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
alpha-pineneapple
waterhyssop
bamboo
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta caryophyllene
beta-pinene
betel
bisabolol
black cumin
black pepper
Indian frankincense
bасора
caffeine
capsaicinoids
carrot
chen pi
cinnamon
citrus oil
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
clove
coconut milk
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
turmeric
curcumin
echinacea purpurea
fennel
garlic bulb
ginger
ginseng
glehnia root
goldenseal
gooseberry
greek mountain tea
onion
heartwood
hemp oil
horseradish
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian tinospora
honeysuckle
jujube
kudzu
l-cysteine
lactoperoxidase
lemon
licorice root
lovage
magnesium
marshmallow
mastic gum
milk
moringa
mustard seed
spruce
ophiopogon root
orange
oregano
oregon grape
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
phenolic acids
plantain
platycodon root
plum fruit
pollen
polygala root
quail egg
rhizome
sage
schizonepeta
scrophularia root
serratiopeptidase
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sphaeranthus indicus
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triphala
vitamin C
seaweed
zhejiang fritillary
squawvine
boneset
mullein
tangerine
xanthium (cockleburs)
hyssop
cardamom
papaya
shen-chu
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mugwort
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nut grass
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
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ferula assafoetida
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anise
pistacia integerrima gall
commiphora
tinospora cordifolia
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chaff flower
lingusticum wallichii
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prickly ash
fritillaria
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myrrh
yerba santa
elecampane
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chrysanthemum
siler root
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oriental arborvitae
zanthoxylum
polyphenols
fulvic acid
eucalyptus
menthol oil
aster root
paw paw
horehound
herbal blend (proprietary)
indigo leaves
cayenne pepper
soursop
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
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Aralia
Avens
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Anthraquinone
Ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
acacia
Allicin
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Andrographolide
Adrenergic amines
Aerva lanata
American Liverleaf
Asam gelugor
Adrenaline
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Asteracea
allyl isothiocyanate
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Bee Propolis
Black Seed
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Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Black spruce
Broussonetia
Bulnesia sarmientoi
Blepharis
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Boswellic Acid
Bayleaf
Black galingale
Barleria
Bitter Grass
Bougainvillea
Bisabolene
Bee hive
Bael
berry
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bioflavonoids
black salt
Bee products
Black Nightshade
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Borassus Palm
Buddha's Hand
Borassus aethiopum
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Borage
Bupleurum
Bacillus
Bittersweet
benzyl isothiocyanate
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Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
Borneol
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Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Caryophyllene
Cinnamomum
Codonopsis
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Capillary Artemisia
Citron
Curcuminoid
Carry Me Seed
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Cajuput
Chinese Raisintree
Chlorophytum
Cowherb
Curcumen
Citral
Cinidium
Centipeda
Cubeb
Curcuma
cypress
Cowslip
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Chinatree
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
cola nut
Cynanchum
Clerodendrum indicum
Cade Juniper
Culvers Root
Chondrus
Dianthus
Dragonhead
Deoxyandrographolides
David's Milkberry
Diterpenes
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
European Elder
Eclipta
Echinacea
Echinodorus
Elephant's Head
Goldthread
Garlic
Galangal
Iris
Lotus
Little ironweed
Mustard
Mallow
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Poppy
Sandalwood
Squash
Sumac
Theophylline
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by licorice root
Abdominal PainAbrasions
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
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 (30 Day Program)
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
