Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice root
For the health condition: Lungs (fluid in)

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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 Chinese medicine (TCM) and other herbal systems as a remedy to support lung health, particularly in conditions with excessive phlegm or "fluid in the lungs." In TCM, licorice is considered a harmonizing herb that moistens the lungs, soothes sore throats, and helps resolve coughs and phlegmy congestion. It is often included in multi-herb formulas for bronchitis, cough, and other respiratory complaints characterized by excess mucus or "dampness." The purported mechanism in traditional frameworks involves its sweet and neutral properties, which are believed to tonify Qi and clear heat and toxins while reducing inflammation in the airways.

From a scientific standpoint, licorice contains compounds such as glycyrrhizin and liquiritin, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, demulcent, and expectorant activities in laboratory and some animal studies. These actions could theoretically support lung health by soothing irritated tissues and promoting the clearance of mucus. However, robust clinical trials specifically evaluating licorice root’s efficacy for treating fluid in the lungs (such as pulmonary edema or severe congestion) are lacking. Most scientific support is indirect or based on its effects in milder respiratory conditions like cough or bronchitis. Thus, while traditional use is well-established, modern evidence for its specific effect on significant lung fluid accumulation is limited.

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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)
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Bronchitis
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Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Chicken Pox
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Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
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Colic (adults)
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Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
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Constipation (adults)
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Cough (damp)
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Cough (general)
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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
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Goiter
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Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
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Hangover
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Lungs (fluid in)
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Poison Ivy or Oak
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