Licorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women - treats hirsutism By PCOS Research | Published 05/27/2006 | Alternative Remedies , Hair Loss & Excess Hair | Unrated
Licorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women - treats hirsutismLicorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women.
Armanini D, Mattarello MJ, Fiore C, Bonanni G, Scaroni C, Sartorato P, Palermo M.Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-Endocrinology, University of Padua, Via Ospedale 105, 35100 Padua, Italy. decio.armanini@unipd.itLi
Licorice has been considered a medicinal plant for thousands of years. The most common side effect is hypokalemic hypertension, which is secondary to a block of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 at the level of the kidney, leading to an enhanced mineralocorticoid effect of cortisol. We have investigated the effect of licorice on androgen metabolism in nine healthy women 22-26 years old, in the luteal phase of the cycle. They were given 3.5 g of a commercial preparation of licorice (containing 7.6% W.W. of glycyrrhizic acid) daily for two cycles. They were not on any other treatment. Plasma renin activity, serum adrenal and gonadal androgens, aldosterone, and cortisol were measured by radioimmunoassay. Total serum testosterone decreased from 27.8+/-8.2 to 19.0+/-9.4 in the first month and to 17.5+/-6.4 ng/dL in the second month of therapy (p<0.05). It returned to pre-treatment levels after discontinuation. Androstenedione, 17OH-progesterone, and LH levels did not change significantly during treatment. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone were depressed during therapy, while blood pressure and cortisol remained unchanged.
CONCLUSIONS: Licorice can reduce serum testosterone probably due to the block of 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17-20 lyase.
Licorice could be considered an adjuvant therapy of hirsutism and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Sorry ladies, it's all one blurb... I can't seperate lines on my work PC unless I do quick reply.. which isn't an option for new threads. I will be sure to fix it tonight, but I found it really interesting!
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I imagine that anything that helps to regulate blood sugar (as licorice does), would also help with excess hair, for many women with PCOS.
High blood sugar leads to high insulin levels, which leads to higher testosterone levels, which can lead to higher DHT levels, which then can lead to excess hair growth.
Keeping blood sugars low prevents the chain reaction from ever starting.
Licorice treats hirsutism! 
Nikki!
