Are you experiencing irregular periods, excessive weight gain and hair growth? If you are, then chances are that you have PCOS.
PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is an endocrine or hormonal disorder that affects 8-13% of females worldwide. It is a lifelong illness associated with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease and more. Despite these related conditions, over 70% of PCOS cases are undiagnosed.
PCOS is accompanied by many challenges that are difficult to manage, even with clinical intervention. As a result, many of us have turned to a more natural and holistic approach to treating PCOS.
Join us as we explore the world of herbal remedies that can improve and manage PCOS.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a prevalent endocrine disorder in females that can affect general health, sexual health and quality of life (Aversa et al., 2020). It is often characterised as a hormonal imbalance that manifests with irregular periods, weight gain, acne and excessive hair growth (Witchel et al., 2019).
PCOS is a lifelong condition that affects each woman differently. As such, medical or clinical intervention alone might not always be an effective treatment plan. Luckily, several herbal remedies have proven most effective in treating PCOS. These include:
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a popular spice found on the inner bark of the Cinnamom tree. This ingredient has many health benefits as it is rich in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, and can treat or manage several illnesses.
The most important benefit of cinnamon is that it can improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants such as procyanidins and polyphenols. These stimulate the insulin signalling pathway (Lakshmi et al., 2023). Among PCOS patients, cinnamon can assist with menstrual cycles and metabolic health (Dashghein, 2022; Hajimonfarednejad, 2018).
Spearmint Tea
Spearmint, or Mentha spicata, is a medicinal plant with many positive health benefits. Spearmint:
Alleviates nausea, vomiting and indigestion
Is high in antioxidants that can aid with heart disease, cancer and diabetes
Can reduce excessive facial hair in women
Improves memory
Drinking two cups of spearmint tea daily is a type of ayurvedic treatment that can assist with reducing testosterone levels and hirsutism among PCOS patients (Kumar et al., 2022).
Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto or Serenoa repens is a palm tree native to North America. The Saw Palmetto fruit is a berry that can be used as a diuretic, aphrodisiac and sedative. Extracts from this fruit can be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
In recent years, research studies have recognised the effectiveness of saw palmetto in treating symptoms of PCOS. The extract from saw palmetto contains a fatty acid called liposterols, which have anti-androgenic properties.
Liposterol produces an enzyme that prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Amongst PCOS patients, saw palmetto can assist with hyperandrogenism, which causes irregular periods, excessive body hair and acne (Pachiappan et al., 2020).
Chasteberry
Chasteberry or Vitex agnus-castus is a fruit used to treat hormonal conditions such as premenstrual syndrome, breast pain and irregular periods. In recent years, it has become a common treatment for PCOS (Khanage et al., 2019).
Chastberry helps to stimulate and maintain the function of the pituitary gland. This gland plays a key role in producing luteinising hormone, which is vital for the menstrual cycle (Khanage et al., 2019). As such, chasteberry can assist with regulating the menstrual cycle and managing PCOS.
Maca Root
Maca root, or Peruvian ginseng, is an adaptogenic herb with many health benefits. It can assist with depression, increase energy levels and aid with stress management by inhibiting cortisol levels.
Cortisol is vital in regulating high blood pressure, blood sugar levels, metabolism and sleep cycles. In addition, cortisol plays a role in PCOS.
Green Tea
Green tea is one of the most popular herbal drinks on the market. It is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and is associated with various health benefits. Green tea has high levels of anti-oxidants called catechins, and it has been associated with improved cognitive function, blood sugar levels and general health.
Several research studies have shown that green tea can lead to a significant improvement in PCOS. For instance, green tea extract can improve weight loss in PCOS patients and decrease insulin resistance and free testosterone levels (Maleki et al., 2021).
Six Herbal Remedies for PCOS
In recent years, there has been a steady rise in PCOS in women across the globe. Despite the high prevalence of this condition, there is a lack of awareness and consensus about treatment. As a result, many of us have turned to natural and herbal interventions to manage symptoms of PCOS. This article highlights six remedies that you can use to treat PCOS.
References
Aversa, A., La Vignera, S., Rago, R., Gambineri, A., Nappi, R. E., Calogero, A. E., & Ferlin, A. (2020). Fundamental concepts and novel aspects of polycystic ovarian syndrome: expert consensus resolutions. Frontiers in endocrinology, 11, 516. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00516
Dastgheib, M., Barati-Boldaji, R., Bahrampour, N., Taheri, R., Borghei, M., Amooee, S., Mohammadi-Sartang, M., Wong, A., Babajafari, S., & Mazloomi, S. M. (2022). A comparison of the effects of cinnamon, ginger, and metformin consumption on metabolic health, anthropometric indices, and sexual hormone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1071515
Hajimonfarednejad, M., Nimrouzi, M., Heydari, M., Zarshenas, M. M., Raee, M. J., & Jahromi, B. N. (2018). Insulin resistance improvement by cinnamon powder in polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomised, double‐blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 32(2), 276-283.
Kumar, R., Kumar, D., Garg, V., & Salman ali, S. (2022). Ayurvedic treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Southeast Asian Journal of Health Professional, 4(1), 6–9. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.sajhp.2021.002
Khanage, S. G., Subhash, T. Y., & Bhaiyyasaheb, I. R. (2019). Herbal drugs for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its complications. Pharm. Res, 2(1), 5-13.
Lakshmi, J. N., Babu, A. N., Kiran, S. S., Nori, L. P., Hassan, N., Ashames, A., Bhandare, R. R., & Shaik, A. B. (2023). Herbs as a Source for the Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Systematic Review. BioTech, 12(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/biotech12010004
Maleki, V., Taheri, E., Varshosaz, P., Tabrizi, F. P. F., Moludi, J., Jafari-Vayghan, H., ... & Alizadeh, M. (2021). A comprehensive insight into effects of green tea extract in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 19, 1-8.
Pachiappan, S., Ramalingam, K., & Balasubramanian, A. (2020). A review on phytomedicine and their mechanism of action on PCOS. Int. J. Curr. Res. Rev, 12, 81.
Witchel, S. F., Teede, H. J., & Peña, A. S. (2019). Curtailing PCOS. Pediatric Research, 87(2), 353-361. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-019-0615-1