Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice root
For the health condition: Infection

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been traditionally used in various systems of medicine, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, to treat infections and inflammatory conditions. However, beyond its traditional use, modern scientific research has demonstrated that licorice root contains several bioactive compounds—most notably glycyrrhizin and liquiritigenin—that exhibit antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. In vitro studies have shown that glycyrrhizin can inhibit the replication of certain viruses, including hepatitis viruses and herpes simplex virus. Additionally, licorice extracts have demonstrated antibacterial effects against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, though these effects are generally modest compared to standard antibiotics.

Despite these promising findings, most of the evidence comes from laboratory research or animal models, with fewer high-quality clinical trials in humans. Some small studies have suggested potential benefits in treating peptic ulcers and upper respiratory tract infections, but larger, well-controlled studies are lacking. Overall, licorice root’s use for infection is supported by both tradition and emerging scientific data, particularly for viral infections, but the clinical evidence remains preliminary. Caution is needed due to potential side effects, especially with long-term or high-dose use, such as hypertension and hypokalemia.

More about licorice root
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Other ingredients used for Infection

2'-Fucosyllactose
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Abrus
Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Aerva lanata
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agave
AHCC
Ajoene
Alantolactone
Alchornea
Alkylglycerols
Allicin
Alliin
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
alpha-humulene
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
Alstonia macrophylla
Alstonia scholaris
amber
American Liverleaf
Ampelopsis
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
animal protein
annatto
apple cider vinegar
Aquilegia viridiflora
arabinogalactan
Ardisia
artesunate
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
astragalus
aucubin
Aureobasidium pullulans
avens
babchi
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
Backhousia citriodora
bacteria
balsam
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barbary matrimony vine
Barleria
Basidiomycota
bayberry
bearberry
bee pollen
bee propolis
Beef liver
Belamcanda
benzyl isothiocyanate
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
beta-glucan
betel
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium infantis
bignay
birch
bisabolene
bitter principals
black nightshade
black pepper
black root
black walnut
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
boneset
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
Bupleurum
burdock
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
calamus
caprylic acid
cardamom
carvacrol
cassava
cassia bark
cat's claw
catechu
celandine
Celastrus
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
chaga mushroom
chervil
Chiococca alba
chirata
Chlorophytum
Cinchona
Cistus
citral
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocklebur
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
Coptis chinensis
coriolus mushroom
corktree
croton seeds
cubeb
cuspidatum root
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynodon dactylon
dense fruit dittany
deoxyandrographolides
dialyzable leukocyte extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Echinodorus
elderberry
elephant\'s head
Embelia
English horsemint
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
European Elder
fang-feng
fern
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figwort
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
fucoidan
furans
Galbanum
Gallesia
genipap
geranial
geraniol
ginger
Globulins
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Glucanase
glyceryl monolaurate
Golden Willow
goldenseal
Graviola
green chiretta
Guazuma ulmifolia
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Humic acid
Hygrophila
hyssop
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
Indian coraltree
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian nightshade
iodine
Isoalantolactone
judastree
Kefiran
knotgrass
Kochia
L. lactis
Labdanum
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus lactis
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Lantana camara
Lapachol
lauric acid
Lentinan
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
lime
liverwort
Lomatium
Lophira lanceolata
Lysimachia
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
malabar nut
Malva sylvestris
mangosteen
mangostin
manzanita
Marsh Tea
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Microtea debilis
Milk Protein
Mondo grass
Monolaurin
Moringa
Mormon Tea
Mountain horopito
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naphthoquinones
Neem tree
Neoandrographolides
Nymphaea nouchali
Oldenlandia diffusa
oregon grape
oriental arborvitae
Osha
paederia foetida
pagoda tree
Pareira
Patrinia
pau d'arco
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pelargonium
Pellitory
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Phellodendron
phlorotannins
Phragmites
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
Piperine
pistacia integerrima gall
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
pogoda tree
Pokeweed
Polygonum
Polyporus
polysaccharides
Portulaca
Premna
prickly ash
probiotics
protein
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Quisqualis
ravinsara
red root
reishi mushroom
Rhabdosia rubescens
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
Sandalwood
Sandy Everlasting
Sanguisorba
Sarcandra glabra
sarsaparilla
Savory
schizonepeta
Schizophyllum commune
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
sea salt
selenium
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Simaruba
Siphoviridae
Skunkvine
Smoketree
Solanum anguivi
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Spilanthes
Spiny Restharrow
spirulina
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
streptococcus thermophilus
Streptomyces
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sumac
sweet wormwood
Swertia
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turmeric
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Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Verbascoside
Verbena
Veronica
vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Waltheria ovata
Wasabi
Water Pepper
White oak
Winter Begonia
Xanthorrhizol
Yellow Nut Sedge
Yellow root
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba santa
Zinc
Zingerone

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