Drinking a soothing cup of herbal tea isn’t just a great way to relax and unwind. It’s also an effective way of restoring hormonal balance.
After all, long before modern-day pills were invented, tea was one of the ways in which our ancestors enjoyed the healing benefits of plants.
So, in this post we’re going to look at the top herbal teas for balancing women’s hormones, plus a simple recipe that you can use to get started!
10 HERBAL TEAS THAT BALANCE FEMALE HORMONES
The herbs listed in this section have a history of being used for hormone balance and female health as a whole.
In addition, there’s now an increasing number of studies that confirm that these herbs really do work.
So, based on the anecdotal and scientific reports, here are 10 herbs that you can add to your natural hormone balance kit.
1. Vitex
Also known as chaste berry, vitex is a classic women’s herb that helps with (source):
- hot flashes
- acne
- irregular or missing periods
- fibroids
- endometriosis
- sleep disruption during menopause
- PMS
- regulating prolactin levels
- balancing estrogen to progesterone ratio
- boosting fertility
- improving luteal phase defect
So, how is it that vitex can achieve such amazing results?
Well, these berries act on the hypothalamus and the pituitary, which are the two most important glands in the endocrine system.
Basically, the hypothalamus is the master gland that regulates everything related to hormone production. It keeps an eye on how things are going in the body and then sends signals to the pituitary.
As for the pituitary, it takes action based on signals from the hypothalamus.
The pituitary secretes hormones that affect the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries and other hormone-producing centers in the body.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile tea is often thought of as a “sleep” tea.
And yes, good sleep is important for happy hormones.
But chamomile does a lot more than just help us catch some zzz’s!
Chamomile can also:
- fight inflammation.
- regulate blood sugar (helpful for PCOS and weight loss).
- lower testosterone levels (also helpful for PCOS symptoms like acne, hirsutism and irregular periods).
- reduce stress.
- Soothe the gastro-intestinal tract.
3. Red Clover
There are two main benefits that come with using red clover for hormone balance.
- First, red clover has historically been used as a liver cleanser. And a healthy liver is essential for purifying the blood and eliminating compounds that interfere with hormone health.
- Second, red clover contains isoflavones, which are plant estrogens. These plant estrogens can be particularly beneficial if you are dealing with low estrogen symptoms.
Overall, red clover is beneficial for symptoms like hot flashes, PMS and breast tenderness (source).
4. Milk Thistle
The liver doesn’t just remove hormone disrupting toxins from the body. It also makes some hormones.
So, it goes without saying that having a healthy liver is a must for correcting hormonal imbalances.
And milk thistle is one of the best liver-friendly herbs you can use.
Aside from supporting the liver, milk thistle also:
- lowers insulin resistance
- regulates blood sugar
- boosts immune function
- improves acne
5. Dandelion
Similar to milk thistle, dandelion is also a liver herb.
This means that dandelion is great for supporting detoxification.
In addition, dandelion contains vitamin K which helps with blood clotting and can reduce heavy menstrual flow (source).
6. Mint (Spearmint and Peppermint)
Both spearmint and peppermint tea provide important benefits for female hormones.
First, spearmint tea has been shown to lower androgen levels and hirsutism in women with PCOS.
In addition, spearmint tea is also anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and high in disease-fighting antioxidants (source).
As for peppermint, it’s also anti-inflammatory and helps relieve menstrual cramps, improves digestion, boosts energy and cools the body (very handy for hot flashes) (source).
7. Hibiscus
Even though I’ve written about using hibiscus tea for menopause, you can actually enjoy the benefits of this powerful red tea during any phase of life!
Hibiscus has been shown to (source):
- regulate blood sugar
- lower hot flashes
- support liver health
- relieve depression
- lower inflammation
- fight oxidative stress
- support weight loss
8. Ginger
Ginger is great for reducing systemic inflammation and supporting various aspects of menstrual health.
Ginger has been shown to help:
- reduce heavy menstrual bleeding
- induce ovulation
- improve irregular/missing periods
- regulate blood sugar
- relieve menstrual cramps
- boost immunity
9. Red Raspberry Leaf
Red raspberry leaf is generally seen as a woman’s tea because it has a particular affinity for the reproductive organs.
Not only does red raspberry leaf tone and nourish the uterus, but it also:
- improves heavy periods
- cools the body
- supports a healthy menstrual cycle and fertility
10. Nettle Leaf
Nettle leaf (aka stinging nettle) is known for:
- regulating blood sugar
- supporting the liver
- fighting inflammation
In addition, some reports indicate that nettle leaf can lower DHT, a hormone that is strongly linked to female hair loss (source).
As a matter of fact, when it comes to hair loss, many women use nettle leaf not just internally, but also as a restorative hair rinse!
HOW TO MAKE A TEA FOR BALANCING FEMALE HORMONES
Alrighty, now that we’ve covered some of the herbs that you can use for your hormones, let’s have a look at a simple tea that you can put together.
This is a blend that you can use during any phase of life to boost detoxification, lower inflammation, regulate your sex hormones and cool the body.
Personally, this is one of my go-to when I want a quick blend because it tastes great, hot or cold.
I also enjoy drinking it right after a meal. Very soothing for the digestive system.
As great as this tea is, you can kick it up a notch by making an overnight infusion. Infusions are more potent and have a higher concentration of nutrients. To learn how I make my infusion, check out this hormone balancing tea recipe.
Nettle, Red Raspberry Leaf and Spearmint Tea
Makes (6 cups)
Ingredients
2 tbsp dried nettle leaf
2 tbsp dried red raspberry leaf
2 tbsp dried spearmint leaf
1.5 tsp dried, green stevia leaf (NOT refined white stevia
6 cups boiling water
How To Make
- Place the herbs into a tea infuser
- Pour the boiling water over the herbs.
- Allow to infuse for at least 30 minutes.
- Store in the fridge and drink within 72 hours.
- Drink 2 to 3 cups per day.
NOTE:
- Chamomile also tastes really great with this blend.
- When making herbal tea, always use a ratio of 1 tsp dried herb for every cup of water.
- For a stronger tea, use the same quantity of herbs and reduce the water by 1 cup.