coltsfoot
Coptis chinensis
cowherb
culvers Root
curcumen
curry leaf
diterpenes
dragonhead
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Eclipta
Elder
elderberry
elecampane
Ephedra
ephedrine
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
European Elder
European five-finger grass
Evodia
fang-feng
fat liver oil
ferula assafoetida
flavoglycosides
forsythia
frankincense
fritillaria
Galangal
Gallesia
gamma-terpinene
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic bulb
ginger
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Gnaphalium
grape
green tea
Guaco
Heartsease
Hedyotis
Helicteres isora
honey
horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
Houttuynia
hyssop
Indian frankincense
Indian tinospora
inula racemosa
Isatis
Ivy
jungli-bean
juniper berries
Khella
labrador tea
Laggera pterodonta
Ledebouriella
lemongrass
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
Ligustrazin
limonene
Litsea
Lomatium
long pepper
lovage
lungwort
malabar nut
mallow
Meadow sage
Menthol oil
Methylxanthine
Monoterpenes
Mountain Pepper
Mucolase
Mugwort
Mullein
Mustard
mustard seed
Neoandrographolides
Nutmeg
onion
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
oregano
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
Osha
Paris polyphylla
Pepper
perilla
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
Pinellia ternata
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
Platycodon
platycodon root
Pluchea
Polygonum
pomegranate
prepared aconite tuber
Pyrrosia
quercetin
ravinsara
rosemary
Rubiaceae
Sagebrush
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
scrophularia root
Servicetree
Sesquiterpenes
shiitake mushroom
Sichuan Lovage
Sichuan pepper
siler root
Smartweed
Solanum indicum
Sophora
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
spruce
squawvine
Stereospermum
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sundew
sweet flag
Szechuan lovage
Tamaricaceae
Tayuya
Terpinolene
thyme
Thymus
Trichosanthes
turmeric
Vasicine
Vasicinone
Vervain
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
Vladimiria souliei
Winter Savory
Wulinshen
Yellow root
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by Glycyrrhetinic acid
Acid IndigestionAsthma
Bronchitis
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colitis
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Dermatitis
Gastritis
Hepatitis
Herpes
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Oral Surgery
Psoriasis
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic
Skin (infections)
Ulcers
Wounds and Sores
