Licorice candy is generally safe during pregnancy as it contains anise oil, not real licorice. However, licorice root and derivatives should be avoided due to the risk of premature birth or miscarriage, high blood pressure, water retention, and potassium loss. Topical treatments with deglyrrhizinate licorice are considered safe. Licorice’s estrogen-like properties increase the risk for pregnant women and the unborn fetus, and medical professionals advise against its use while breastfeeding.
Whether it is safe to eat licorice when you are pregnant depends on the specific product in question. Licorice candy, for example, is generally safe since the product contains anise oil, rather than real licorice. Anise oil tastes almost identical to black licorice and is commonly used to flavor licorice candy. The actual licorice plant, however, is not safe to eat or otherwise consume during pregnancy.
Used for a variety of medicinal purposes, the root of the licorice plant is commonly sold in herbal stores and through holistic healthcare providers. Commonly, licorice is used to treat sore throats and stomach or digestive problems such as heartburn. Individuals suffering from cough and congestion due to cold or flu can also use licorice as an expectorant. Anecdotal reports suggest that people with chronic fatigue syndrome, liver problems, lupus, and osteoarthritis may also benefit from consuming licorice.
In terms of licorice in pregnancy, these types of herbal remedies are not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. While a relatively safe option to shampoos and other topical preparations, ingesting licorice root or licorice derivatives can cause premature birth or miscarriage. Additional, though milder, concerns include elevated blood pressure, water retention, and hypertonia, a condition that causes potassium levels to drop.
Not only is the use of licorice root in pregnancy a concern, but other herbal blends that may contain licorice should be avoided. Chinese herbalists, for example, often use licorice root to help blend various other herbs, a practice known as “harmonizing.” While the amount of licorice in such concoctions is typically small, the risks associated with licorice in pregnancy are not dependent on dosage. Even a small amount can cause water retention, high blood pressure, or potassium loss in a pregnant woman.
Natural licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which mimics the natural hormones responsible for controlling blood pressure and potassium levels. Some manufacturers offer deglycyrrhizinated licorice, but this type of licorice does not protect women from the risk of premature birth or miscarriage. Topical treatments, such as eczema and psoriasis ointments, containing deglyrrhizinate licorice are, however, considered safe during pregnancy.
Known to mimic hormones like estrogen, licorice is commonly used by some cultures to boost a woman’s fertility. It is the same estrogen-like property that makes licorice in pregnancy so dangerous in terms of premature birth and miscarriage. For pregnant women, the increase in estrogen and similar properties creates a number of potential risks, both for the woman and the unborn fetus. There is insufficient information on the effects of licorice on breast milk, but medical professionals advise against the use of licorice while breastfeeding.
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