| During the last month of your pregnancy, you | | | | |
| might feel miserable with your skin feeling | | | | Pharmacists have known the effects of natural |
| like it will just burst away with all that | | | | licorice for long. As natural licorice and |
| baby pressure. Clinging to your due date, | | | | the chemical glycyrrhizin tend to cause |
| like a shining beacon of hope and comfort, | | | | contractions of the uterus, it has been used |
| could be the reason for keeping you going. | | | | to bring on labor when the pregnancy becomes |
| But if your 40 weeks passes by without any | | | | overdue. Actually, some pharmacists might |
| signs, you might be ready to try anything to | | | | even recommend licorice instead of castor oil |
| bring on labor. | | | | when you are buying something to bring on |
| | | | labor. |
| You must have heard that remedies, such as | | | | |
| castor oil, sexual intercourse and spicy | | | | Before you are too desperate to try any labor |
| foods, could bring on labor. Additionally, | | | | inducing remedy, you should understand that |
| raspberry leaf tea, brisk walking, and nipple | | | | herbal remedies can be powerful. Herbs can be |
| stimulation, are all ways that some midwives, | | | | just as harmful as using medications, |
| nurses, grandmothers and friends recommend to | | | | especially when used during the wrong times |
| bring on labor, without the help of major | | | | or in large doses. Also, it's beneficial to |
| pharmaceuticals. | | | | know that, in general, licorice could affect |
| | | | hormone production in the adrenal glands. It |
| But candy? | | | | could also cause low potassium levels, high |
| | | | blood pressure, and other complications in |
| It is true that licorice could bring on | | | | some people. Thus, it's important to take |
| labor, speeding up the wait for delivery! | | | | medicinal herbs only under supervision of an |
| When in full term pregnancy, eating large | | | | experienced herbalist. |
| amounts of black licorice could bring on | | | | |
| labor. There is also scientific proof | | | | If you have eaten some licorice candies |
| supporting this. Natural licorice contains | | | | recently, there is no need to panic though. |
| glycyrrhizin, which is one of the main | | | | The licorice sold in most stores, similar to |
| components of licorice root, and the reason | | | | Twizlers, does not contain enough actual |
| for its sweet taste. In recent studies, | | | | licorice. It may be necessary to speak to the |
| glycyrrhizin has been associated with preterm | | | | pharmacist in order to get natural licorice, |
| delivery. An international group of | | | | containing a high enough level of |
| researchers found out that heavy consumption | | | | glycyrrhizin, to bring on labor. |
| of licorice (500 mg/week) was associated with | | | | |
| a more than twofold increased risk of early | | | | After birth licorice can be helpful: black |
| delivery, which means giving birth on week | | | | licorice is also a mild laxative. So, eating |
| 37, or earlier (Am J Epidemiol). Thus, | | | | black licorice, or drinking tea containing |
| pregnant women should avoid using black | | | | licorice root, works great as a post-partum |
| licorice as a supplement, or consuming large | | | | stool softener that makes your life a little |
| amounts of licorice as food, before their | | | | bit easier. |
| estimated due date. | | | | |