PLANT LORE STUDY GROUP: MAY 2025: BOTANICALS FOR WOMEN: HORMONE-BALANCING HERBS: PART I

The Hormone Balance Wheel: hormones are produced from the endocrine glands in the body, including the pituitary and pineal glands, thymus, thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, testes, and ovaries. These organs produce hormones in microscopic amounts, it takes a very small amount to bring significant changes in the body, and a small excess or deficiency of hormone production can lead to serious issues.

Hormone Imbalance: occurs when there is too much or too little of a certain hormone in the body. There are different causes of a hormonal imbalance and it depends on which hormones or glands are affected. Common causes of a hormonal imbalance include medications, cancer treatments, eating disorders, stress, injury, trauma, and hormone therapy. Conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, Addison’s disease, and thyroiditis can also lead to hormonal imbalances. Unique to women, hormonal imbalances may be related to reproductive hormones including common causes of menopause, premature menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, PCOS, and hormone replacement drugs.

Start with these 3 protocols using herbs and foods first:

·        Gut Health: IBS, candida, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, and acid reflux. Herbs to use include aloe, cinnamon, cloves, nettles, oregano, parsley, slippery elm, thyme, & turmeric. Foods that help promote gut health include bone broth, collagen, fermented foods, gelatin, oysters, and sweet potatoes.

·        Blood Sugar Balance: sugar cravings, and low or high blood sugar levels. Herbs to use include bilberry, cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic, ginseng, licorice, sage, & turmeric. Foods that balance blood sugar include savory breakfast items, high-fiber foods such as chia and flaxseed, low glycemic, & high-protein foods.

·        Liver Detox: gently detox the liver and gallbladder. Herbs to use include asparagus, bok choy, burdock, celery, dandelion leaf & root, milk thistle, parsley, & Swiss chard. Foods that detox the liver include high-fiber foods such as chia and flaxseed, organ meats, sprouts, & cruciferous vegetables.

Then proceed to these herbs and foods once these have been addressed: 

·        Adrenals: high and low adrenal levels. Herbs to use include ashwagandha, astragalus, camu camu, gotu kola, licorice, oatstraw, Reishi, rhodiola, & seaweed. Foods that work on adrenal health include non-cruciferous vegetables, good fats, high-protein foods, & sea salt.

·        Thyroid: overactive or underactive thyroid, Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease. Herbs to use include ashwagandha, eleuthero, lemon balm, licorice (if low adrenals are also present), & motherwort. Foods that balance thyroid levels include bone broth, collagen, cooked cruciferous vegetables, fermented foods, gelatin, oysters, sweet potatoes, and fluoride-free water.

·        Low Estrogen: menstruating women with low estrogen or in perimenopause. Herbs to use include red clover, black cohosh, Dong quai, maca, motherwort, & sage. Foods that boost estrogen levels include flaxseed, parsley, seaweed, thyme, and cooked green leafy vegetables.

·        High Estrogen: estrogen dominance and low progesterone levels. Herbs to use include artichoke, chaste berry, dandelion leaf & root, lavender, lemon balm, milk thistle, nettles, and red raspberry leaf. Foods that lower estrogen levels include broccoli sprouts, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, & sunflower seeds.

·        PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Herbs to use include chaste berry, cinnamon, black cohosh, fenugreek, white peony, spearmint, & turmeric. Foods that ease PCOS symptoms include savory breakfast items, high-fiber foods such as chai & flaxseed, low glycemic index foods, and high-protein foods.

Small and simple lifestyle changes that can help restore hormone balance:

·        Get enough protein: proteins provide amino acids that the body cannot make on its own and are needed to produce peptide hormones. These hormones play a crucial role in regulating physiological processes such as growth, energy metabolism, appetite, and stress.

·        Exercise regularly: physical activity strongly influences hormonal health, enhances hormone receptor sensitivity, & helps the delivery of nutrients and hormone signals.

·        Maintain a moderate weight: weight gain is directly associated with hormonal imbalances, and obesity relates to a lack of ovulation in women. Eating within a healthy calorie range help maintain hormonal balance.

·        Keep the gut healthy: the gut produces metabolites that can affect hormone health. Add prebiotic and probiotic foods to the diet.

·        Lower sugar intake: minimizing added sugar intake helps balance hormones. Eating added sugar promotes insulin resistance and is linked to disruptions in the gut microbiome which ultimately lead to hormonal imbalances.

·        Reduce stress: stress can significantly harm the body’s hormones in many ways, so work toward decreasing and managing daily stress levels.

·        Get enough sleep: sleep is one of the most important factors in hormonal imbalance. Hormone levels rise and fall due to the quality of sleep.

·        Eat healthy fats: healthy fat intake works to maintain balanced hormones that are involved with appetite, metabolism, and feeling full.

·        Eat plenty of fiber: fiber improves gut health and helps regulate insulin.