This study aimed to investigate the effects of liquorice in women with primary dysmenorrhea. The study was randomized, triple-blinded and placebo-controlled. 60 women with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea have been enrolled. They received either ibuprofen (400 mg every 8h, with placebo syrup) or a liquorice syrup (5 cc twice daily with placebo tablets). The supplementation was taken from the first to the fifth day of menstruation for two cycles.

The main outcome was the change in pain intensity. The reduction of pain intensity was 5.85 ± 3.11 in the liquorice group, and 6.92 ± 1.87 in the ibuprofen group. There was no difference in change in pain intensity between the two groups (p = 0.151).

The results of this study suggest therefore that liquorice may ba as effective as ibuprofen for the reduction in dysmenorrhea-associated pain.

Jafari Z, Emtiazy M, Sohrabvand F, et al. The effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. on Primary Dysmenorrhea compared with Ibuprofen: A Randomized, Triple-Blind Controlled Trial. Iran J Pharm Res. 2019;18(Suppl1):291-301.

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