From the onset of menstruation through the childbearing years and into the natural shift to menopause, a woman's body is designed to evolve and change. But through all those transitions, many women wonder how to balance hormones and support their bodies.
The stages women experience throughout life closely mimic that of plants: Growth, reproduction, maturation, and the passing of wisdom to the next generation. Nature sets a great example and shows us how to transform through life's stages with grace and beauty.
We can share in the wisdom of Nature through the vitality provided by plants. Gaia Herbs offers herbal supplements that support a woman's hormonal and reproductive well-being throughout all seasons of life.*
No matter your age or stage, turn to Nature to guide you in your health and wellness journey.
Herbal Support for Younger Women*
Healthy hormone levels are necessary for a woman’s well-being at all ages. With menstruation beginning as early as nine years of age in some girls and PMS becoming a major problem in some women during their 20s and 30s, getting a head start on maintaining hormone balance is crucial.
Vitex agnus-castus, also called Vitex Berry or Chaste Tree Berry, has been used since the time of Hippocrates in the 5th century BC to support gynecological health, particularly for the changing seasons and cycles of life.*
Vitex is one of our favorite herbs for women due to the positive impact it can have on quality of life.* It has long been used to support hormone production and balance.*
It has also been traditionally used to help maintain comfort during the menstrual cycle.*
Find Vitex in herbal extract or in capsule form and featured in a variety of Gaia Herbs products, such as the ones listed below.
Chaste Tree Berry
Our Chaste Tree Berry supplement delivers Vitex in a liquid extract that can be taken by simply mixing 60-120 drops into a small amount of water. Drink once daily in the morning, and keep in mind that the best results will be achieved with long-term use.
Vitex Berry
If you prefer to swallow a capsule, Vitex Berry is for you.
This formula is a single-herb Chaste Tree extract in a vegan capsule. You can count on it to be free of corn, dairy, gluten, peanuts, shellfish, soy, sugar, tree nuts, and yeast.
Take two capsules daily in the morning.
Vitex Elixir
Our Vitex Elixir contains Chaste Tree Berry along with a blend of other herbs traditionally used to support hormonal balance and reproductive health.* These herbs include Cramp Bark, Dandelion root, Red Raspberry, Partridge, Prickly Ash, and Vervain.*
This supplement is a liquid extract and can be taken by simply mixing 30-60 drops into a small amount of water three to four times daily.
Fertility Support
We’ve included Vitex in our Fertility Support capsules, too. In addition to Vitex, this formula also contains Cramp Bark, organic Ginger Root, and other herbs and is designed to support healthy hormone levels, ovulation rhythm, and healthy cycles during preconception.*
Like all of our products, these fertility support herbal supplements are easy to take. Simply swallow two capsules every day in the morning.
(Note: Except in those formulas specifically designed for breastfeeding and lactation support, like those discussed below, these herbs are not intended for use during pregnancy. Please consult with your healthcare professional before using any herbs during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.)
Herbs for Breastfeeding*
Nursing mothers need additional nourishment. Lactation Support capsules support healthy production and optimal nutrient composition of breast milk.*
Fenugreek seed, Fennel seed, Raspberry leaf, and Marshmallow root are included in this formula to support milk flow and provide a natural source of nutrients.*
While breastfeeding, many healthcare professionals advise mothers to drink at least an extra quart, or 32 ounces, of water per day. Our Lactation Support Tea can help.
Perfect for nursing mothers, Lactation Support Tea is made from organic herbs, including Stinging Nettle, Goat's Rue, and Fenugreek. Fennel and Lemon Balm help support healthy digestion and provide a subtly sweet, aromatic flavor that makes this tea satisfying and delightful.*
We offer many herbs that can be taken safely during lactation. Read 5 Herbs for Breastfeeding Moms to learn more.
We want you to feel confident about what you're putting in your body, especially when you're breastfeeding. That's why we created the world’s first herb traceability platform: meetyourherbs.com.
Use your product’s Herb ID number to discover the origin of your herbs; how they were grown, harvested, and extracted; and see validation of your product’s level of purity and potency. We verify at every stage of the Gaia Herbs seed-to-shelf journey—because you deserve to know exactly what’s in your herbal supplement.
Herbs for Menopause*
Keeping the body and mind balanced through the hormonal fluctuations of menopause is key to enjoying life as you move from one phase to the next.
As a woman approaches menopause, hormones shift dramatically. The ovaries stop producing a monthly egg and secrete a smaller supply of estrogen. The production of progesterone also decreases.
All of these shifts can be overwhelming, and it takes time to adapt. Using nourishing herbs such as Vitex Berry, Black Cohosh, Mimosa, Passionflower, and more, we’ve designed herbal supplements specifically to help women stay feeling their best through menopause.*
Women’s Balance
Women's Balance uses traditional herbal wisdom to help sustain female hormone balance and well-being.* This formula includes Vitex Berry and Black Cohosh extracts to support a healthy transition, while St. John's Wort helps maintain a healthy emotional outlook.*
It also includes Oats, which we extract fresh immediately after harvest to preserve full spectrum compounds for optimal potency.*
Many of the herbs in our products are grown on our farm, where we cultivate them with the utmost care and expertise.
For the herbs that do not thrive in the North Carolina climate, we turn to our national and global network of dedicated organic and sustainable farmers, who allow us to source these herbs from where they grow best, ensuring the highest-quality botanical compounds for our herbal supplements.
