Herbal hormonal balancers or normalizers often contain chemical precursors or can effect circulating levels of endogenous sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone LH, FSH, and cortisol.

How do Herbal Hormone Balancers Work?

Plant constituents that can affect hormone balance within the body (commonly classified as phytoestrogens) include isoflavones, coumestans, lignans, triterpenoid/steroidal saponins & resorcyclic acid lactones. These plant molecules have structural similarity to our endogenous hormones and can bind with receptor sites lending weak or partial agonistic effects. In general, these herbs modulate our hormone levels, and can competitively bind with (i.e. fill or block the receptor site) for endogenous hormones and prevent them from working there.

Hormone balancers have a great many uses but are most often included in cases of endocrine imbalance such as menopause, premenstrual syndrome, PCOS, fibroids, prostate disorders and sexual dysfunction.

Herbal Examples

• Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste tree berry)
• Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh)
• Salvia officinalis (Sage)
• Chamaelirium luteum (False unicorn root)
• Dioscorea villosa (Wild yam)
• Paeonia lactiflora (White peony)
• Smilax officinalis (Sarsaparilla)