Hormones are chemical messengers of the body. It’s a well-known fact that imbalance of hormones can cause emotional and physical problems, such as depression, mood swings, weight gain, and loss of libido.
Natural remedies for hormonal imbalance in females can be quite effective in balancing the inappropriate levels of hormones.
This article reviews 15 natural remedies for balancing hormones naturally, be it estrogen dominance (high estrogen level) or progesterone deficiency (low progesterone level), or imbalance of testosterone, DHEA, and melatonin.
Ask for your doctor’s advice before taking any herbal remedy or before taking any medicine, especially if you have a hormone-sensitive condition, such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or endometriosis.
Here are the top 15 Natural Remedies For Hormonal Imbalance In females
1: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are good to prevent a hormonal imbalance. They help in balancing the stress hormones such as cortisol and sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids by eating oily fish like salmon, mackerel, or sardines regularly.
Natural Sources: Flaxseed (ground), Chia seeds, Hemp seeds, Walnuts
How To Take It: Omega-3 fatty acids can be taken as capsules and also as flaxseed oil and chia seeds. This dosage of omega-3 fatty acids should be set according to the body’s requirements. Hence, start with a small dose, like 500 mg of DHA capsules, and increase it gradually till you find your ideal doses.
2: Maca Root
Maca root is a plant, which the natives of Peru have used for years. Maca is an adaptogen that helps your body to deal with stress and neutralizes it in no time.
It regulates hormones and boosts libido. It also balances male and female hormones like estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, and melatonin.
Natural Sources: Maca grows at high altitudes, mostly between 5200-6000 feet above sea level. It makes a very good organic vegetable.
Maca root is available as roots, powder, and capsules. For hormonal balance, it is recommended that you take a dose of 500mg -1000mg (one to two capsules) of maca root every day.
Cautions: If you are on any medications, then ask your doctor before taking maca root. Maca is not recommended for people who have ovarian cancer.
3: Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is a common cause of hormonal imbalance. Vitamin D has been found to be the answer to hormonal imbalances in numerous studies, and many experts now recommend it as an effective way to prevent any type of hormonal problems.
Vitamin D helps your body by improving insulin sensitivity (the cells’ ability to absorb glucose). This reduces insulin levels in the blood and helps to maintain proper estrogen balance.
Vitamin D also improves “estrogen metabolism” (the way your body deals with the hormone). This is how your body absorbs vitamin D:
Natural sources of Vitamin D are sunlight, egg yolks, butter, cod liver oil, oily fish such as salmon and tuna, and mushrooms.
Natural Sources: Cod liver oil, Salmon, Mushrooms
How To Take It: Vitamin D deficiency can lead to hormonal imbalance, so it is important that you regularly take your daily dose of vitamin D supplements. The recommended dosage is between 800 IU to 3000 IU per day for adult women (depending on the severity of the deficiency).
Note: You can take Vitamin D3 supplements for 2 – 3 months and stop it after that. It is not advisable to go beyond this period, as long-term intake of Vitamin D3 may lead to toxicity.
4: Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to tone up your hormonal system. Moderate exercise is very important for a healthy balance of hormones, especially in women. Do not over-exercise or overwork yourself. Instead, try exercising regularly at least three times a week for half an hour, and you will soon see results! Exercise can help you to deal with stress which is one of the main reasons behind hormonal imbalance. Apart from reducing your body weight, exercise also reduces the risk of breast cancer and endometriosis.
Natural sources Of Exercise: Exercising for half an hour every day in a relaxed atmosphere can be extremely beneficial for a person’s health. However, to get the maximum benefits of exercise, you should mix up your routine with different types of exercises.
5: Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an ancient adaptogen known to improve hormonal balance in women. It helps your body to deal with stress and provides the required nutrients for improving overall health. Moreover, it also increases fertility, reduces the risk of cancer, indigestion, etc.
Natural Sources: Ashwagandha grows in India and Nepal. It is also cultivated in other regions of the world, including Africa and Asia.
How To Take: The recommended dose for women is 1 to 2g of ashwagandha powder (or 300mg capsules orally) every day. You can use it with milk or any other beverage that you like. You should take it after meals.