Nighttime Comfort
As you may know from firsthand experience, a good night of sleep isn’t always easy to come by during menopause.
Gaia Herbs Nighttime Comfort—made with a blend of Black Cohosh, Mimosa, Passionflower, and St. John’s Wort—helps maintain healthy hormonal balance during menopause to help you enjoy a comfortable and restful sleep.*
Take two capsules one hour before bedtime. Patience is key: Best results are obtained after one month of use.
How to Maintain Hormone Balance: More Natural Solutions
We’ve talked about hormones related to the reproductive system, but there are many other hormones produced by the endocrine system that regulate all sorts of other processes in your body.
It’s important to keep in mind that all of your bodily systems are intricately connected. What affects one part of your body affects the rest of you.
Turning to herbs is an excellent way to help maintain healthy hormone balance (reproductive or otherwise) and naturally support your body.* But there are additional natural solutions for whole-body hormone support, including the lifestyle changes shared below.
Eat Healthy Fats
“You are what you eat” is true in many ways, and it’s essential to realize the impact that food has on hormones. Eating healthily and including loads of fruits and vegetables is the best place to start.
To help maintain healthy hormone balance, you’ll also want to eat healthy fats—foods that are rich in short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids.1
Here are some healthy fats you can include in your diet:
- Coconut oil
- Avocados
- Wild-caught salmon
- Walnuts
- Olive oil
- Flax seeds
- Avoid sugar
It can cause spikes in your blood sugar and affect insulin, the hormone that your pancreas creates to help stabilize blood sugar and convert glucose (blood sugar) into energy.
It may be best to save refined carbohydrates for special occasions if you're trying to keep your hormones balanced.
Reduce Stress
We briefly mentioned earlier that stress can cause hormone imbalances. Stress has a huge impact on your adrenal glands and hormones, such as cortisol.2
In today’s fast-paced, busy world, eliminating stress feels like an impossible task. Getting rid of stress altogether is unrealistic, but reducing and managing your stress is within your grasp.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Practice yoga
- Meditate for five minutes a day
- Eat without distractions (this is called mindful eating)
- Put your phone away for part of the day
- Spend time in Nature
- Practice mindfulness
- Stay active
- Practice deep breathing
- Turn to herbs for support*
Rest Well
A lack of sleep can be both the result of and the cause of hormone imbalance.
Your hormones help your body work like clockwork and feel awake and energized during the day and sleepy at the right time of night. They function on a schedule, and not getting enough quality sleep is one of the biggest contributing factors to hormone imbalance.1
Sleep impacts growth hormone (which affects growth and tissue repair), ghrelin and leptin (which affect appetite), as well as insulin and cortisol.3
So what can you do? The simple answer is to get enough sleep each night. This, however, is often easier said than done, especially during times of stress.
To help your body wind down and get ready to rest, turn down the lights in the evening, don’t exercise right before bed, take deep breaths, and avoid screens a couple of hours before you go to sleep.
It may also help to enjoy a relaxing moment and sip our Sleep & Relax Herbal Tea. With a calming blend of Passionflower, Licorice, Lemon Balm, and Chamomile, this herbal tea helps prepare the body for a good night’s rest so you can wake up feeling refreshed.*
You can also try our other sleep support herbal supplements designed to help you fall and stay asleep.*
Take Adaptogenic Herbs*
To help your body handle stress and thus help you sleep better (which both affect hormone balance), turn to adaptogenic herbs.*
Adaptogens are herbs and mushrooms that exert a balancing effect on your body and help you cope with all types of stress.* They can help maintain energy levels, support your adrenal glands, and promote healthy immune function.*
Take Prebiotics and Probiotics*
Good digestion and a healthy gut are, in many ways, the foundations of your overall health, including hormone balance.
But though good digestion and a healthy gut are vital, they don’t necessarily happen on their own. Support via prebiotics and probiotics can help.
Prebiotics offer the nourishment that your healthy digestive flora (probiotics) need to thrive within the GI tract.
In addition to a high-quality probiotic supplement, opt for prebiotic foods or a supplement such as Gaia Herbs Microbiome Food. This pleasant-tasting powder prebiotic contains gut-healthy plants and herbs including Larch, Acacia, Acerola, Fenugreek, Cinnamon, and more.
Learn from Nature
A woman’s body is a feat of Nature—a force to be reckoned with—and it undergoes many changes throughout the years.
By honoring the beauty of aging and treating ourselves with self-love and self-compassion from one season of life to the next, we can truly enjoy all that life has to offer, at every stage.
In the wise and beautiful words of Maya Angelou, "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
To support your body through all its changes and stages, turn to herbs and supplements such as Chaste Tree Berry, Nighttime Comfort, and Women’s Balance. And, learn how to maintain healthy hormone balance naturally through everyday habits like the ones we mentioned above.*
If you'd like to continue exploring the power of herbs for women's well-being, check out these five herbs for women's health and wellness.*
REFERENCES:
1. Spritzler, F., “12 Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones,” Healthline, May 15, 2017, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/balance-hormones.
2. Salam Ranabir and K. Reetu, “Stress and Hormones,” Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 15, no. 1 (2011): 18–22, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079864.
3. Jo Abbott, “Here's How Our Hormones Help Get Us to Sleep,” Science Alert, September 18, 2015, https://www.sciencealert.com/chemical-messengers-how-hormones-help-us-sleep.