Natural remedies for hormonal imbalance in females

Hormonal imbalance markedly increases nowadays with the modern lifestyle. Fortunately, hormone imbalances can be naturally controlled by healthy habits and home remedies for hormonal imbalance to improve your hormonal health.(1,2)

Hormones are essential substances (chemical messengers) secreted by endocrine system (glands) in limited amounts. Hormones organize the body’s emotional, physical, and mental functions, so they are the primary controller of your appetite, weight, and mood.(3,4,5)

Some of the hormones in the body include, testosterone, growth hormone, estrogen, insulin and progesterone. The endocrine glands produce hormones from amino acids.(6)

Tell me the cause of hormonal imbalance?

Hormones are messenger chemicals which control the main processes, such as metabolism or reproduction. These are created through endocrine glands. These three main kinds include adrenalin, thyroid hormone and sexual hormone and they are all working together. (6)

When one or more of these glands produces excessive or too little hormones that cause hormonal imbalances to occur in the body this forces them and may cause more imbalances in their function.

You may have found natural ways to improve the symptoms. This page lists different methods of treating hormonal imbalances naturally.

How can I get rid of hormonal imbalance naturally without hormonal therapy? 

1-Low sugars and carbohydrates

Sugars and carbohydrates are related to many health problems like obesity, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, and other dangerous diseases, so it’s vital to minimize sugars and carbs in your diet to improve your hormonal health. 

Insulin is one of the most vital hormones of the body because it has many functions to do with your body. It encourages the cells to take sugar and amino acids from the bloodstream to use them to produce energy.

If insulin markedly increases in your bloodstream, cells neglect insulin resistance signals, causing increased sugar levels in the bloodstream leading to insulin hormonal imbalance and diabetes.

Insulin hormonal imbalance is hazardous as it’s related to many severe health problems such as inflammation, heart diseases, and cancer. 

Honey and maple syrup contain high levels of fructose which increase insulin hormone levels released from the pancreas, causing insulin resistance, especially in obese and over weighted people. 

Foods rich in carbs like white bread and pasta can also increase insulin hormone levels, leading to insulin resistance, which in turn causes prediabetes and diabetes. 

Following low carbs and sugar diets are necessary to relieve insulin hormonal imbalance reduce your intake of foods like high fructose corn syrup and other artificial sweeteners.

2- Regular exercises to balance your hormones

A healthy lifestyle means following a healthy diet and being physically active, so we cannot neglect the significant role of regular exercise in treating hormonal imbalance, decreasing insulin levels, and improving insulin resistance. 

Aerobics exercises, strength training, and stretch exercises can increase insulin sensitivity by reducing their levels in the bloodstream. 

In addition to controlling the insulin in the body, doing regular exercises increases adiponectin levels, which have an inflammatory effect and regulate the body’s metabolism. 

Muscle-maintaining hormones such as testosterone, IGF-1, DHEA, and growth hormone decrease with age. Still, physical activity prevents this drop and keeps your body secreting the same levels of hormones. 

Exercise increases the sensitivity of the brain to hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which regulate stress and anxiety and relieve the feeling of depression.

Exercise promotes the production of endorphins, decreasing pain perception and encouraging positive feelings.

There are many different forms of exercise suitable for all people, such as walking, swimming, running, dancing, and jogging. 

Walking is very simple and suitable for people who can’t do strenuous exercises and help you improve your strength and health.

Regular exercise will help you avoid weight gain and provides many other health benefits.

People who are overweight or obese and have at least one other risk factor for cardiovascular disease should consult a doctor before starting an exercise program. 

3- Protein-rich dietary supplements

Ingesting an adequate amount of protein is an essential home remedy for hormonal imbalance. It provides essential amino acids that your body cannot synthesize and should be available in your daily foods to maintain bones, muscles, and skin health.

The body also uses both essential and non-essential amino acids to make peptide hormones which regulate several physiological processes in the body. Protein is a natural or supplemental form that can increase muscle mass.

The best way to use protein is to spread it out over the day, eating approximately 0.5 grams of complete proteins per pound of body weight. 

Protein is an essential macronutrient that the body needs in large quantities. The human body uses protein for many vital functions, including muscle and tissue repair and growth and blood and immune system health and function. 

Eating protein-rich foods helps you lose weight by reducing hunger hormone levels (ghrelin) and stimulating the production of PYY and GLP-1 hormones which help you feel full. 

Eating a high-protein meal increases the production of  GLP-1 by 20% and  PYY hormone by 14%, which decreases hunger ratings by 25 % compared to meals containing normal protein levels. 

Experts advise ingesting 20–30 grams of protein per meal to optimize hormone health, increasing metabolism and fat burning. Proteins are available in high amounts in the following foods:

 High-protein diets are a popular way to lose weight, but they may not be safe for everyone. The American Heart Association cautions that high-protein diets can raise cholesterol levels if you overeat red meat and cheese.

They also recommend limiting your intake of red meat since it contains saturated fats. 

4- Manage your stress to curb hormone imbalances

Stress is a common cause of hormonal imbalance, so management of your stress is one of the most effective home remedies for hormonal imbalance. 

