There’s nothing like a big old hug-in-a-mug cup of tea to sip at any time of day, when you need comfort and relaxation. Certain teas also offer many other benefits including restoring hormones that have gone out of whack! Uncover the top 10 herbal teas for hormone balance in this article!
Herbal teas contain potent antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that work together in regulating your hormones naturally.
They are targeted at reducing the root cause and symptoms of hormone imbalance including menstrual problems, anovulation, insulin resistant, liver detoxification and more.
Below we shall discuss the top 10 herbal teas for hormone balance and how each of them work. You’ll also find a hormone balance tea blend to get you started on your hormone balance journey!
10 Herbal Teas for Hormone Balance in Women
Since time immemorial, natural herbs have been used by our female ancestors to help normalize and balance the cycle of female health from menstruation to menopause.
There are a number of scientific studies conducted in recent times that show that these herbs do indeed work just as anecdotal evidence from history tells us.
Backed by well-researched studies, here are the top 10 herbs for hormone balance you should start using now:
1. Vitex or Chasteberry Tea
Vitex is an all-round herb for women’s health. From long ago, it has been commonly used in Europe at fertility clinics. It is also commonly used for numerous feminine issues including hot flashes, PMS, acne, irregular periods, fibroids, endometriosis, menopause, infertility and more.
How vitex works is by acting directly on the hypothalamus and pituitary.
Vitex increases luteinizing hormone, improves luteal phase defect, regulates prolactin and aids in the inhibition of the release of follicle-stimulating hormone. All of these play a role in balancing out the ratio of progesterone to estrogen by slightly raisng the levels of progesterone.
This study shows that 93% of patients who were treated with vitex for three menstrual cycles experienced a decrease or complete end in unwanted premenstrual symptoms or PMS.
Another study indicates that vitex has been used in the treatment of menstrual disorders such as little to no periods and also heavy periods, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), infertility, hormonal acne and menopausal symptoms.
Add 1-2 teaspoon (3-5g) of the herb into a tea infuser and boil it in 1 cup of water for 5 to 10 minutes. Sweeten if needed and enjoy!
2. Red Clover Tea
Red clover is one of the top 10 herbal teas for hormone balance.
It has been used since ages ago for its liver support and detoxifying properties. The liver is responsible for breaking down toxins and excess hormones such as estrogen in the body, which would otherwise be stored and cause hormonal imbalance issues.
Red clover is also full of isoflavones, which are plant estrogens that help balance low estrogen problems such as PCOS.
It is also beneficial for naturally treating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats (source). Red clover improves cholesterol balance, reduces migraines, improves blood circulation in the reproductive system and general body, supports bone health and also, improves fertility (source 1, source 2)
Add one tablespoon of red clover blossoms in a cup and pour boiling water over it. Let it steep for 10 minutes before sipping! You can add natural sweetener like raw honey if you’d like.
3. Milk Thistle Tea
Just like red clover, milk thistle is one of the best herbal teas for hormone balance because of its liver support properties.
It contains a compound, silymarin, which is said to be a powerful antioxidant that reduces free radical production and creates a detoxifying effect (source).
A healthy liver is key to correcting hormonal imbalances by detoxing leftover hormones that need to be eliminated effectively.
Milk thistle has also been shown to lower insulin resistance and regulate blood sugar, which is important for those with PCOS (source). It also improves hormonal acne and boosts immune function.
Add 1 teaspoon of milk thistle seeds in a cup and pour hot water into it. Let it steep for 10 minutes then strain and sip, adding sweetener or raw honey if desired.
Starwest Botanicals Organic Milk Thistle Seed, 1 Pound
4. Green Tea
Is there any health issue green tea can’t solve? This superfood drink is another one of the top 10 herbal teas for hormone balance.
Research shows that green tea can be considered as a potentially effective drug for the treatment of PCOS, insulin resistance and type II diabetes.
Green tea helps maintain body weight, improve the number of follicles in the ovaries and improve insulin resistance.
A 2013 study that green tea is effective in reducing the size of uterine fibroids and providing symptomatic relief. Drinking green tea or supplementing with green tea extract reduces overall blood loss, hence improving anemia.
Organic Positively Tea Company, Pinhead Gunpowder, Green Tea, Loose Leaf, 16 Ounce
5. Dandelion Tea
Dandelion tea is an excellent tonic for the liver. It helps correct hormonal imbalances by helping the liver process and eliminate excess hormones accumulated in the body.
It also contains Vitamin K which helps in proper clotting of blood which helps reduce heavy menstrual bleeding (source).
Starwest Botanicals Organic Raw Dandelion Root Tea [1 Pound] Bulk Cut & Sifted (C/S) Loose Tea
6. Spearmint Tea
Spearmint tea has been scientifically proven to help lower testosterone levels (source). This results in the reduction of unwanted hair growth in women, called hirsutism.
It also helps to increase female hormones necessary for ovulation including luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol (source).
