It’s important to keep female hormones balanced for an overall healthy reproductive system in women. In this article, we shall explore the top natural and herbal supplements to balance female hormones naturally.
There are several hormones categorized as female hormones, even though some of them are naturally found in a man’s body as well. What makes them ‘female’ hormones is that they are predominant in women than in men and they have a primary role in women’s fertility.
Here is a list of some of the main female hormones:
- Estrogen – It is produced by follicles within the ovaries and helps regulate the menstrual cycle.
- Progesterone – This hormone is also produced by the ovaries and it maintains the health of the uterine lining to prepare for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, progesterone levels fall and the uterine lining sheds in a process we know as menstruation.
- HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) – HCG is a female hormone produced in the cells that make up the placenta during pregnancy.
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) – FSH stimulates the follicle within the ovary, causing an egg to grow. It also triggers the production of estrogen in the follicle. The increase in estrogen signals the pituitary gland to stop producing FSH and to start making more LH. The shift to LH causes the egg to be released from the ovary, a process called ovulation.
- Testosterone – Although testosterone is a male hormone, just like small amounts of estrogen are produced in men, small amounts of testosterone are also produced in women. Testosterone in women has the same function as it does in men but it has a milder effect. It strengthens a woman’s energy levels, support bones & muscle growth and improves libido and sexual response to stimulus. Some women have higher levels of testosterone than others. This may lead to hormonal disorders such as PCOS.
When it comes to unbalanced female hormones, think estrogen and testosterone. Some women have high levels of estrogen (excess estrogen), also known as estrogen dominance which causes reproductive issues such as ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, uterine polyps and even certain cancers.
On the other hand, women with high levels of testosterone may develop issues such as unwanted facial or body hair growth, slightly deeper voices, and masculine traits, among others.
Top 10 Herbal Supplements to Balance Female Hormones
1. Chasteberry
Chasteberry (buy here) is also known Vitex. It is one of widely known herbal supplements to balance female hormones. Chasteberry is an adaptogenic herb which has the ability to normalize hormone levels.
For women suffering from estrogen dominance, chasteberry helps in increasing luteinizing hormone and inhibiting the release of follicle-stimulating hormone. This helps balance out the ratio of progesterone to estrogen by raising progesterone levels.
Chasteberry is effective in helping shrink fibroids, treating endometriosis, relieving PMS symptoms, improving fertility, regulating periods, promoting lactation and reducing menopause symptoms.
2. Black Cohosh
Another amazing herbal supplement to balance female hormones is black cohosh (buy here). It has a long history in its effectiveness in reducing hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and other menopause symptoms caused by hormonal imbalances.
Studies show that black cohosh induced ovulation in women, which is useful for those who are suffering from ovulatory infertility such as women with PCOS.
3. Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil (buy here) is particularly indicated for hormonal imbalance related to PMS symptoms. It is very high in essential fatty acids such as Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) which is anti-inflammatory and healthy hormone production.
Taking evening primrose oil supplements helps regulate estrogen dominance. It improves fertility, treats endometriosis, manages PCOS, heals acne and relieves menopause symptoms.
4. Dong Quai
Dong Quai (buy here) is an herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to balance female hormones. It is also known as White angelica and the ‘female’ ginseng because of its qualities as the gynecological regulator.
Taking Dong Quai supports healthy menstrual cycles, helps maintain healthy estrogen and progesterone levels, addresses PMS symptoms, is a uterine and reproductive health tonic and provides long-term benefits for female health.
5. Red Clover
Ancient Celts used red clover (buy here) as a hormone-balancing herb, especially for menopausal women. It has natural chemical compounds known as isoflavones that attach weakly to estrogen receptors in the body and mimic the activity of estrogen.
Isoflavones are natural adaptogens. Adaptogens help the body adapt by sensing its needs and responding. For example, if they are low levels of estrogen, adaptogens act like estrogen. If there are high levels of estrogen, they take space on the estrogen receptors and block stronger estrogens.
6. DIM (diindolylmethane)
DIM (buy here) is a vegetable extract from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. It is a powerful detoxifier that helps maintain safe levels of estrogen. It works by assisting in the conversion of excess estrogen to more favorable levels by promoting healthy estrogen ratios.
Studies show that dietary indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which is converted into DIM in the body, prevents the development of estrogen-enhanced cancers including breast, endometrial and cervical cancers.
7. Maca Root
Maca (buy here) is a very important herbal supplement for balancing female hormones. It was prized as an amazing superfood by ancient Peruvians.
This study showed that maca significantly stimulates the production of estrogen, which helps alleviate menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness, among others.
Taking maca supplements is very useful for pre-menopausal and menopausal women as well as those suffering from PCOS and excess androgens (male hormones) in the body.
8. Turmeric
High levels of estrogen is one of the main hormonal imbalances in women. It is also known as estrogen dominance and it increases the risk of developing breast and endometrial cancers.
The active ingredient in turmeric (buy here), curcumin, has powerful anti-cancer properties that signal the death of cancer cells and inhibiting the growth of cancerous tumors. Curcumin supplements also increase the positive effects of hormonal therapies and treatments.
Curcumin also aids in liver detoxification which is necessary for purging excess hormones like estrogen from the body. It’s strong anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation caused by hormonal imbalances.
9. Fish Oil
One of the best supplements to balance female hormones is fish oil. To balance hormones in the body, you need a healthy ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids because excess omega 6 causes inflammation and throws your hormones out of whack.
Fish oil (buy here) is filled with omega 3 fatty acids that regulate hormones in the body, reduce hormonal acne, relieve PMS symptoms and PCOS symptoms as well. In fact, this study demonstrates that women with PCOS who were given three grams of omega-3s a day for eight weeks had lower testosterone concentrations than those who were given a placebo.
10. Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (buy here) provides liver support which is very important because the liver is the organ that breaks down excess hormones that cause hormonal imbalance. It has detoxifying abilities that process and get rid of excess or bad estrogen.
Remember excess estrogen has harmful effects that lead to the development of fibroids, uterine polyps, ovarian cysts and endometriosis.
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