6: Chili Peppers (Capsicum)
These spicy red peppers are one of the best ways to increase your body’s core temperature and burn fat. Capsaicin, the main ingredient in chili peppers, helps reduce stress hormones that affect both your liver and thyroid function and cause hormonal imbalances.
Natural sources: Peppers, including cayenne, jalapenos, and habaneros, are considered ‘hot’ foods. They contain a natural chemical called capsaicin that increases your body temperature and burns fat while relieving stress.
How To Take It: You can use fresh or dried chili peppers in any dish you like or just take a few of them when you are having a meal. As capsaicin is fat-soluble, the best way to boost your fat-burning process is to consume it with monounsaturated fats such as olive oil or avocados. This will help dissolve the capsaicin so that your body can absorb it more easily and increase the fat-burning effect.
Note: Spicy foods can cause indigestion, so it is advisable to go slow and take smaller doses at first.
7: Graviola
Graviola has been used for centuries in South America to improve hormonal balance and detoxify the body. Its fruit contains a high concentration of antioxidants that are effective against several types of cancers.
Natural Sources: Graviola is a tropical tree found in the Amazon rain forests. It is also cultivated in other regions of the world, including Africa and Asia.
How To Take It: The recommended dose for women is between 250mg to 500 mg of extract per day (or 150mg capsules). You can take it with milk or any other beverage that you like. However, it is not advisable to take this supplement daily for a long period of time as prolonged use may lead to toxicity.
The treatment described above shows you 7 natural ways that can be used in your day-to-day routine to overcome hormonal imbalance and raise the testosterone level in women naturally. These remedies are very simple and easy to use. Apart from these, there are many other natural therapies that you can use to boost your testosterone level in the body.
8: Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds contain phytoestrogens. This means that they contain a compound that can bind to estrogen receptors found in various body tissues. Fenugreek seeds are beneficial for increasing libido and reducing menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings.
Natural Sources: Fenugreek is an annual herb grown in Africa and Asia. In the Western world, it is mainly grown as a vegetable and used in soups. It can also be bought in supplement form from most health food stores.
How To Take Them: The recommended dose for women is 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground fenugreek seeds (or 400mg capsules orally) every day after meals. You can also soak the seeds in water and drink the juice of about 10-12 seeds daily.
Note: This herb should not be taken for more than 2 months as prolonged use may lead to an imbalance in estrogen levels.
9: Honey
The benefits of honey have been known since ancient times. It contains antioxidants, vitamins (B2 and B6), minerals, and natural sugars that are beneficial for maintaining hormonal balance. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to protect the body from infections and prevent further complications caused by harmful bacteria.
Natural Sources: Honey is found in beehives, where bees produce it for their own use. However, it is available in large quantities and at reasonable prices from most health food stores.
How To Take It: The recommended dose for women is 2 tablespoons of honey (or 215mg capsules) daily before bedtime. You can mix it with warm water or milk to make it more palatable. On an empty stomach, honey can slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and reduce the risk of weight gain.
Read Power of Hormones By Ange James
10: Dandelion Root
Dandelion root tea is a popular herbal remedy for fighting hormonal imbalance and balancing hormones in women. It has been practiced since ancient times in many countries around the world. This beverage contains high amounts of calcium, potassium, vitamin A, C, and B complex, iron, zinc manganese, and silicon.
These nutrients are essential for maintaining hormone levels in the body and reducing symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, mood swings, water retention, acne, insomnia, vaginal dryness, and breast tenderness.
Natural Sources: Dandelion root tea is prepared by boiling a variety of dandelion roots (Taraxacum officinale). It is available from most health food stores.
How To Take It: The recommended dose for women is 1 cup of dandelion root tea daily after meals to reduce menopausal symptoms.
Alternatively, you can also drink 2 cups of hot milk with honey and a pinch of dandelion root powder before going to bed at night. This combination will relieve all your mood swings and hot flashes within a few days.
Note: This herb should not be taken for more than 2 months as prolonged use may lead to an imbalance in estrogen levels. You can also take it without milk if you are allergic or intolerant to milk and dairy products.
11: Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng roots contain plant estrogens that are beneficial for improving symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women. It is a popular herb used to reduce the risk of menopausal health complications such as vaginal dryness and hot flashes. High levels of phytoestrogens can balance hormone levels, regulate mood swings, help relieve insomnia, and prevent mood swings.
