Evidence supporting the use of: Licorice
For the health condition: Adrenal Fatigue

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine systems, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, where it is believed to support the adrenal glands and help with symptoms sometimes associated with "adrenal fatigue", such as fatigue, stress, and low energy. The traditional rationale is tied to licorice's ability to prolong the half-life of cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, by inhibiting the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which normally converts active cortisol to inactive cortisone.

However, the concept of "adrenal fatigue" itself is not recognized as a valid medical diagnosis in conventional medicine, and there is limited direct scientific evidence supporting licorice's use for this specific condition. Some clinical and laboratory studies do show that licorice can raise cortisol levels and has mild glucocorticoid-like and mineralocorticoid-like effects, which could, in theory, provide temporary symptomatic relief in people with true adrenal insufficiency (like Addison’s disease), but not in "adrenal fatigue" as popularly described. Most evidence supporting licorice for adrenal support is anecdotal or extrapolated from its traditional use and pharmacology rather than from rigorous clinical trials.

It is important to note that excessive licorice consumption can cause serious side effects, including hypertension, hypokalemia, and edema, due to its mineralocorticoid effects. Thus, while traditional use exists, scientific backing for licorice in "adrenal fatigue" is weak, leading to a low evidence rating.

More about Licorice
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