Futher more, spearmint tea is filled with antioxidants, helps control blood sugar, curbs food cravings, helps in weight management and reduces inflammation.
Sipping on spearmint tea also relieves menstrual cramps, cools down the body which is useful for hot flashes, improves digestion, reduces bloating and boosts energy levels (source).
Organic Positively Tea Company, Spearmint, Green Tea, Loose Leaf, 16 Ounce
7. Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus is a tea made by steeping dried hibiscus flower petals in boiling water.
Research has shown that drinking hibiscus tea may lower blood pressure, fight bacteria, boost immunity and even aid in weight loss.
Hibiscus tea is rich in iron, an important mineral for women especially those who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding. The Vitamin C found in hibiscus works to complement the iron, increasing its absorption.
According to this study hibiscus has an estrogenic effect which binds to estrogenic receptors in the body and mimic the effects of estrogen which helps ease uncomfortable menopause symptoms such as hot flashes.
This 2018 study suggests that hibiscus may have smooth muscle relaxant and analgesic properties, which could make hibiscus tea a natural alternative or supplementary treatment for period cramps. Drink at least 1-2 cups a day before and during your period to see results.
8. Ginger Tea
Ginger root is warming, invigorating and pain relieving. It has strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that help ease menstrual cramps (source 1, source 2).
Drinking ginger tea helps beat sugar cravings, helps in weight management and lowering blood sugar levels.
It also helps reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, promotes ovulation and induces menstruation for those with irregular/missing periods (source 1, source 2).
Frontier Co-op Cut & Sifted Ginger Root 1lb
9. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Red raspberry leaf tea is a classic uterine tonic used to treat menstrual cramps and irregular menstrual cycles.
It is a mild but effective remedy, so it is recommended to drink it regularly to gain its benefits. While you may have an affinity for it during your period when you’re feeling congested and crampy, sipping it throughout the whole month will make you see a very big difference!
Red raspberry leaf is well known for its ability to help clearing out congestion and blockages in the uterus and ovaries. It also enhances blood circulation to all the reproductive organs (source).
It also contains Vitamin B6 that not only binds to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, helping regulate them, but also fights PMS by reducing mood changes and irritability.
Other benefits of red raspberry leaf tea include labor pain management, shortening childbirth, improving heavy periods, cools the body which is good for hot flashes and support a healthy menstrual cycle and fertility.
10. Nettle Leaf Tea
The final tea I’ll be talking about in this list of top 10 herbal teas for hormone balance is, nettle leaf tea.
Also known as stinging nettle, nettle leaf improves liver function which supports healthy detoxification of hormone waste. It is also rich in iron, making it good for replenishing lost iron from heavy bleeding during menstruation and in women with fibroids, ovarian cysts PCOS or endometriosis.
Nettle leaf is also good for reducing blood sugar and lowering testosterone which is good for those with PCOS. Drinking nettle leaf tea also helps with reducing cramps and water retention during PMS (source)
Bonus: Regularly sipping on nettle leaf tea and using it as a hair rinse reduces DHT, a male hormone linked to female pattern baldness or hair loss. This type of hair shedding is common in women with PCOS and those suffering from hormone-related hair loss.
How to Make a Hormone Balance Herbal Tea Blend
You can craft your own hormone balance herbal tea blend. How exciting isn’t it? In this way, you can avoid the fillers and additives you don’t want, and also ensure the ingredients are 100% pure, organic and high quality.
You can make a liter of this tea and sip it continuously throughout the day. The best way to prepare this hormone balance herbal tea blend is by making an overnight infusion which is a more potent concentration of all the herbs infused together.
Hormone Balance Herbal Tea Blend
What you need
- 2 tbsp dried chasteberry (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp dried hibiscus (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp dried spearmint leaf (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp dried loose green tea (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp dried red clover (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp dried ginger root (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp dried red raspberry leaf (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp dried nettle leaf (where to get it)
- 1 tbsp dried milk thistle (where to get it)
- 1 tbsp dried dandelion root (where to get it)
- 4 cups of water
- 32 oz mason jar (where to get it)
- Raw honey to sweeten (where to get it)
Preparation
- Combine all herbs in a pot containing 4 cups of water.
- Let the water boil over a medium low heat for 3 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and let it cool down completely.
- Pour the tea into a 1 quart or 32 oz mason jar and screw on the lid.
- Let it infuse for four hours or overnight.
- When the time is up, strain the herbs out of the tea.
- Pour your DIY hormone balance tea into a flask, jar or any suitable container. Store the tea in the refrigerator.
- When ready to drink, heat it again if desired, pour into a cup and add honey to your taste. You can also use maple syrup, stevia or other natural sweetener of your choice.
- Consume within 3 days.
Notes
- If you want to make just one cup, add and steep 1 teaspoon of the hormone balance herbal tea blend in a cup of boiling water.
- Drink 1-2 cups of this tea every day.
- Consult your doctor before using any of these herbal teas for hormone balance.
Thank you for reading this article, ‘Top 10 Herbal Teas for Hormone Balance in Women.’
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