Natural Sources: This herb’s roots, stems, and leaves are used as a popular traditional remedy for treating symptoms associated with menopause. It can be found in many Asian herbal stores or online health food stores at reasonable prices.
How To Take It: The recommended dose for women is 500mg of dried root powder daily before bed. Alternatively, you can also take 2-3 cups of Asian ginseng tea daily to reduce menopausal symptoms.
12: Red Clover Extract
Red clover extract is a popular herb for treating symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes and mood swings. It contains phytoestrogens which have similar properties to natural estrogen. This ingredient can relieve many symptoms associated with menopause and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Natural Sources: Red clover extract is available from most health food stores as dried leaves or capsules. It can be found in herbal teas, supplements, tinctures, lotions, ointments, creams, essential oils, and yummy desserts like red velvet cake, cookies, and brownies.
How To Take It: The recommended dose for women is 1 capsule of red clover extract (50-60mg) daily after meals or as directed by your health care provider for at least 2 months. Alternatively, you can also take a cup of red clover tea twice each day to reduce menopausal symptoms.
How It Works: Red clover contains phytoestrogens that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. These compounds can help reduce symptoms associated with menopause and reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
13: Soy Isoflavones
Soy isoflavones are effective antibacterial and antiviral agents. They have many health benefits, including reducing the risk of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings. This herb also contains phytoestrogens which are beneficial for balancing hormone levels in women during menopause. Soy has been used by women all over the world to relieve symptoms associated with menopause.
Natural Sources: Soy isoflavones are found in soybeans, soy milk, and tofu.
How To Take It: The recommended dose for women is 100-200mg of soy isoflavones (genistein) daily after meals or as directed by your health care provider to reduce hot flashes associated with menopause.
How It Works: Soy isoflavones can promote hormonal balance in women by relieving symptoms associated with menopause and reducing the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Related: Over 30 Hormone Support
14: Dong Quai Root Extracts
Dong Quai root is popular among women for treating severe headaches during menopause. It provides relief for such symptoms as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and cramping during menstrual periods.
Dong Quai root contains phytoestrogens that are beneficial for hormonal balance in women by relieving painful menstruation and reducing the risk of heart disease or osteoporosis.
Natural Sources: The fresh roots and rhizomes of this plant are available from most health food stores and Asian herbal shops.
How To Take It: The recommended dose is 250mg of dried root powder or 2-3 cups of Dong Quai tea daily to reduce menopausal symptoms.
How It Works: Dong Quai contains phytoestrogens that mimic the effects of estrogen and reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other menopause-related symptoms.
15: Holy Basil
Holy basil leaves are commonly used in cooking. Many Asian women use it to relieve headaches and other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness during menstrual periods. This herb contains phytoestrogens and can reduce menopausal symptoms by promoting hormonal balance.
Natural Sources: The fresh leaves of this plant are available from Asian herbal shops and some health food stores. You can also buy them online from such sites as Amazon.com.
How To Take It: The recommended dose is 1 cup of Holy basil tea daily to reduce menopausal symptoms.
How It Works: Holy basil contains phytoestrogens that mimic the effects of estrogen and relieve symptoms associated with menopause like hot flashes.
Conclusion
Menopause can be a difficult time in a woman’s life. It brings with it many physical, emotional, and psychological changes that can affect your mental state.
Many women suffer from anxiety and depression during menopause. Some even experience memory loss. These are natural symptoms of estrogen deficiency present in your body when you go through menopause. Scientists have identified many herbs that can provide relief from these symptoms.
Natural ingredients in these herbs mimic the effects of estrogen and promote hormonal balance in women during menopause. They stimulate estrogen production in your body, thereby relieving the uncomfortable symptoms of this transition period like hot flashes and memory loss.
Some even act as antidepressants, which help you cope with the psychological changes you may experience during menopause.
If you are going through menopause or thinking about it, give herbs a try.
The above herbs are available from any health food store and many Asian herbal shops around the country. They are also pretty affordable. So, give them a try to find out which ones work for you.
Contact your health care provider or local herbalist if you are interested in learning more about menopause and the natural options available to help relieve menopausal symptoms. Happy hunting!