Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice root
For the health condition: Constipation (adults)

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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, particularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and other systems for digestive complaints, including constipation. In these practices, licorice is often combined with other herbs in formulations intended to “harmonize” the digestive tract, reduce inflammation, and support bowel regularity. The mild laxative effect attributed to licorice is thought to be due to its glycyrrhizin content, which may promote mucous secretion and stimulate intestinal motility. However, modern scientific evidence directly supporting licorice root as an effective treatment for constipation in adults is limited. Most clinical studies involving licorice focus on its anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects, rather than on bowel movement frequency or consistency. A few small studies and case reports suggest possible benefit when licorice is part of multi-herb preparations, but these do not isolate licorice’s effect. Overall, licorice root’s use for constipation is primarily based on traditional practices, not robust clinical research. Caution is warranted as chronic or high-dose use of licorice can cause side effects such as hypertension and electrolyte imbalances.

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Other ingredients used for Constipation (adults)

Acacia
Actinidin
Aerva lanata
Agar
Agastache
Alexandrian senna
Algae
Allium tuberosum
Almond fruit
Aloe vera
Aloin
alpinia galangal
Amomum
Amor seco
Angelica
anise
anthraquinone
apple
apple cider vinegar
apricot
arabinoxylan
Ardisia
Asam gelugor
asparagus
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylodes
atractylone
Auricularia
avocado
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
bacteria
bael
Baliospermum
banana
baobab
barley
basil
Bassia scoparia
bean
bee products
beet
belleric myrobalan
Bidens pilosa
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
bio ecolian (proprietary)
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
bitter principals
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
blackberry
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
bottle gourd
bran
Brassica
broccoli
Broussonetia
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
Butea monosperma
buttermilk
butternut
butyric acid
bасора
cabbage
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
California chia
cantaloupe
cape aloe
caraway
cardamom
carrot
Carthamus
cascara sagrada
cascaroside
castor oil
cauliflower
cayenne pepper
celery
Celosia
cereal grass
chamomile
chard
Chenopodium
chia seed
chicory
Chinese raisintree
Chinese silkvine
chirata
chlorella
Chondrus
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cinnamon
Citrus
Clostridium butyricum
clove
coconut
coconut milk
coconut oil
colocynth
coriander
cowage seed
cruciferous
cucumber
Cucurbita
cumin
Curcuma
curcumen
currant
curry leaf
Cyclanthera pedata
Cynomorium
dandelion
date
dextrin
dianthrone
Dianthus
dioscorea
dog rose
dragonhead
dulse
dwarf morning glory
Embelia
emblicanin
emodin
endive
enzymes blend (proprietary)
fennel
fiber
fiber blend (proprietary)
Ficus simplicissima
fig
flavonoids
flaxseed
flowering quince
Frangula
fructan
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
fruit
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
fruit blend (proprietary)
fumitory
galactomannan
galactooligosaccharides
Galangal
ganoderma
ginger
ginseng
Glucofrangulin
goji berry
gooseberry
green banana
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
guar gum
Guava
gum
Helicteres isora
hemicellulose
honey
hyacinth bean
hydroxyanthracene derivatives
Hygrophila
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
Jalap
jujube
jungli-bean
kale
karaya gum
Kefir
kiwi
Kohlrabi
Kokilaksha
Konjac
kudzu
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactitol
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus rhamnosus
lemon
lemongrass
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
lodhtree
long pepper
loquat
lotus
lovage
luffa
Lycium
Lycopodium
magnesium
mandarin
mango
Melon
Methylcellulose
Microcos
millet seed
Molasses
Momordica
Morinda
Moringa
Morus
Mucilage
Mugwort
Myrobalan
Natsudaidai
Neem tree
Nettle
Nigella seed
noni
nopal
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
oat
Oligosaccharides
onion
Onosma bracteatum
Operculina turpethum
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
Oroxylum indicum
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
papaya
parsley
paw paw
peach
pear
peony
perilla
Persimmon
Peucedanum
Phaeophyceae
Phellodendron
Phyllanthus
pineapple
Piper retrofractum
Plantago
plantain
plum fruit
Polygonatum
Polygonum
polyphenols
polysaccharides
pomegranate
Portulaca
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
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probiotics
prune
Prunus
psyllium
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
Pyrrosia
quail egg
quince
Quisqualis
radish
raspberry
Rhamnus nakaharai
rhizome
rhubarb
rhubarb root
Rhus coriaria
ricinoleic acid
rockweed
root tuber
rose
Rubiaceae
Rubus
Rumex acetosa
Salvia
Sargassum
sea salt
seaweed
senna
Sennosides
Sete sangrias
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Solanum indicum
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Spelt
Sphaeranthus indicus
spinach
Sterculia
Stereospermum
streptococcus thermophilus
Sumac
sunflower
sweet flag
Swertia
Szechuan lovage
Tamaricaceae
Tamarind
Taraxacin
Taraxacum
Taraxol
Tea
Terminalia
Thaumatococcus daniellii
thyme
Tiger Nut
Tinospora cordifolia
Trichosanthes
Triphala
turmeric
Ulmus
Varuna
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vegetable blend (proprietary)
Vidanga
Violet
Watercress
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
Wheat
Wulinshen
xylooligosaccharides
Yacon
Yellow Dock
Yerba buena
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Zingerone
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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