5 Extraordinary Herbs for Springtime Wellness + Hormone Balance

As the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer, you might feel a slight boost in energy and a desire to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Spring is a time of renewal, and it’s also a great time to focus on your health and hormone balance by incorporating some herbs into your routine. These five herbs are all natural adaptogens that can help balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, improve mood, promote better sleep, and help manage stress levels. Read on to learn which herbs are right for you.

An all-natural solution for healthy hormones

Herbs have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for their various medicinal properties. In Eastern systems of healing, like Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners use herbs to balance the body’s hormones, as well as help the body adapt, and weather various health conditions.

Herbal medicine can help support the healthy function of your body’s chemical messengers—hormones—that regulate mood, energy levels, reproductive health, menopausal symptoms, and more.

Watch: How to Spot Hormone Imbalance

Herbs contain vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients

Naturally found in many herbs, these compounds help protect healthy cells, providing fuel and protecting healthy cells from damaging free radicals.

Some phytonutrients have unique health benefits as well, such as mood support, help to combat fatigue, and to balance hormone levels.

Many herbs contain phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens, like lignans and isoflavones, may be helpful to alleviate symptoms of both PMS and menopause. They can have both an anti-estrogenic and estrogen-balancing effect.

Herbs are simple, and easy to use

Herbal remedies are great for beginners, and it’s easy to use herbs to support healthy hormone levels. As you learn more about what your body needs, you can pair herbal medicine with a healthy diet to support optimal hormonal balance.

Try these adaptogenic herbs for balancing hormones!

Milk thistle promotes hormone detoxification

Milk thistle is a flowering herb that gets its name from the whitish liquid that comes from the plant’s leaves when crushed. A versatile adaptogenic herb, it has been used for everything from the immune system to skin health, but its most common use is for its liver-detoxifying properties.

Milk thistle contains antioxidants, and a special phytonutrient called silymarin, which is the compound responsible for its detox benefits (2).

In the liver, this adaptogenic herb acts as a powerful liver cleanser by helping to protect liver cells, and facilitate the breakdown of toxins that are processed through the liver.

Since hormones are also primarily metabolized in the liver, this compound can help rid the body of excess hormones before they have a chance to recirculate and contribute to hormonal imbalance.

And as a bonus, compounds in milk thistle can also increase antioxidants in your body, which is great for everything from clearing your skin to increasing energy levels.

Most studies use about 420 mg/day of extract (standardized to 70-80% silymarin) (3). There are a variety of milk thistle products available, and the seeds and leaves of the milk thistle plant can be consumed either in pill, powder, tincture, extract, or tea form.

Read: How to Hormone Detox: 6 Simple Steps for Liver + Digestive System

Vitex or chaste tree berry for estrogen dominance

Vitex, also known as chaste tree berry, is a small deciduous tree that is native to the Mediterranean. The berries of the tree have been used for centuries in herbal medicine to help balance hormones and regulate the menstrual cycle. Vitex is perhaps one of the most common herbs to balance hormones. It contains compounds that support the effects of progesterone in the body, which can help alleviate symptoms of PMS, menopause, and PCOS.

Vitex is especially helpful if you have symptoms of estrogen dominance like painful periods, tender breasts, or mood swings just before your period. Vitex is also thought to improve fertility by helping to support a healthy balance between reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone. It may also help reduce testosterone levels in women with PCOS (4).

Fennel for healthy digestion

Fennel is a popular Ayurvedic herb for digestion, helping to calm an excess of acid in the stomach. In addition to being a digestive tonic, it may also help curb cravings and even relieve menopause symptoms!

Fennel seeds contain anethole, a compound that early research shows has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as immune system support and anti-cancer effects (5,6).

Fennel seeds have also been used as an appetite suppressant, and early research supports this traditional use. After drinking fennel tea, women experienced less hunger, fewer cravings, and increased feelings of fullness compared with those who did not drink fennel tea (7).

