Hormones regulate several body functions, relaying messages between cells and organs. When hormones aren’t balanced, it leads to many uncomfortable symptoms. Taking herbs that help balance your hormones is a safe, natural way to help your body get back to normal.
Estrogen and progesterone are the two main female hormones. The ovaries and adrenal glands produce estrogen; an imbalance leads to bloating, fatigue, hair loss, and fertility issues.
Progesterone is the hormone that regulates the inner lining of the uterus. Many women think progesterone is only necessary to support a pregnancy, but low progesterone leads to headaches, anxiety, depression, and irregular menstrual cycles in non-pregnant women.
When one or both of these female hormones are out of normal range, you might notice abnormal symptoms, especially in the week before your menstrual cycle. Women experience a wide range of problems, but the good news is that it’s possible to safely balance your hormones without taking any medication.
How?
Taking herbs! Many herbs naturally balance your hormones while supporting other functions your body needs. It’s time to think about adding a few herbal supplements to your diet to get back on track.
10 Herbs That Help Balance Your Hormones
When it comes to balancing hormones, it’s better to start using natural methods instead of hormone therapy, which has several negative side effects. When you have hormonal problems, the last thing you want is more side effects.
Don’t you have enough problems already?
Here are some of the best herbs that work towards restoring normal hormone levels.
1. Red Raspberry Leaf
Pregnant women often drink quarts and gallons of red raspberry leaf tea to support labor and delivery, but this herb is more than that. It helps to increase fertility in both men and women, reduce the risk of miscarriages, prevents hemorrhaging, and decreases heavy menstrual cycles.
During pregnancy, taking red raspberry leaf reduces pain during and after labor and increases breast milk production. It’s easy to see why pregnant women love red raspberry leaf tea!
This herb contains compounds that offer strong antioxidant effects, relaxing blood vessels and aiding muscle relaxation throughout your body. That’s why it helps women when they suffer from menstrual cramps.
2. Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is most often used to treat menopausal symptoms, such as moodiness, sweating, and hot flashes. This herb also helps to induce labor, treat PMS symptoms, and painful periods (dysmenorrhea). Other studies suggest that it has practical effects on PCOS, uterine fibroids, and fertility.
Here’s why..
Black cohosh is a strong phytoestrogen, meaning that it helps to lower elevated estrogen or increase low estrogen. Experts believe that black cohosh works by improving brain-ovary communication. So, no matter what levels of estrogen you have, taking black cohosh helps to bring it back to proper, healthy levels.
It’s most often used in a supplement form, but make sure you avoid using this herb if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. It causes miscarriages!
3. Wild Yam
If you look for natural progesterone creams, you’ll see that a number use wild yams. Wild yam contains diosgenin, which influences different hormones, like estrogen and DHEA. This herb supports endocrine and liver health, and wild yam helps increase your progesterone levels in a gentle, safe form.
Taking wild yam gives you relief from frustrating symptoms like PMS, hot flashes, menstrual cramps, vaginal dryness, and low libido. Some call this herb “natural estrogen” because it increases DHEA in your body.
Wild yam is also effective and used to treat male hormone imbalances problems. The best way to take this herb is in a cream for, but it’s sold in capsules and tablets as well.
4. Dong Quai
Some refer to dong quai as female ginseng; it’s a traditional Chinese herb with a long history of treating PMS symptoms and balancing hormones. Dong quai works by influencing hormone production through the liver and endocrine systems.
One of the most common ways to use dong quai is to induce a period. The herb improves blood flow to the pelvis while stimulating muscles and triggering uterine contractions needed to have a period.
Taking dong quai helps balance estrogen levels, reducing common symptoms experienced during menopause or PMS. If you think that taking this herb will help, it’s available as a supplement or an herbal tea.
5. Dandelion Root
Believe it or not, the annoying weed that grows throughout your yard in the spring and summer is a potent herb that helps balance your hormones. Dandelion roots contain high levels of plant estrogens, helping your body detox excess hormones.
High levels of hormones are just as bad as low levels, so getting rid of the excess is key!
Another reason to take dandelion root is that it prevents constipation. Regular bowel movements are one way that our bodies clear out the excess hormones, so if you have constipation issues, you might have unbalanced hormones.
6. Fenugreek Seed
Fenugreek is widely known for its ability to increase breastmilk supplies, but fenugreek seeds contain phytoestrogens that will help balance your estrogen levels. Studies show that fenugreek seeds have estrogen-like compounds that encourage your body to make more.
Not only can fenugreek seeds help balance your estrogen levels, but it also increases low testosterone and improves a decreased libido in women. Taking fenugreek seed is easy because it’s available in several forms. Look for fenugreek seed tea, supplements, and spices.
7. Cramp Bark
As the name suggests, cramp bark is an herb that gets rid of menstrual cramps, as well as any type of cramp throughout your body. It helps to relax the muscles throughout your body, reducing the pain that your uterus experiences during your period.
If you suffer from regular, painful cramps throughout your cycle or struggle with bad PMS symptoms, cramp bark is an effective herb but it really does taste like bark. Don’t expect anything delicious – it’s like eating dirt.
Some women say that using cramp bark helps more than Pamprin or other conventional pain-relieving medication!
8. Ginger Rhizome
Ginger, sometimes called ginger rhizome, is best known for use in culinary dishes, but ginger has medicinal properties. You might remember your mom giving you ginger ale to soothe your belly aches, but chances are you had no idea it also helps to balance hormones.
Seriously – it does.
Ginger contains high anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce prostaglandin production, reducing common symptoms associated with PMS. Taking ginger stops cramping, mood swings, and headaches.
If you want to incorporate ginger rhizome into your herbal routine, it’s sold as an herbal tea, supplements, and spice. Unfortunately, ginger ale probably won’t balance your hormones, but what’s the harm in trying?
9. Maca Root
Maca has a long history as a medicinal herb that improves fertility, endurance, libido, and balances hormones. This herb doesn’t produce hormones, but it’s an adaptogenic herb that works on each person’s needs.
So, if you have too much of one hormone, it reduces it, but it will increase other hormones if there is a deficiency. The herb adapts to your body – pretty cool, right?
Maca stimulates the pituitary and hypothalamus glands in the endocrine system. These glands play crucial roles in hormone production, and some say that this herb works as a natural “Viagra” for men. It may help improve sperm motility, volume, and quality.
10. Vitex Berries
Some refer to Vitex as chaste tree berry, and it focuses on supporting progesterone throughout your body. After ovulation, your body produces progesterone; it’s responsible for all of the uncomfortable symptoms you feel in early pregnancy, such as breast tenderness and mood swings.
Vitex boosts the brain to ovary communication. Evidence shows that it helps to produce, strengthen, and lengthen the luteal phase. If you want to try vitex, many places sell herbal supplements and tablets to take.
Try These Herbs
When your hormones aren’t balanced, it leads to many different symptoms, and you might notice that your anxiety or mood swings increase. You don’t have to live with these uncomfortable symptoms. Start taking a few herbs that help balance your hormones and get your body on the right track again.
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