Licorice root is one of the best adaptogenic herbs for the adrenals- but the kind people have problems with is the standardized form sold in stores which is isolated in a lab which concentrates only on glycyrrhizic acid. People must use the whole licorice root powder, not the standardized form. Whole plant form has over 400 phytochemicals, which have healing qualities. Standardized form also can dangerously raise blood pressure and this is the kind that gives people problems. That's like isolating turpentine from pine trees and drinking turpentine and saying pine trees are bad. There is a huge difference from the whole
root that's simply dried and ground up.
There is also an American Licorice which is slightly stimulatory, and a Chinese Licorice which is calming. That is the kind you want, and THAT is the kind I use in my formulas. (Note: Chinese Licorice is a type, not a source. None of my ingredients come from China!)
Licorice root and hops flowers have often been used throughout history to treat hormone imbalances and just about every female problem known. They give women that sense of well being and control. Licorice is a source of DHEA.
Finally, taking my formulas is not like taking individual ingredients by themselves. The herbs react synergistically with each other creating an entirely new effect than the herbs do alone. In other words, they do not react like individual herbs anymore, they react in a whole new way.