Licorice & Adrenal Function

Adrenal glands are part of the human endocrine system, and one of these small but critical glands lies atop each kidney. The adrenal glands can become fatigued or exhausted as a result of any type of stress, such as chronic illness, overwork and inadequate sleep, and it can take months or years to recover from adrenal fatigue. Recovery involves numerous factors, including sleep, rest, nutrition, lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements. Licorice root is one of several herbs that play a key role in adrenal healing.

Symptoms

Adrenal fatigue can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, although it is relatively common, especially given the prevalence of stressful lifestyles. Symptoms include fatigue, challenges getting up in the morning, salt craving, depression, brain fog, memory problems, inability to handle stress and irritability. Numerous home tests, such as blood pressure measurements taken when lying down and then when standing up, serve as useful preliminary diagnosis tools. A saliva cortisol test, which you complete at home, can confirm an adrenal fatigue diagnosis by measuring cortisol hormone levels throughout the day. You can order this test yourself or obtain it through a health practitioner.

Treatment

Once diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, you can use licorice root herb as a treatment. "The herb best known for supporting adrenal function is licorice," according to James L. Wilson, N.D., D.C., in his book "Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome." "Licorice is an anti-stress herb known to increase energy, endurance and vitality and act as a mild tonic," he elaborates. Wilson also states that this herb can improve cortisol levels, which tend to be suppressed when adrenal fatigue is present. Cortisol is a crucial hormone for stress and adrenal fatigue.

Format and Usage

Licorice herb is available as a tea, liquid tincture or in capsules. You can buy it over the counter at health food stores or at online nutritional supplement stores. Wilson recommends tea as the preferable way to take licorice. A natural health practitioner can give guidance on whether licorice would be helpful for you. He can also recommend the amount to use, but in general, it is best to start with a lower dosage and follow the instructions listed on the herb's packaging.

Precautions

"There has been some concern that licorice increases blood pressure," according to Wilson. However, you would have to use a relatively large quantity of licorice to introduce such a risk, Wilson states, and he suggests blood pressure monitoring as a way to manage this. He also says that people with adrenal fatigue more often have low blood pressure than high. You can purchase a blood pressure monitor to conveniently use at home.