 Stress is a psychological and physiological state. The stress response is a combination of changes in autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune functions that occur due to an organism perceiving a threat and promoting survival. 

Stress is a feeling of strain and pressure. We all experience some stress in our lives, and it can be positive and helpful (e.g., getting ready for a presentation at work). However, when we experience stress over a long time or the levels become too high, it can harm our physical and mental health. 

There are two major stress hormones( cortisol and adrenaline). The first one helps your body to accommodate chronic stress. Still, the second hormone is the fight or flight hormone, which provides your body with the energy required for immediate danger. 

A stress management program is one approach to reducing stress. It can be used with other interventions to reduce stress, such as exercise. Lowering stress will lower the secretion of these steroid hormones.

Stress management is a process of recognizing, avoiding, or coping with stressful situations. Stress can make individuals more susceptible to illness and can cause physiological responses such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 

An individual’s ability to manage stress is affected by age, sex, physical health, personality, and the environment. 

Stress Management Tips:

• Make time to do things you enjoy.

• Exercise.

• Practice relaxation techniques like meditation to help you relieve stress.

• Learn how to relax your breathing.

• Be persistent in confronting problems that stress you out.

• Get support from family and friends when you need it most. 

Chronic stress management techniques may involve techniques to alter how a person thinks, behaves, and responds to stressors.

5- Green tea 

It’s one of the most available home remedies for hormonal imbalance and metabolic health.

Green tea is a beverage made by steeping green tea leaves in water. Green tea originated in China during the Shang Dynasty as a medicinal drink. In several Asian countries, green tea was historically famous as a medicine but its use as a beverage developed only recently in the Western world. 

Green tea isn’t just a popular beverage. It’s also a natural weight loss supplement. Its active ingredient, caffeine, has been shown to increase the amount of energy the body uses. 

Green tea is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a small evergreen shrub native to East Asia. The leaves are processed by either steaming or pan firing, which prevents oxidation and allows them to retain their color and most of their antioxidants.

Steaming (the most common method) is thought to produce a lower-quality product than pan firing

Green tea plays an essential role to balance your hormones by improving insulin sensitivity² by decreasing insulin levels in both healthy people and people with insulin resistance problems such as diabetes and obesity.

 6- Chia seeds

Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats appear to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering total blood cholesterol levels and decreasing blood’s tendency to clot.

Omega 3 fatty acids play an essential role in treating hormonal imbalance by reducing the levels of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

These medium chain fatty acids will help regulate your body’s response to insulin resistance. For overall health ensure you use animal sources of these fatty acids you dont need to use fatty fish and cod liver oil for these might affect your heart health.

7- Get enough restorative sleep

A good night’s sleep is one of the most important natural remedy for hormonal imbalance. Sufficient sleep is a health improving habit that may improve your health, regulate hormonal imbalance, and general wellbeing. 

It affects our daily lives, from how alert we are at work or during a long drive to how much energy we have for exercise and playtime with friends and family.

Sleep is not a luxury. It’s essential for hormonal imbalance ³ and overall health. 

Sleep is important for many aspects of health, including:

– Cardiovascular function.

– Physical performance.

– Immune function.

– Cognition and memory.

– Mood and mental wellbeing.

– Metabolism, appetite regulation, and body weight. 

 8- High fiber diet

Soluble fiber oligofructose increases PYY levels, and insoluble fiber cellulose increases GLP-1 levels which control your appetite and help you lose weight. They also help in maintaining gut health. In a scientific study conducted in 2009 found that some fiber are capable of balancing body hormones.

 9- Avoid sugary beverages

Any form of sugar is unhealthy and promotes hormonal imbalance, so avoid it. Sugary drinks promote insulin resistance by decreasing insulin sensitivity and increasing the storage of belly fat. By lowering your refined sugar intake, you will ensure optimum hormone function.

 10- Avoid undereating and overeating

Overeating and undereating can cause hormone imbalance in the body as overeating increases the secretion of insulin hormones, but poor diet increases cortisol levels.

11-Avoid GMO foods

Today, its very difficult to find organic food in the stores. These foods have undergone through genetic engineering and may have adverse effects in the normal function of the body. Peer reviewed studies ⁴ poise that these foods have biochemical and hematological parameters there by affecting hormone health.

What causes hormone imbalance

– Some medications, such as birth control pills or steroids (prednisone), injuries, cancer treatments, thyroid disorders and diabetes may also cause hormonal imbalance.

Symptoms of hormone imbalance

Hormonal imbalances can lead to several symptoms, which affect physical frame and emotional health. These include:

• Acne

• Weight gain

• Hair loss

• Mood swings

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Irregular periods

Herbs for hormone imbalance

There are several herbs that will balance the pituitary gland and will ensure the normal secretion and balancing of these chemical messengers in your system.

Nigella seeds

These seeds are rich in antioxidants and a phytonutrient thymoquinone, good for hormone balance.

A recent study found that nigella seeds have protective and therapeutic effects on people with polycystic ovarian syndrome(POS) ⁵, the most prevalent hormone imbalance in women of reproductive age.

