How often have you felt low, tired, or irritable and been told, “It’s probably just your hormones!” Annoying as it may be, for women, the delicate balance of hormones can indeed be a fair and significant indicator of health. This balance is often on the line with the high-strung, high-pressure lifestyle that many women lead. Swallowing pills that further mess up the hormones should be avoided, so let’s find out if ashwagandha, one of Ayurveda’s super herbs, can beat the imbalance.
Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng is a herb used commonly in Ayurvedic treatments. Both Ayurveda and other scientific communities agree that ashwagandha is an adaptogen, that is, it can help fight the physical and chemical effects of stress. Building on this, ashwagandha has been tried in cancer treatment, stress relief, anxiety treatment, and even Alzheimer’s.1 It is believed that it can give a man the virility of a horse. Studies are being conducted to see if ashwagandha can also help balance female hormones.
Ashwagandha Balances Estrogen And Progesterone Levels
Estrogen, a female sex hormones, is produced aplenty by the ovaries during the first half of the menstrual cycle. It grows the uterus lining and helps the egg mature before ovulation. Working alongside estrogen is progesterone which balances the effects of estrogen and control the build-up and release of the uterine wall in every cycle. Women also have a low level of the essentially male hormone testosterone, which helps with muscle mass, bone strength, and general wellness. The perfect balance of these three hormones along with the healthy functioning of the pituitary gland, as it signals actions to the brain, is essential for a regular menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
The dance of hormones is in full swing during the monthly menstrual cycle and also, more importantly, during menopause in women. The perimenopause phase sees a significant reduction in progesterone production in the second half of the cycle as the number of cycles itself reduces. The imbalance, with higher estrogen levels as well, leads to erratic cycles and heavier bleeding. During actual menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and only a small amount is produced by fat tissue and adrenal glands. The lack of progesterone and the presence of estrogen alone, though in lower quantities, is a significant change during menopause.
Ashwagandha works with the adrenal system to help moderate the effects of high levels of estrogen as compared to progesterone. This imbalance is significant during menopause but could occur earlier also due to other health conditions. Symptoms vary widely among women but studies show that ashwagandha can help manage this significant change in a woman’s body. The severity of the symptoms – be it heavy bleeding, mood swings, or hot flashes – and the overall quality of life improve with ashwagandha treatment.2
Ashwagandha Can Substitue Hormone Replacement Therapy
Ashwagandha is in fact seen as a useful alternative to rigorous hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offered in conventional treatments for estrogen imbalance. Most menopausal women, up to 57% in fact, experience hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety and psychosomatic symptoms like osteoporosis, and insomnia. Not all of them can withstand or afford treatments like HRT.3
Further in-depth studies will help validate the efficacy of ashwagandha in treating the hormonal imbalances that ail so many women. This herb is definitely a ray of hope in this field.
If you want to use it to balance your estrogen levels, have a word with an Ayurvedic practitoner first. Do not self-medicate.
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