Licorice Root For PCOS: Benefits, Risks & Practical Tips

Written by Martina S. in Nutrition

Licorice root has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy but can this herb also help manage PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and reduce its symptoms? That’s what you’ll find out in this article based on the latest evidence as well as my personal experience.

It is well recognized that lifestyle and dietary changes can be an effective PCOS management strategy which also includes the use of herbs and other natural supplements. If you’d like to know more about the effects of other lifestyle factors, make sure you read my previous article ‘How To Treat PCOS Naturally (Science-Based Guidelines)’.

Since the use of herbal medicine and nutritional supplements is poorly regulated, it is important to be aware of any potential risks associated with the consumption of licorice and how to use it safely for PCOS.

What is licorice?

Licorice is made from the root of the Licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) and was traditionally used as medicine. It has a strong slightly sweet flavor which is why it’s also commonly added to food as a natural sweetener and flavoring agent. While licorice root has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy to treat various symptoms, it now also appears to be effective in the treatment of PCOS.

Benefits of licorice root for PCOS:

  • Decreased androgens
  • Adrenal glands support
  • Weight loss
  • Anti-inflammatory effects

✓ Decreased androgen levels

One of the greatest benefits of licorice root in relation to PCOS is probably its hormone-balancing properties. Licorice root has been shown to have anti-androgenic effects in women with PCOS as the herb was able to significantly decrease the levels of testosterone in the studied subjects. 

Since hyperandrogenism (high levels of androgens – the ‘male’ hormones) is the main feature of PCOS, the consumption of licorice could, therefore, help reduce some of its common symptoms.

According to several studies, it may be particularly beneficial in the treatment of hirsutism (abnormal hair growth) which is a typical PCOS symptom caused by elevated androgens.

✓ Adrenal glands support

Another great thing about licorice root is its ability to support adrenal glands that are mainly responsible for the regulation of hormones involved in stress and energy levels. If you suffer from adrenal fatigue and constant low energy levels (as many women with PCOS do), adding some licorice into your diet could be particularly beneficial.

That’s because licorice has been shown to help regulate cortisol levels by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of cortisol. Therefore, it may help keep your energy levels up and perhaps better cope with stressful situations.

✓ Weight loss

There is also evidence suggesting that licorice root may be beneficial for weight loss and weight management due to its appetite-suppressing properties. This can be especially helpful for those who constantly experience cravings and uncontrollable hunger due to PCOS hormone imbalances.

I’ve written a whole article on this topic ‘PCOS Cravings: How To Reduce Appetite & Excessive Hunger’ where I share more scientific evidence and practical tips on how to manage it. 

One of the effective strategies is including some natural appetite suppressants in your diet and licorice works wonders for this purpose (at least for me). The great thing is that you consume licorice in many different forms (tea, extracts, powders) so it can be easily added to your diet and kept always on hand.

Licorice tea can also be used as a replacement for some high-calorie drinks (such as sodas and juices) since it’s extremely low in calories (2-4 kcal/cup) but at the same time, it’s naturally sweet and tasty.

✓ Anti-inflammatory effects

Licorice also contains multiple powerful bioactive compounds (such as flavonoids, isoflavones) but it’s particularly rich in glycyrrhizin which is believed to have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects.

For this reason, the consumption of licorice may also help decrease inflammation, reduce digestive upsets and prevent the development of some diseases. Since inflammation and oxidative stress are two major contributors to the development and progress of PCOS, the consumption of licorice root may help reverse some of its outcomes.

Additionally, the effects of glycyrrhizin also appear to protect the liver from several endocrine-disrupting toxins which is why it could help maintain hormonal balance in women with PCOS.

Disadvantages of licorice root for PCOS:

  • Overdose
  • Pregnancy
  • Drug interaction

✕ Overdose

When it comes to using licorice root for PCOS it is extremely important that you don’t consume too much as excessive amounts can be toxic to your body.

Too much glycyrrhizin (found in licorice) has been linked to abnormally high cortisol levels that may trigger a series of other serious problems including fluid and electrolyte imbalances, muscle weakness, high blood pressure and potentially heart and kidney failure.

While it is considered rare to become poisoned as a result of licorice overdose, it is clear that consuming more of it doesn’t necessarily mean getting more benefits. Therefore, you should be mindful of your overall licorice intake and consume it in moderation.

