Cortisol is a steroid hormone secreted from your adrenal glands during stress. Other important functions of cortisol include stabilizing insulin production, stimulating the conversion of protein to carbohydrate and suppressing inflammation. Low levels of cortisol results in stress, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and nervousness. Some herbs may help lower your stress and increase your cortisol levels. However, be sure to talk to your doctor before using licorice root or other herbal supplements.
About Licorice
Licorice is a perennial herb native to Southern Europe from where it spread to other parts of the world. Its unusual sweetness and strong flavor makes it useful as a food condiment. Because of its medicinal properties, licorice has also found its way into the preparation of nutraceuticals. The root of this plant is used medicinally. Numerous therapeutic properties of licorice are attributed to the compound known as glycyrrhizin that is present in it, says the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC.
Licorice Root and Cortisol
In a study of ten healthy young adult volunteers, researchers saw an increase in serum cortisol levels in subjects taking 500 mg of a standardized licorice extract for ten days. The results of this study, published in "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism" in June 1990, concluded that glycyrrhetinic acid, an active ingredient in licorice root, blocks the enzyme that converts cortisol to cortisone, resulting in higher levels of cortisol.
Other Health Benefits
There is a long tradition for the use of licorice root in the treatment of stomach ulcers, canker sores and eczema. This could be due to its strong anti-inflammatory properties, according to the UMMC. Licorice root may have a mitigating effect on certain types of cancers, according to the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus. It also exhibits antibacterial effects, including inhibition of growth of mycobacteria that are responsible for tuberculosis in humans.
Side Effects
Common mild side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If taken in large amounts for longer periods of time, licorice root can cause high blood pressure, fluid retention and symptoms related to loss of potassium. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests that you should not use licorice root supplements for more than four to six consecutive weeks unless specifically instructed by your doctor. Herb-drug interactions are possible with licorice root. It alters the effects of diuretics and corticosteroids.
References
- Dr. Janet Starr Hull: Cortisol - Is NOT a Nasty Little Hormone; April 2004
- "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism": The Influence of Glycyrrhetinic Acid on Plasma Cortisol and Cortisone in Healthy Young Volunteers; Marius Mackenzie, et al.; June 1990
- MedlinePlus: Licorice
- "International Endodontic Journal"; A Laboratory Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Effect of Liquorice When Used as Root Canal Medicament; A.E. Badr, et al.; January 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Licorice; Steven D. Ehrlich
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Licorice Root
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