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Licorice lowers Testosterone

March 16, 2016 | 4 Comments | SAFM Team

Oh, there are so many excellent remedies out there for hormone balance. But each works in a unique way! So it helps to have a large toolbox. Many of us have female patients/clients who struggle with elevated testosterone, especially post-menopausally. This is often secondary to issues with insulin resistance (which promotes more testosterone synthesis in women). Clinical research shows that licorice root changes hormonal enzyme balance to reduce testosterone (in men too, but that’s another tip/caution for another day). It also has a phytoestrogenic effect which can help with menopausal symptoms and can boost suboptimal cortisol (common in women at this age) and thus help thyroid hormone to be more effective within our cells. Note that this is whole licorice root, not “DGL” or the deglycyrrhizinated kind (though DGL is excellent for GI ailments, especially gastritis). More is not better though! I usually recommend ~400mg twice daily, but start with just ½ of that once daily and build up over ~10 days or so to help you gauge a person’s unique reaction and needs. This might be of interest: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693613/ .

I hope this quick clinical tip serves you and your patients and clients.

Warmly,

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Tracey Powers says:

December 8, 2019 at 8:35 pm

I’ve been following healing intestinal permeability and one of your recommendations is to use DGL and not licorice root. Other than the hypertension being a reason not to use licorice root, why is DGL better/more efficacious than licorice root?

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  SAFM Team says:
  
  December 16, 2019 at 9:19 am
  
  DGL is a generally safer choice over actual licorice root because of the removal of glycyrrhizin there’s no risk of hyperkalemia (lowering of potassium levels) and increasing blood pressure and also because it can cause feelings of anxiety and even heart palpitations in sensitive individuals. A pearl here is that those who have a preference for the 5-alpha androgen break down pathway may be particularly sensitive to the effects of licorice root. Licorice root is also contraindicated during pregnancy. Here are a couple of references that may be of interest to you:
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3498851/
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1412184/
  
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Helena says:

February 19, 2017 at 9:57 am

What about Peony and Licories? I have read and heard it can help to get a regular cycle? If You have PCOS e.g The problem is where to find a good brand and how much and when to take it..If You dont oavulate at all..it is a bit tricky ..looking for som general recommendations. Thanks for This wonderful site so glad I found it.

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  SAFM Team says:
  
  February 27, 2017 at 3:02 pm
  
  You are very welcome. Yes, there is some evidence that chinese peony that help to restore ovulation due to PCOS due to elevated testosterone. And perhaps even that there is a synergistic effect with licorice. However, in my view, I simply don’t think there’s enough science to validate the impact (and to your point, give good guidance on dosage/effect). There are only minimal animal studies e.g. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1897494 , and I know of no human studies. It is indeed mentioned in herbal overviews but more in reference to a “traditional usage” perspective. These may be of value to you http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/6/5/495.pdf and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693613/#A3644R7 .
  
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