Hormonal Supplements for Women: Black Cohosh, DIM, and Chasteberry | Healthy Planet
Hormone imbalances affect the physical, mental, and can impact just about every aspect of a woman’s life.
As hormones help to regulate essential bodily processes, riding a hormone rollercoaster can be a frustrating affair. Some of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance can include mood swings, irritability, hot flashes, anxiety, acne, and low libido.
To help with imbalances, it’s important to ensure you’re getting proper hormone-balancing nutrients from your diet and eating healthy, whole-food. Avoid processed sugar, refined grains, and alcohol. Supplements like black cohosh, DIM, and chasteberry can be very helpful in supporting hormonal health and normal function, by regulating estrogen and testosterone levels – along with reducing symptoms associated with menopause.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh or Actaea racemosa is a wood-land herb found across North America, and that is often used for estrogen-related issues.
Black cohosh is frequently used to relieve menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh supplements are available most commonly in a capsule, liquid extract (tincture), or tea form.
Benefits of Supplementing Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh is considered a complementary and alternative approach for menopause relief, often proving to be a great substitute for traditional pharmaceutical interventions. It is regarded as an excellent supplement to support people experiencing hot flashes – which can be caused, in part, by estrogen imbalances (low levels).
Besides providing relief from hot flashes, supplementing black cohosh may also assist in alleviating other menopausal symptoms such as irritability, sleep disturbances, body pain, and fatigue.
How Much Black Cohosh Should I Take?
Dosage recommendations can vary. Typical daily doses of standardized black cohosh extract as a capsule or powder range from 20 to 120 mg.
Always consult the dosage guidelines as per the bottle – some may be more potent than others.
Some professionals advise that black cohosh should not be taken for more than 6 months at a time. We would recommend consulting with a naturopath or practitioner for use beyond 6 months.
Potential Side Effects of Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is generally safe to take, when consumed or administered within the proper dosages.
However, mild side effects have been reported in those sensitive to the herb, such as gastrointestinal upset, cramps, and rashes in the case of allergic reaction.
Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid black cohosh, given its well-known impact on hormonal levels. Additionally, those with liver issues should supplement black cohosh in smaller quantities or avoid it altogether, depending on medical advice from their family doctor or practitioner.
DIM
Estrogen is a fundamental hormone that is responsible for various bodily aspects such as cognition, bone protection, and ensuring healthy pregnancies.
Estrogen needs to be balanced or issues such as estrogen dominance, when too much estrogen circulates the body, can occur. Too little can have a negative impact, as can too much.
DIM or diindolylmethane, an organic compound made from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, is available in supplement form to assist in ensuring healthy estrogen levels.
As mentioned, DIM can assist in returning hormonal balance (natural levels), resulting in improved mood, better energy levels, and overall better mental health.
Healthy estrogen levels help in lowering the risk of certain cancers and estrogen-related diseases such as lupus. Other benefits include reduced PMS symptoms, decreased acne, more manageable weight, and thyroid function support.
An excess of estrogen can be harmful to many women. Furthermore, supplementing DIM is a great option as even though this compound can be derived from food (cruciferous vegetables), it would take a huge amount to match the amount found in a supplement.
How Much DIM Should I Take?
Daily doses of DIM supplements typically range from 50 mg to 300 mg. It’s ideal to start with a lower dose of 50 to 100 mg, so that your body can properly adapt. This can also help mitigate the worry about any sort of product reaction if you happen to react negatively. As always, it’s best to consult with your naturopathic doctor to determine a proper dose for your body.
Potential Side Effects of DIM
Available in capsule or powder form, DIM supplements are very well-researched and any side effect is usually transient and minor.
Mild side effects that can occur include darker urine, increased bowel movements, and nausea. Darkened urine is totally normal from DIM, and doesn’t mean anything is wrong – it is a component of DIM itself that changes the color of the urine when excreted. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid supplementing DIM as altering hormone levels may prove to be harmful for the baby.
Chasteberry
Native to the Mediterranean region and Asia, Chasteberry is a dried fruit with a peppery taste and aroma that’s used to help remedy premenstrual symptoms and breast pain. Chasteberry supplementation is available in capsule, extract, and even tea form.
Chasteberry is a popular supplement due to its ability to improve issues related to a woman’s reproductive system.
Supplementing chasteberry can help deal with menopausal symptoms by decreasing the occurrence of hot flashes and night sweats as well as calming down hormones and lessening mood swings.
Chasteberry can also help in improving fertility by bringing back ideal prolactin hormone levels and stabilizing menstrual periods. Additionally, chasteberry can help remedy PMS symptoms like pelvic discomfort, irritability, and acne as well as migraines caused by hormonal fluctuations associated with menstruation.
How Much Chasteberry Should I Take?
The typical daily dosage for chasteberry supplements ranges from 4 to 40mg. However, there is insufficient research on what the ideal dose for chasteberry should be. Dosage would vary for different individuals depending on different factors like age, medical condition, and the specific formulation utilized.
Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry
Chasteberry supplements, taken in appropriate dosages, are typically safe for most people.
Reported side effects tend to be minimal, but can include nausea, acne, stomach aches, and headaches. Women who are pregnant or have a hormone-sensitive health condition (e.g. breast cancer) must consult with their doctor before deciding to supplement Chasteberry.
Consult a Health Care Professional Before Starting on Any Hormonal Supplements
As aforementioned in this article, you should always have a clear discussion with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement that has the ability to impact hormonal levels.
Chasteberry, black cohosh, and DIM supplements may also decrease or increase the efficacy of some prescription medications. Your doctor can advise on whether you need to change to a different medicine while taking these supplements, or avoid them outright.
