Our bodies rely on a delicate dance of hormonal interplay. Every day, hundreds of chemical exchanges occur involving a number of hormones within our bodies. These exchanges require our bodies to digest food, process thoughts, eliminate waste, manage our heartbeats, blood flow and more.
So many of our most common degenerative diseases have been linked to hormonal imbalance. Diabetes is a disruption in the hormone insulin. Parkinson’s disease and addiction are related in part to a disruption of the hormone dopamine. Other hormonal disorders include infertility, endometriosis, and impotence.
The solutions to hormonal imbalance can be simple: by eating well, avoiding chemicals and additives in our foods, managing stress and getting adequate sleep and exercise, we can help our bodies maintain hormonal balance.
As always, consult your physician prior to altering your health-care practices.
Balancing Hormones In Men and Women
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is one of the more established adaptogens with a broad array of benefits. This is one of the best immune system boosters. It can also slow down the aging process and revitalize the entire body by stimulating the production of stem cells in the bone marrow. Astragalus balances the hormonal system. It does this by improving communication between the hormones and hormone-regulating chemicals. This herb can be taken as a tea, tincture or the dried root slices can be added to soups.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) also known as Indian Ginseng has a wide-ranging action on the endocrine system making it an excellent adaptogen. Ashwagandha has a balancing effect on the adrenal glands and the thyroid. It benefits thyroid function because it promotes the scavenging of free radicals that cause cellular damage. Ashwagandha helps to support a sluggish or overactive thyroid, in addition, it helps to overcome adrenal fatigue. Your adrenals can become overtaxed when you experience too much emotional, physical or mental stress, leading to the disruption of hormones like adrenaline, cortisol, and progesterone. This can be taken as a tea or tincture.
Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) has gained a reputation for helping balance hormones and reverse hypothyroidism. It is an endocrine adaptogen, it doesn’t contain any hormones but contains the nutrients necessary to support normal hormone production. It has the ability to balance several hormones and increase progesterone and DHEA levels. Progesterone is a vital hormone for men and women’s health.
Maca may be the ultimate natural HRT. Unlike some herbs and phytoestrogens such as soy, maca does not try to mimic estrogen in the body. It can actually increase the body’s production of estrogen if your levels are too low. Unlike HRT, which may cause a rise in cholesterol such as triglycerides, maca has helped lower unhealthy HDL cholesterol and increase healthy HDL cholesterol in menopausal women. Use 1 tsp of Maca root powder mixed into smoothies or hot tea.
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) has a relaxing effect on your body. It is able to increase the natural production of growth hormones and testosterone therefore improving general well-being and slowing down the aging process. American ginseng is true ginseng it has a milder and more controlled action compared to the Chinese ginseng. It supports the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis helping to maintain correct hormonal balance. It does not overstimulate the endocrine system. American ginseng contains ginsenosides which are only in real ginseng.
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is often used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Taking this herb may help increase sperm count and reduce chronic fatigue. It relieves stress and improves immune function.
The herb has a balancing effect on the endocrine system as a whole but the particularly beneficial action is on both male and female reproductive systems.
Since both men and women have the same sex hormones estrogen and progesterone but in varying amounts, it is not difficult to see how the same herb can be of use for improving the reproductive function and libido in both sexes.
The herb is taken as a dried or whole berry form or as a tincture. The recommended dosage for adults is 1-2 grams of ground or whole berries daily, 2-4 ml of extract three times daily or 4 oz. of tea (2 tsp. of dried berry in 24 oz. water simmered until liquid is reduced by half) three times daily.
Epimedium (Epimedium spp.) also known as horny goat weed because of the increased sexual activity of goats that ate the plant. It is used to treat a variety of health problems such as osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, hypertension, memory loss, and joint pain. This is because it is an adaptogenic herb that improves general health. It is effective for:
- Supporting sexual health
- Promoting muscle mass and bone mass
- Boosting the immune function
- Easing the normal symptoms of menopause
- Supporting the cardiovascular system
Epimedium naturally balances hormone function without being an actual hormone itself. This is helpful for women who experience hormonal fluctuations during PMS or menopause. The herb may also reduce the incidence of dangerous side effects associated with many hormone therapies for both men and women.
Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) assists both female and male reproductive health. The extract acts on the pituitary gland to regulate various hormones like estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone and prolactin. This herb treats hormonal imbalance in women like premenstrual syndrome, cyclical breast pain, polycystic ovary disease, uterine fibroids and menopausal problems.
Chasteberry is not just for women. This herb is a natural remedy to help balance hormones in men. It has a natural anti-androgen that lowers testosterone levels and may suppress the onset of prostate cancer. The herb treats low libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and pain.
Chasteberry works by regulating and supporting the pituitary gland, the master gland for hormone production.
Simmer 1 tsp of chasteberry in 1 pint of water for 10 to 15 minutes, drink three times per day. The tincture is 30-40 drops in water drank in the morning.
Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) acts like estrogen in the brain and can have a similar effect on the reproductive system. The herb treats hot flashes, night sweats, disturbances in mood and vaginal dryness in addition to other menopausal symptoms.
The hormone-balancing effect of this herb is due to its estrogenic properties. Black cohosh has anti-inflammatory actions that help in relieving pain and swelling associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
The dried roots are available as teas, liquid extracts or capsule form. Dosage is 20 to 40 mg to treat menopause symptoms.
As we can see, there are many herbal alternatives to treat hormonal imbalances for men and women. There are many things we can do to assist in balancing our hormones. Eating well, avoiding chemicals and additives in our foods, managing stress and getting adequate sleep and exercise, we can help our bodies maintain hormonal balance.
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