Licorice is a natural antiviral, female hormone balancer, and adaptogenic herb that has been widely studied.  It can help address stress and adrenal fatigue.  It's also commonly used as a complementary herb, used in modest amounts, in both Western and Eastern herbal blends.  In very high doses, the licorice constituent "glycyrrhizin" can cause elevated blood pressure.

Since 1978 Crystal Star has focused on the functional benefits of whole herbs formulated with secondary and tertiary supporting ingredients.  The amount of Licorice in Beautiful Skin is just a small part of the 17 whole herb formula.   However, we don’t recommend any form of licorice for people with a history of renal failure as well as people who are on heart medication or steroid drugs.  Please discontinue if you become pregnant. 

While it’s true that some herbs like Dong Quai, Red Clover, and Licorice contain natural phytoestrogens (estrogen-like compounds), there is no credible evidence that moderate intake of these herbs in their whole form will increase your risk for estrogen driven disease, like breast cancer.

Dr. Linda Page combined numerous whole herbs in moderate amounts in the formulas. This type of traditional herbal approach reduces the potential for side effects or reactions, and is a primary reason many herbalists choose to blend herbs rather than use high doses of any one herb. The blended herbs in a moderate concentration act more like a food than a drug in the system. They go through normal digestion and elimination like a food, not building up in the system or burdening the body with potential toxicity.

Still, if you have an estrogen-based health problem, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before using herbs that can affect hormone balance. Other products on the market use concentrated sources of phytoestrogens, or may be otherwise inappropriate for your unique health needs.