Licorice and Pregnancy and Hair Loss and Everything Else.

Licorice and Pregnancy and Hair Loss and Everything Else.

A recent study with eight-year-olds showed those whose mothers ate licorice while pregnant, had levels of the hormone cortisol up to a third higher than those whose mothers never. This has sparked several warnings for pregnant women to take care when eating liquorice, namely because cortisol is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Licorice or liquorice as it is known in the U.K. is a legume native to Southern Europe and part of Asia. The root of the plant has been used for more than 4000 years, producing a sweet glycyrrhizic tasting material, as well as Glabridin. These medicinal plants were used as flavourings, sweeteners and as herbal medicines.

However it is the glycyrrhizic acid which is the most studied active constituent of licorice and used in many topical preparations due to its anti-inflammation, anti-ulcer, and antivirus properties.

For example:

Medicinal Uses
It is used as a major therapeutic agent to treat chronic viral hepatitis and allergic dermatitis.  Also used as a chest expectorant because of its steroid actions, is able to ease chest irritation and spasms.

Glabridin has been reported to aid  antimicrobial activity, estrogenic and anti-proliferative activity against breast cancer cells.

Cosmetic Uses
The antibacterial properties make it particularly suitable for use in deodorant. It is also used to help reduce UV absorption, relieve inflammation, prevent bacterial growth and reduce the appearance of skin discoloration.  Therefore can be found in many skin preparations aimed at soothing dry, irritated skin.

Hair Loss
Due to its ability to regulate estrogen hormone level, it has also been found to be helpful in hair loss restoration. Conversely, a study using rats proved this acid to be also effective in halting hair growth, giving rise to speculation about a different form of epilator.

Side Effects
However, with most treatments there are also side effects the most common being an association with high blood pressure and water retention due to the reduced cortisol metabolism.

So given all the research, that innocent piece of licorice may not be all it seems.