Do you feel you’re more irritable, cranky, or depressed for no apparent reason nowadays? Chances are that you’re suffering from a hormonal imbalance. The pressure we feel on a daily basis from everyday challenges can make us stressed, whether those challenges are emotional, mental, or even environmental. This can lead to hormonal dysregulation and affect our mood. Luckily, there are plenty of adaptogens that can help realign our hormones.
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are plant compounds that regulate our endocrine system, which in turn help balance our hormones.
It’s easy for our hectic lifestyles to send our body into overdrive. When we have stress, our body goes into fight-or-flight mode, which can disrupt the balance of our hormones.
Like the name sounds, adaptogens help our bodies adapt to the stressors in life while gently healing our natural stress response over time.
Best Adaptogenic Herbs for Hormonal Balance
Here are the best adaptogenic herbs that can help balance your thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones:
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is one of the best adaptogenic herbs for hormonal balance. It supports overall endocrine function and balances the thyroid and adrenal glands. Ashwagandha can also improve our resistance towards stress resulting in balanced hormones.
Saw Palmetto
This adaptogenic herb has the ability to improve immune function and relieve stress. As an added bonus this plant is especially good for improving reproductive function and libido in both men and women.
Maca Root
Maca root helps balance our hormones by regulating the pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid glands and supporting the balance of the endocrine system. Research also suggests that this plant can be an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for early post-menopausal women as well.
Shatavari
This particular herb has been used in Ayurveda medicine as an alternative for hormone replacement therapy. Shatavari can help relieve PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), increase fertility, and alleviate menopause. As an added bonus, this herb also serves as a natural aphrodisiac to help with low libido as well.
Ganoderma Lucidum
This is actually an adaptogenic mushroom that has been used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine and helps support immune health while offering hormone-balancing benefits. Ganoderma Lucidum has the ability to reduce inflammation and fight fatigue also.
As we all know, no two people are alike. Some might experience the benefits of these herbs while some might need an extra dose of these herbs to reap the benefits. That said, it’s always best to consult a licensed herbalist or doctor before consuming these adaptogens.
