Top 4 tips to help support hormone balance for women

After years of struggling with uncomfortable hormonal symptoms, I turned to my western doctor hoping that I would find some answers. After a few years of going to different western or "traditional" doctors, I still came up empty handed with options to try to begin to get my hormones under control. This is truly the event in my life that lite the fire inside of me to begin to care about my health. After trying a huge variety of different natural methods in effort to try to remedy my hormonal issues, that were the root cause of my terrible periods, I have found a few that I really have come to love. These have turned my periods around, so that each month there is less pain, discomfort, and other PMS symptoms. A common theme you will notice in post is the importance of constancy. Since these are all natural methods, they are not an over night fix to all of the problems that may be going on deep down to cause PMS or hormone imbalances. So stick with whatever you try for at least 3 months before making a final conclusion about something. Keep in mind, these are what really work for me, so take what works for you and leave what doesn't!

1. Castor Oil Packs

This has been on the most transformative things that I have been able to integrate into my everyday routine. Castor oil packs are a really non-invasive technique, while also being cheap and simple. Castor oil packs by help to detoxify the liver, calm inflammation in other digestive organs, and help to improve circulation. I usually try to do it every week night (Monday- Thursday or Friday), aiming for about 4 nights a week is the most optimal and you will be able to get the greatest benefit from it. I always buy my castor oil organic, especially since this will be soaking into your skin, and castor oil is a common product that can contain high levels of heavy metals for pesticide use.

How to do them?

Its as easy as purchasing organic castor oil (either online/amazon, or a local health store will have it too).

Then, before bed, you will take a quarter size amount of the oil and put it on your right lower abdomen. The area is located right under you ribs. You are trying to target the liver here. Rub in the oil a little and since castor oil is extremely viscous (thick) it won't soak in right away. Simply place a towel over the oil, I use a small wash cloth. If it is the summer months this is where you stop, but in the colder winter months I add a heating pad since this will help your skin absorb more and create better circulation in that area. Then, you can either sit with it on your skin for at least an hour, or I usually just will fall asleep with it on to let it keep absorbing while I sleep. I always turn off the heating pad before I sleep though, to avoid fire hazard.

*Tip: wear a shirt that you don't mind if it gets oil stains on it!

2. Eat ginger

This is a really easy one to also integrate into you daily routine! It can be as easy as adding fresh ginger to any of you cooking or making tea with it! I opt for fresh ginger when ever I can, it has a lot better flavor compared to dried, but if dried is all I can find I will use that too! I try to focus on eating or drinking ginger the 7-10 days before my period is supposed to start. This is because ginger is a warming herb that helps to improve circulation in the body. Using these warming herbs helps to also warm the uterus before mensuration and relieve a lot of the pain you can have from cramping. I try to drink ginger tea 3-4 times a day before my period starts and the more you can drink or eat the better!

Here is a simple homemade ginger tea recipe that is really affordable...

Ingredients:

-fresh ginger root (peeled)

-lemon juice

-raw honey

Simply peel and roughly chop ginger, add boiling water to it. Let it steep for a few minutes, or I just leave my ginger in the tea while I drink it so it gets stronger. Then, Add in fresh lemon juice and a spoonful of honey. Enjoy!

3. Liver Supplement

This has been a game changer and that is taking a liver support supplement. Since this can be more expensive, it was something that took me awhile to prioritize in my monthly budget in college. But, it has not only help decrease my PMS symptoms, but it also has helps with bloating and gas. I get my supplement on amazon and I take it every morning. But what every kind you choose to get will work. The main herbs to look for when you are buying a liver support supplement, is Dandelion root, milk thistle, burdock root, licorice root, and artichoke. These are all bitter herbs that help to pull extra hormones that can get stuck in the liver. Since you liver is responsible for over 400 bodily functions in the body, taking care of your liver will be your best friend!

If taking a supplement doesn't work well for you, you can drink these herbs in a tea format. Making sure that you steep the tea for at least 30 mins, or over night if you can handle it. This will make a bitter tea, but thats how you also get the full benefit from it. Try adding in other flavors that you enjoy to make it taste yummier! I love to drink Rasa the week before my period, since the other herbs in it also help to support the liver. It taste a lot like coffee and they have a lot of different flavors, the cacao is my favorite! I steep it for about 30 mins in a french press and then add coconut milk and honey after!

4. Zinc

Zinc is amazing for a lot of things in the body, including immunity, hormone balance, and healing acne. I first found out about taking it when I started to see a naturopathic. I started to take it for my acne and it did wonders for me! I take it in a capsule format everyday to make sure that I get enough in. If you choose a supplement format, make sure to supplement it with copper. But if a supplement is not accessible for you, zinc can be found in a lot of foods. For example, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, dark chocolate, garlic, almonds, and legumes. Try integrating more zinc rich foods into you diet!

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, always consult your own doctor.