If you suffer from high blood pressure and heart problems, you may need to avoid the consumption of licorice altogether (please, always consult with your doctor).

✕ Pregnancy

Consuming high amounts of licorice (containing glycyrrhizin) during pregnancy is also not recommended as it may increase the risk of brain impairments in the baby. Therefore, if you’re currently pregnant or breastfeeding you may need to limit your licorice intake to a minimum.

✕ Drug interaction

Due to the strong medicinal properties of licorice root, it’s been shown to interact with several types of medication which is why it’s so important to always seek medical advice before incorporating new herbal remedies and dietary supplements into your diet.

Best types of licorice root for PCOS:

  • Licorice root tea
  • Licorice root powder
  • Licorice root extract/ tincture
  • Licorice root supplement
  • Licorice root hard candy (100%)

One of the advantages of licorice is that it comes in many different forms so you can choose the one that fits your preferences best. They all differ in terms of their processing method, quality, taste and use so you may want to consider a couple of important factors.

Whether you opt for using a pure licorice root (to make tea) or choose a different form (powder, extract, tincture, supplement, candy) it is important to ensure it’s a high-quality product to maximize its beneficial effects and minimize any potential risks.

I highly suggest you look for licorice products certified organic regardless of their form. This ensures that the herb was grown and produced without the use of pesticides, herbicides and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

For the preparation of tea, it is generally better to use whole licorice roots (loose tea) since the content of teabags is more difficult to control and it can often contain a variety of other unwanted items (such as sand and dust) in some lower-quality brands.

When it comes to other forms of licorice (powder, extract, supplement) it is important to check for other ingredients in the products since some forms (eg. hard candies) may contain extra sugar or other food additives. However, you’ll be able to find licorice products in all forms that are made from 100% organic licorice (some of my favorite are listed later in the post).

Is licorice root good for PCOS?

In general, licorice root can be considered good for women with PCOS due to its multiple health benefits important for the management of this condition. The consumption of licorice may help decrease androgen levels, support adrenal glands, reduce inflammation and promote weight loss.

DGL licorice for PCOS

The effects of DGL (deglycyrrhizinated) licorice on PCOS are not currently known, however, they might be different from the regular licorice. Since the content of glycyrrhizin is either decreased or removed from the DGL licorice supplement, its positive effects on PCOS may also be reduced.

Licorice root and white peony for PCOS

Licorice root and white poney is a common herbal formula for PCOS originating in traditional Chinese medicine. According to research, the combination of licorice with peony may be particularly beneficial for balancing hormones, decreasing androgens and improving fertility in women with PCOS.

Best licorice products for PCOS:

These are some of my favorite licorice products and brands that worked for me and hopefully will benefit you, too. I personally prefer licorice in the form of hard candy (which is 100% licorice extract) since I just love the taste and it’s a good alternative to regular candy (although this type might be more challenging to find outside of Europe). You can also make great homemade licorice candies from licorice powder that is generally more accessible.

How to use licorice root for PCOS:

Licorice root can be easily incorporated into a diet in many different ways and forms. Depending on the type and brand of licorice products, the effects on PCOS may vary. However, there are some general recommendations based on the research findings that may be followed to maximize the positive effects.

How much licorice to take for PCOS?

As a general rule, women with PCOS should consume between 1-5 g of licorice or one cup of licorice root tea per day to achieve the most health benefits. However, the optimal dosage of licorice for PCOS may differ between individuals depending on their personal circumstances.

When is the best time to drink licorice tea for PCOS?

The best time to drink licorice tea for PCOS appears to be after meals since it may help relieve digestive upsets and suppress appetite. However, licorice tea can be consumed at any time of the day as it’s naturally caffeine-free and therefore won’t cause any sleep disturbances.

How to use licorice powder for PCOS?

Licorice powder (Mulethic) can be used for PCOS on a daily basis when consumed in the right amounts (1-5g per day). The powder can be added straight into recipes as a natural sweetener and flavoring agent but it may be consumed in a form of tea or mixed into a drink.