Fennel seeds have also been used to:

Strengthen the digestive system
Alleviate gas and indigestion
Increase mental alertness
Relaxes the digestive tract
Support milk flow in women who are nursing

For overall daily digestive support, learn more about adding Belly Fix to your routine.

Red raspberry leaf may lessen cramps

Red raspberry leaf is very popular for women during pregnancy, but it can also help if you’re not pregnant as well.

Red raspberry leaves are used traditionally to “tone” the uterus and surrounding tissues, which is thought to help alleviate cramps and other premenstrual symptoms. Some research does support this anecdotal evidence (8).

Red raspberry leaves contain fragarine, a plant compound that helps tone and tighten muscles in the pelvic area. This may reduce cramping associated with premenstrual syndrome, caused by the spasms of these muscles.

It’s also rich in a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and zinc. Red raspberry leaves also have polyphenols like tannins and flavonoids, which act as antioxidants in your body and can help protect cells from damage. While this adaptogenic herb doesn’t appear to impact hormone levels directly, the compounds it contains may help with the symptoms of various hormone-related issues.

There is currently no specific recommendation on the quantity to drink, but sipping on some red raspberry leaf tea may relieve some of the discomforts caused by hormonal imbalances.

Shatavari for PCOS and fertility

Shatavari has been used traditionally as a nourishing adaptogen and a fertility tonic. Native to India and the Himalayas, the roots of this plant are a staple in Ayurvedic medicine.

A review of studies published in 2018 suggests that this plant may improve conditions such as hormonal imbalances and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (9). It can also help support the body’s response to stress hormones.

Shatavari has also been used as an aphrodisiac, and as an aid for youthfulness, energy, and mental alertness. It’s one of a few Ayurvedic herbs that may also help improve energy levels and stamina in women.

A fertility tonic that makes you feel great and boosts energy? Yes please!

Try these: 7 Tonics for Glowing Skin, Energy, and More

How to use herbs for hormonal balance

If you’re interested in incorporating herbs into your health routine, there are a few ways to do so. You can take herbs in supplement form, steep them as tea, or add them to your food.

Many women find that taking adaptogenic herbs in supplement form is the easiest way to get the desired effect. Supplements are typically standardized to contain a certain amount of the active ingredient, so you know exactly how much you’re getting if you’re looking to balance your hormones.

Herbal teas are another popular way to consume herbs. This method is more gentle than taking supplements and can be a great way to relax and reduce stress levels, which is also a big trigger for hormone imbalance.

If you enjoy cooking, adding herbs to your food is a great way to get their benefits. Fresh herbs can be added to salads, soups, and sauces, or you can use dried herbs to flavor roasted vegetables or grain dishes.

No matter how you choose to take them, adaptogenic herbs are a delicious and easy way to support your health this spring!

Healthy Hormones with EastWest

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Hormone Helper is formulated with a blend of traditional ingredients, and modern nutrients, designed to:

Promote comfortable, regular cycles
Reduce excess androgens that contribute to acne, hair loss, or irregular periods
Support a healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone
Provide nutrients you need to build healthy hormones

Hormone Helper is especially helpful for those with PCOS symptoms, or if you’re feeling like something is “off” with your hormones.

Learn more about simple, daily hormone support.

Looking for more ways to improve your health this spring? Check out more blog posts on springtime self-care:

The Top Anti-aging + Antioxidant Foods for Glowing Skin

Quick Tips to Calm the Mind + Body

7 Tonics for Glowing Skin, Energy, and More

Balancing Hormones with Adaptogenic Herbs

Abnormal hormone levels can be serious, so I always recommend working with a qualified holistic or integrative provider who can first test your hormone levels, and make informed recommendations. In the meantime, you can use herbs and other remedies to support hormone balance naturally.

Herbs are a simple and easy way to get the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients your body needs to balance hormones and regulate the menstrual cycle. They can also help alleviate symptoms of PMS, menopause, and PCOS. herbs are also thought to improve fertility by helping to regulate hormone levels.

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