Nigella seeds regulate the secretion of many hormones like insulin, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and luteinizing hormone, so it’s a good home remedy for hormone imbalances.

The seeds can be used as a hormone replacement therapy ⁶ during menopause as estrogen secretion decreases and manages the symptoms of low estrogen, which are very annoying for women in this period.

Black cohosh root

Black cohosh root can cure several women’s health problems such as premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularities, and symptoms of menopause. Its a good herb to balance hormones having equal amount of essential fatty acid in oily fish.

Ashwagandha

It’s one of the most effective herbs to help with hormone balance. It can moderate the brain’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that secretes many hormones like cortisol, which is why this herb helps you overcome stress.

Ashwagandha regulates many hormones like insulin, reproductive hormones, and thyroid-stimulating hormones.

Chasteberry

Chastenerry is a Vitex Agnus trees fruit that can be used in balancing hormones. It affects many hormones like prolactin and the neurotransmitter dopamine so that it can manage the symptoms of menopause and support women’s reproductive health.

New studies found that chaste berries can treat infertility disorders and POS syndrome besides hormone regulation.

Marjoram

The herb contains flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have many medicinal properties essential for hormonal balance.

This herb manages blood sugar by reducing fasting insulin hormone levels and is also helpful for people with the POS syndrome as it affects insulin, oestradiol, and cortisol levels.

Milk Thistle

Excess estrogens are filtered from the body through the liver. This herb helps with liver cleansing and is essential for hormone balance. When your liver is not working effectively, there will be higher levels of estrogen than progesterone hormones.

What is the best treatment for hormonal imbalances?

The best treatment for hormone imbalance is to get rid of the root cause of the imbalance, so if hormones cause the imbalance, your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy.

Maintaining a healthy diet will go a long way toward preventing or relieving hormonal imbalance. The foods you eat can have positive or negative effects on your hormones. Below are some guidelines that might help you regulate hormones and maintain the balance of your hormones naturally.

• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in season, full of antioxidants and other nutrients.

• Eat organic foods

• Consuming a diet rich in fiber.

• Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium.

• Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine.

• Exercise.

• Get sufficient sleep. Avoid poor sleep behaviors which are connected with increase in stress hormones. if you are suffering from insomnia, use home remedies to overcome this sleep disorder.

How to cure hormonal imbalance in females?

Hormonal imbalance is the most common diagnosis in women. In fact its also known as hormonal dysregulation, menopause, and perimenopause.

It occurs at various times throughout the life cycle of women. However, menopausal symptoms are most commonly recognized when women reach 45 years old when they cease from their menstrual cycle.

The symptoms of hormonal imbalance include mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain and loss, and night sweats. Changes in women reproductive life affects their sex hormones which inurn cause imbalances in their systems.

Weight control

Medically reviewed studies record that weight loss through diets restricting calories, can lower the levels of androgen and estrogen. The lower the amount of these hormones in the body the lower the cases of hormonal imbalances and reduced breast cancer risk.

Kelps

This is a Chinese herb with high iodine content. Iodine, according to scientific evidence helps with thyroid function.

Avoid products with potentially harmful chemicals

Products like body care and cosmetics contain chemicals that when absorbed in the body will affect the normal functions of the adrenal glands yielding several health conditions other than hormonal imbalances.

Replace the missing hormone

You can achieve this through hormone therapy. Furthermore, there are some things you can do to reduce the effects of the imbalance, as outlined in this article.

The use of black cohosh to cure hormonal imbalance

Black cohosh is a natural herb that can treat women’s issues such as hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression, stomach cramps, and breast pain/tenderness.

Take hormonal treatment at the right time

It is essential to take the treatment at the right time because when the body receives the hormone treatment, it will release the most effective and beneficial hormones and keep them at an average level.

Avoid artificial light on bed

Having bright artificial lights in bed may affect your natural circadian rhythm which regulates hormones in your body. Keeping off from these poor sleep habits like cell phones in bed and television can help you balance hormones naturally. Furthermore, artificial light can make you develop insomnia.

Risk factors for hormonal imbalance

Hormone imbalance is multifactory, these include diet and history genetics, stress levels, and exposure to toxic substances in our environment. Adrenal disorders cause the largest imbalance between the sex hormones in women due to the “cortisol steal”.

It is usually done because of cholesterol whose effect on sex hormone production can be augmented by stress resulting in the breakdown of the 18/20 lyase enzyme, which causes the production of stress hormone cortisol levels to rise.

To balance hormones in your system, then you must avoid factors that will affect the normal function of the endocrine system. You may consider to uphold factor that will improve the quality of your health and you will realize better results.

Take away on hormonal balance

Hormones are the primary controller of your body’s health, so hormonal imbalance is associated with many health problems like heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes.

Hormones affect almost all the processes that occur in the body and there fore you must ensure you balance hormone levels for optimum health.

Consider one or more of these home remedies for hormonal balance, and you will get desirable results.

Home remedies for hormonal imbalance help you manage your symptoms, but you need to see your doctor if you suffer from other health conditions.