How to make licorice root tea for PCOS:

  1. Pick a high-quality licorice tea of your choice
  2. Place dried or powdered licorice into a cup (via infuser, filter or teabag)
  3. Boil fresh water to 100 degrees
  4. Pour 1 cup of freshly boiled water into your prepared cup
  5. Let it brew for 5-10 minutes
  6. Enjoy on its own or add a sweetener of choice

Practical tips:

  • Drink licorice tea hot & cold – licorice tea tastes great not only as a hot beverage but it’s also great cold, especially in the summertime when you can keep it in your fridge and replace with it some of the high-calorie sugary drinks and sodas
  • Make licorice tea blends – try mixing licorice tea with other PCOS-friendly herbs of your choice to create even better flavor and get additional health benefits, you can make your own tea blends at home or in your local herbal store or find some already pre-made tea products, you can find a complete list of the best herbs and teas for PCOS here ‘What Type Of Tea Is Best For PCOS? (The Ultimate Guide)‘
  • Use licorice powder for baking – adding licorice powder into recipes and making delicious treats and desserts is a great way to add some extra nutrients into your diet, it can also be used as a natural sweetener
  • Add licorice into smoothies – both licorice powder or licorice tea (in liquid form) can be easily added into your smoothies and smoothie bowls if you’re short on time or want to try something new
  • Re-infuse your licorice roots – if you have a high-quality and aromatic licorice roots (whole herb), you can actually re-use the roots to make more tea from one portion, it’s important not to brew the tea for too long (approx. 5 mins) so you can re-infuse the herb with more hot water later
  • Try 100% licorice hard candy – since licorice is naturally sweet and very flavorsome, you can find delicious hard candies made from 100% licorice with no additives and it tastes great, it’s also a great natural appetite suppressant (in case of cravings) you can keep on hand at all time

Resources:

  • Arentz, S., Abbott, J. A., Smith, C. A., & Bensoussan, A. (2014). Herbal medicine for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and associated oligo/amenorrhoea and hyperandrogenism; a review of the laboratory evidence for effects with corroborative clinical findings. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14, 511. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-511
  • Armanini, D., Mattarello, M. J., Fiore, C., Bonanni, G., Scaroni, C., Sartorato, P., & Palermo, M. (2004). Licorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women. Steroids, 69(11-12), 763–766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.steroids.2004.09.005
  • Deutch, M. R., Grimm, D., Wehland, M., Infanger, M., & Krüger, M. (2019). Bioactive Candy: Effects of Licorice on the Cardiovascular System. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 8(10), 495. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8100495
  • ​​Grant, P., & Ramasamy, S. (2012). An update on plant derived anti-androgens. International journal of endocrinology and metabolism, 10(2), 497–502. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.3644
  • Luís, Â., Domingues, F., & Pereira, L. (2018). Metabolic changes after licorice consumption: A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of clinical trials. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 39, 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2017.12.010
  • Omar, H. R., Komarova, I., El-Ghonemi, M., Fathy, A., Rashad, R., Abdelmalak, H. D., Yerramadha, M. R., Ali, Y., Helal, E., & Camporesi, E. M. (2012). Licorice abuse: time to send a warning message. Therapeutic advances in endocrinology and metabolism, 3(4), 125–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/2042018812454322
  • Räikkönen, K., Pesonen, A. K., Heinonen, K., Lahti, J., Komsi, N., Eriksson, J. G., Seckl, J. R., Järvenpää, A. L., & Strandberg, T. E. (2009). Maternal licorice consumption and detrimental cognitive and psychiatric outcomes in children. American journal of epidemiology, 170(9), 1137–1146. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwp272
  • Sadinpour, A., Seyedi, Z. S., Arabdolatabadi, A., Razavi, Y., & Ajdary, M. (2020). The synergistic effect of Paeonia spp and Glycyrrhiza glabra on polycystic ovary induced in mice. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 33(4), 1665–1670. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33583800/
  • Wang, L., Yang, R., Yuan, B., Liu, Y., & Liu, C. (2015). The antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice, a widely-used Chinese herb. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B, 5(4), 310–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2015.05.005
  • Wang, L., Yang, R., Yuan, B., Liu, Y., & Liu, C. (2015). The antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice, a widely-used Chinese herb. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B, 5(4), 310–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2015.05.005
    Yang, H., Kim, H. J., Pyun, B. J., & Lee, H. W. (2018). Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats. Integrative medicine research, 7(3), 264–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2018.05.003

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