Licorice Effects on Menopause and Polycystic Ovary
Licorice
Background
Menopause is a natural biological process in women that happens in their 40s or 50s. In fact, it is the end of menstrual cycles. Menopause has got some symptoms such as:
- Hot flashes
- Changes in mood
- Problems in sleep
- Weight gain
- Dryness in skin
- Sweating
Polycystic ovary is a kind of hormonal disorder in women. It may cause longer menstrual period or excess male hormone. It may disrupt the regular function of eggs and enlarge the ovaries.
There are different chemical and medicinal treatments for menopause symptoms and polycystic ovary. However, there has been a growing tendency towards using herbal medicines. One of these medicinal herbs is licorice.
In this article we focus on licorice effects on menopause and polycystic ovary.
Licorice is a wild plant that is mainly found in south parts of Europe, North Africa and some parts of Asia including Iran. Licorice is a perennial herb which has been consumed in traditional medicine for a long time.
Licorice is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. It can be useful in treatment of bacterial and viral infections. Licorice extract is rich in antioxidants. An active antioxidant (Licochalcone A) is the main ingredient in licorice root extract.
Licorice contains vitamins B and E and minerals such as potassium and magnesium, sterols, amino acids etc. Licorice with the elements of isoflavonoid, flavonoid and saponin is very popular in skincare products. Glycyrrhizin is the main component of licorice. It is the agent of sweetness in licorice.
Licorice Effects on Menopause and Polycystic Ovary
One of the menopausal symptoms is the feeling of sudden warmth in women’s face, neck and chest. The skin becomes red and starts to sweat. This causes a kind of uncomfortable and annoying condition which women constantly complain about. Research on menopausal women indicates that licorice root positively affects reducing hot flashes. the research showed that using licorice decreases the frequency and severity of hot flashes. in menopause women the level of estrogen decreases, as a result hot flash occur. Licorice activates estrogen receptors and increases the hormone level in our body. So, it can inhibit hot flashes.
One study proved that licorice decreases serum testosterone. So, it is a proper remedy for hirsutism and polycystic ovary syndrome. In fact, this problem is the result of an oxidative state leading to dysfunction in ovaries. On the other hand, licorice has got antioxidant features. Research on mice with polycystic ovary showed that using licorice reduces cysts.
Provided by: Sepidan Osareh Jonoob Company
Editor: Meysam Shokripour
References : iranlicorice.com
