When your hormones are off balance, your body will let you know. For example, you may experience weight gain, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and digestion problems. Oftentimes, lifestyle habits such as lack of sleep or overwhelming stress is to blame. So how can you balance hormones?
Unfortunately, hormonal imbalance is common. But if your body is telling you that your hormones are out of whack, there's a natural and effective way to fix it. Many herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine have the power to balance your hormones and help you feel as good as new. (1, 2)
Here are nine Chinese herbs that work to balance hormones:
1. Goji Berries
Goji berries are packed with antioxidants. They're also one of the most nutrient dense berries on the planet. Goji berries have natural anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties. They're rich in both selenium and potassium, which helps balance your pituitary gland. (2)
2. Dang Gui
Dang Gui is one of the most used herbs in Chinese medicine. It has natural therapeutic properties that benefit the heart, lung, and kidneys. While it is most used to support the blood and circulation, it is also used to clean toxins out of the body. Addressing blood concerns, like a menstrual disorder, can help get your hormones back on track. (3)3. Longan Fruit
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners use Longan berry to calm anxiety, relieve insomnia, and fight fatigue. It's a powerful anti-inflammatory that can balance hormone levels in the body, protect the brain, and give you a natural energy boost. (4)
4. Chinese Wild Yam
Traditional Chinese Medicine also credits the Chinese wild yam with many health benefits, including the ability to sooth anxiety, lower blood sugar levels, and promote healthy sleep patterns. And these qualities also help balance hormones. Not to be confused with sweet potatoes, the Chinese wild yam offers other unique benefits, such as the ability to balance the microbiome to relieve acute diarrhea, which many people experience after a round of antibiotics. (5, 6)5. Ginseng
Another well-known Chinese herb is ginseng. As just one of many benefits, ginseng supports the pituitary and adrenal glands to help maintain hormonal balance. It also strengthens the immune system and helps to relieve stress, which is a common cause of hormonal imbalance. (7)
6. White Peony Root
White peony, which helps with painful menstruation, also benefits people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Primarily, white peony relaxes muscles, so menstruation isn't as painful. It also promotes circulation to the reproductive organs. In addition, it helps to lower testosterone levels in women and balance hormone levels. All of these improve fertility and relieve symptoms of menopause. (8)7. Lotus Seed
Lotus seed is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to strengthen both the reproductive system and the digestive system. And by improving your digestion, you can better use all those herbs you're taking to balance your hormones. Similar to Longan berries, lotus seeds support the microbiome and are high in antioxidants. This plant food can help battle symptoms of hormonal imbalance, including fatigue and digestive problems. (9)
