Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice root
For the health condition: Bronchitis
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, for respiratory ailments including bronchitis. In these traditions, licorice root is valued for its soothing, demulcent, and expectorant properties—meaning it is believed to help soothe irritated mucous membranes, loosen phlegm, and make coughs more productive. The herb has sometimes been included in herbal blends or teas prescribed for bronchial inflammation and coughs. Modern scientific evidence supporting licorice root’s efficacy for bronchitis is limited and primarily comes from in vitro studies or animal models, which suggest anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial activities of its constituents such as glycyrrhizin and liquiritin. Some small-scale human studies and clinical trials have explored licorice extracts for sore throat and cough, with mixed results. However, robust, high-quality clinical trials specifically evaluating licorice root for bronchitis in humans are lacking. Overall, licorice root’s use for bronchitis is primarily justified by tradition, with some mechanistic scientific rationale but insufficient direct clinical evidence. Patients should also be aware of possible side effects, such as hypertension and hypokalemia, especially with prolonged use or high doses.
Other ingredients used for Bronchitis
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dioneAbrus
Acacia
Aconite
Adenophora
Adrenergic amines
Aerva lanata
Agastache
Albizia
Alchornea
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allyl isothiocyanate
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
amber
ambergris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Anamarrhena
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
anthraquinone
apple
Aralia
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
ash
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylone
avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacteria
bael
balloon flower
balsam
bamboo
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee hive
bee pollen
bee products
bee propolis
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
benzyl isothiocyanate
Bergenia
bermuda grass
berry
beta caryophyllene
beta-pinene
betel
Bidens pilosa
bioflavonoids
bird\'s nest
bisabolene
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
bittersweet
black cumin
black galingale
black nightshade
black pepper
black salt
black seed
Black spruce
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
boneset
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
Bougainvillea
Broussonetia
buckthorn
Buddha\'s hand
Bulnesia sarmientoi
Bupleurum
bасора
cade juniper
caffeine
cajuput
calamus
capillary artemisia
capsaicin
capsaicinoids
capsicum
cardamom
carrot
carry me seed
caryophyllene
cayenne pepper
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
Chekiang Fritillary
chen pi
chinatree
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Chlorophytum
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cineole
Cinidium
cinnamaldehyde
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citral
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Citrus
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Clerodendrum indicum
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clove
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Codonopsis
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cola nut
coltsfoot
commiphora
Coptis chinensis
costus
cowage seed
cowherb
cowslip
cubeb
culvers Root
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
curry leaf
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cynanchum
cypress
David\'s milkberry
deoxyandrographolides
Desmodium
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Dichrostachys glomerata
dioscorea
diterpenes
dodder
dragonhead
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Echinodorus
Eclipta
elecampane
elephant\'s head
Ephedra
ephedrine
Erythropalum scandens
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
eugenol
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Elder
European five-finger grass
Evodia
fang-feng
fat liver oil
fennel
fern
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
Ficus religiosa
Ficus simplicissima
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavonoids
flavonones
fleabane
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
frankincense
fringed pink
fritillaria
fritillary
fulvic acid
fungus
Galangal
Galbanum
Gallesia
gallic acid
gallotannin
gamma-terpinene
garden cress
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic
garlic bulb
giant blazingstar
ginger
ginseng
Glechoma hederacea
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycoside
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
Gnaphalium
goldenseal
goldthread
gooseberry
Greek mountain tea
Grindelia
Guaco
Guava
Guazuma ulmifolia
Gumweed
hazelnut
heal-all
Heartsease
heartwood
Hederacoside
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
hemp
hemp oil
Hempnettle
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
Himalaya berry
Homalomena
honey
honey loquat syrup
honeydew
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horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
Houttuynia
Huang hua
hyacinth bean
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hyssop
Ilex
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Indian frankincense
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
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indigo leaves
inula racemosa
iridoid glycosides
iridoids
Iris
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isoquinoline alkaloids
Ivy
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
Kachnar
Khella
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kudzu
L-cysteine
Labdanum
labrador tea
Lactoperoxidase
Laggera pterodonta
Large-leaved linden
Lebbek
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
lime
Lindera
Litsea
little ironweed
liverwort
lodhtree
long pepper
loquat
Loranthus
lotus
lovage
luffa
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Lycium
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
