Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice root
For the health condition: Acid Indigestion
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long history of use in traditional medicine for gastrointestinal complaints, including acid indigestion, reflux, and gastritis. Modern scientific research has provided some validation for these uses, especially for a specific form known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). DGL has been shown in several small clinical studies and laboratory experiments to promote healing of the gastric and esophageal mucosa, potentially by increasing mucus production, enhancing mucosal blood flow, and reducing inflammation. These effects may help protect the lining of the stomach and esophagus from acid and pepsin, providing symptomatic relief in individuals with acid indigestion and mild reflux symptoms.
A number of studies from the 1970s and 1980s demonstrated that DGL was as effective as some antacids and H2 blockers in alleviating dyspepsia and ulcer-related symptoms. More recent reviews and randomized trials, while limited in scope and quality, support the use of DGL as an adjunct to conventional therapy for non-ulcer dyspepsia and mild GERD. However, evidence is not robust enough to recommend licorice as a first-line therapy. Standard licorice root, which contains glycyrrhizin, can cause serious side effects such as hypertension and hypokalemia with excessive use; thus, DGL is preferred for safety.
In summary, licorice root—specifically its deglycyrrhizinated form—has moderate scientific support (evidence level 3 out of 5) for its use in supporting individuals with acid indigestion, particularly as an adjunct to other therapies.
Other ingredients used for Acid Indigestion
AcaciaAcid protease
Actinidin
Activated charcoal
Agarwood
Agastache
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Algin
Alginic acid
Allspice
Aloe vera
alpinia galangal
American Liverleaf
Amomum
Amor seco
anemarrhena asphodeloides
Angelica
Angostura
anise
Anserina
apple
apple cider vinegar
Arani
Ardisia
arrowroot
artichoke
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylodes
atractylone
bacillus coagulans
bacteria
bael
balloon flower
balsam
banana
barberry
barley
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee products
Belamcanda
belleric myrobalan
bentonite
berberine
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
bicarbonate
Bidens pilosa
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longum
bile salt
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
bitter principals
black cumin
black galingale
black nightshade
black root
black salt
blackberry
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Boerhavia diffusa
boldo
Bombax
borassus palm
borneol
bottle gourd
Broussonetia
buckthorn
Buddha\'s hand
bupleurum falcatum
buttermilk
butternut
bасора
cabbage
cactus
calamus
calcium
Camellia sinensis
cape aloe
capers
caraway
cardamom
carqueja
carvone
cassia bark
cayenne pepper
celery
Centaurium erythraea
centaury
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chamomile
chen pi
chirata
chloride
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
citron
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
Clostridium butyricum
clove
coconut
coconut milk
colocynth
colombo
Coptis chinensis
coriander
costus
cubeb
cucumber
cumin
Curcuma
curcumen
Curcuminoid
curry leaf
dandelion
dill
dragonhead
Echinodorus
emodin
empresstree
English horsemint
enzyme blend
enzymes blend (proprietary)
European five-finger grass
Evodia
false calumba
fennel
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
fiber
fiber blend (proprietary)
flavonones
fleabane
flowering quince
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
Fumaria parviflora
fumitory
fungal enzymes blend (proprietary)
Galangal
gallotannin
Gardenia jasminoides
gentian
gentian root
Gentianella alborosea
Gentianella amarella
ghatti
giant blazingstar
ginger
Glycyrrhetinic acid
goldthread
gooseberry
Greek mountain tea
green banana
green chiretta
Guava
gum
heal-all
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
Hemidesmus
herbal blend (proprietary)
Himalayan salt
honey
honey loquat syrup
horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
Houttuynia
Huang hua
Indian bael
Indian fagonia
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
indigo leaves
iridoids
Javanese Long Pepper
Jurubeba
Kefir
kuding tea
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus salivarius
Large-leaf gentian
lemon
lemongrass
Lesser speargrass
licorice root
limonene
lipase
long pepper
loquat
lotus
lovage
luffa
Lycopodium
mace
magnesium
mallow
manzanita
Marjoram
Marshmallow
Mastic gum
Matapalo Tree
Maytenus ilicifolia
Meadowsweet
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (vitamin U)
Microbial enzymes (proprietary)
Milk
Mint
Momordica
Monoterpenes
Mucilage
Mung bean
Mustard
Myrobalan
Natsudaidai
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
olive
oregano
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
Oryza sativa
Osmanthus
ox bile
papain
papaya
Papayotin
paw paw
peach
pear
Pepper
Pepper Bark Tree
pepsin
Persimmon
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Physalis angulata
Pimpinella
pineapple
Pinellia ternata
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
Plantago
plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
plum fruit
Polygonum
Portulaca
potash
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
prickly ash
probiotics
Propolis
Psacalium peltatum
pumpkin
quassia
Quillaja
quince
radish
raspberry
rhizome
rhubarb
Rhus coriaria
rice
Rooibos
root tuber
rose
rosemary
Rubus
Sassafras
Savory
Scabrous Gentian
sea salt
Self-Heal
Servicetree
Sete sangrias
Shen Qu
shen-chu
Shogaol
Sichuan pepper
Sicklepod
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Smartweed
Solanum indicum
spearmint leaf
Spilanthes
squawvine
Stellaria dichotoma
Stone Root
Sumac
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
Sweet Orange alcohol
Swertia
Szechuan lovage
Tagetes
Tamarind
Tannins
Taraxacum
Tarragon
Tea
Terminalia
Tinospora cordifolia
Triphala
Tulbaghia
turmeric
Ulmus
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
Vidanga
Violet
Wasabi
Wax Gourd
White oak
Wulinshen
Yerba buena
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
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
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
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
Nature's Sunshine Gastro Health
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Hepatic System
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