mace
magnesium
Maidenhair Fern
malabar nut
mallow
Malva sylvestris
marigold
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Milk
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Mustard
mustard seed
Myrrh
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Nimbidin
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
onion
Onosma bracteatum
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
orchid
oregano
oregon grape
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
Osha
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
Palmyra
papaya
Paris polyphylla
paw paw
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Pelargonium
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Pepper
perilla
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phenolic compounds
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Physalis angulata
Pimpinella
Pinellia ternata
Piper chaba
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pistacia integerrima gall
Plantago
plantain
Platycodon
platycodon root
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
plum fruit
pollen
Polygala
polygala root
Polygonatum
Polygonum
polyphenols
poppy
Portulaca
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
Propolis
Prunus
Pyrrosia
quail egg
Quisqualis
ravinsara
rhizome
Rhododendron
ricinoleic acid
Rosa laevigata
Rosabin
rue
sage
Sagebrush
Salvia
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
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schizonepeta
scrophularia root
seaweed
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Self-Heal
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Serrapeptase
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Sida cordifolia
siler root
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Smartweed
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Spanish Needle
Spantholobus
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Sphaeranthus indicus
spruce
squawvine
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stellaria dichotoma
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Sumac
Sundew
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
sweetgums
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tagetes
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thyme
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turmeric
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Umckalin
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Varuna
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Veronica
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vitamin C
Vladimiria souliei
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Waterhyssop
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Winter Savory
Wulinshen
Xanthine
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
zhejiang fritillary
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by licorice root
Abdominal PainAbrasions
Acid Indigestion
Acne
Addictions (tobacco smoking or chewing)
Addison's Disease
Adenitis
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
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Lungs (fluid in)
Lyme Disease
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Malaria
Mastitis
Measles
Menopause
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Menstruation (scant)
Mental Illness
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Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
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Nephritis
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Oral Surgery
Ovarian Pain
Overacidity
Pertussis
Pleurisy
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Rashes and Hives
Rosacea
Adrenal Fatigue
Abscesses
Addictions (general remedies for)
PMS (general)
Sore Throat
Ulcers
Products containing licorice root
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine Anti-Gas (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Anti-Gas TCM
Nature's Sunshine Bronchial Formula (Ayurvedic)
Nature's Sunshine Breathe Activator TCM (formerly Breathe E-Z)
Nature's Sunshine C-X
Nature's Sunshine Combination CBG Extract
Nature's Sunshine Chinese TCM Positive Pack
Nature's Sunshine Chinese TCM Negative Pack
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Energ-V Capsules
Nature's Sunshine Female Comfort
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Nature's Sunshine HY-C
Nature's Sunshine HY-C TCM
Nature's Sunshine IF-C
Nature's Sunshine IF-C TCM
Nature's Sunshine Immune System
Nature's Sunshine Kidney Activator TCM
Nature's Sunshine Kidney Activator (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine LB Extract
Nature's Sunshine Lower Bowel Stimulator (Formerly LBS II)
Nature's Sunshine LBS II
Nature's Sunshine Licorice Root
Nature's Sunshine Licorice Root Extract
Nature's Sunshine Liver Balance (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Liver Balance TCM
Nature's Sunshine Lung Support (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Lung Support TCM
Nature's Sunshine Magnesium
Nature's Sunshine Master Gland Formula®
Nature's Sunshine Mineral-Chi Tonic (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Mood Elevator (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Mood Elevator TCM
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Chi TCM
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Pro-Pancreas Formula
Nature's Sunshine PS II
Nature's Sunshine Psyllium Hulls Combo
Nature's Sunshine Red Beet Root Formula
Nature's Sunshine Respiratory System
Nature's Sunshine SF
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Spleen Activator (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Spleen Activator TCM
Nature's Sunshine Stomach Comfort (Chewable)
Nature's Sunshine Stress Relief
Nature's Sunshine Stress Relief TCM
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Tiao He Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Trigger Immune (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Trigger Immune TCM
Nature's Sunshine Ultimate GreenZone
Nature's Sunshine Ultimate Greenzone
Nature's Sunshine VS-C
Nature's Sunshine VS-C
Nature's Sunshine VS-C® TCM
Nature's Sunshine Women's X-Action
