Spearmint tea has emerged as a natural remedy that may help balance androgen levels and alleviate symptoms associated with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as support digestive health. Spearmint tea is brewed from the leaves of the spearmint plant, and chances are you've consumed spearmint oil or extract before, most likely in the form of mint chewing gum or spearmint tea.
What is Hirsutism?
Hirsutism affects 5% to 10% of women worldwide and is characterized by the appearance of facial hair in a male pattern distribution. This can result in medical, social, and psychological implications. Hirsutism is an endocrinological disorder that can have significant psychological effects and reduce the quality of life. Hirsutism is usually associated with abnormal androgen action. It may be an isolated disorder or a sign of other conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), androgen-secreting tumors, nonclassical adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH), or severe insulin resistance syndrome.
Management options include cosmetic procedures and pharmacological interventions. Various treatments for hirsutism management are suggested, including non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. Non-pharmacological approaches to treating hirsutism include lifestyle changes, cosmetic measures, and direct hair removal methods, such as epilation and electrolysis. Although laser therapy cannot remove hair permanently, it is often preferred over other hair removal methods because of its selective hair damage, shorter treatment time, longer hair-free duration, and fewer side effects. These include contraceptive pills, antiandrogen drugs, glucocorticoids, long-acting GnRH agonists, and AR blockers. However, medications used to treat hirsutism can have side effects, ranging from mild symptoms like nausea and headaches to more serious complications such as vascular clots, heart attacks, hepatotoxicity, osteoporosis, and effeminization of a male fetus.
In recent years, herbal medicines have gained renewed interest due to the side effects of chemical drugs, lack of curative effect of modern treatment on some diseases, and microbial resistance. There has been particular interest in plants with anti-androgenic properties as an alternative treatment for hirsutism. Some studies have shown that plant-derived alternatives with antiandrogen effects could be used to treat hirsutism. Despite extensive research on hirsutism, there is currently no review article available on the effectiveness of herbal remedies in treating this condition through clinical trials.
The Potential of Spearmint
Mentha spicata Labiatae known as spearmint is a herbal plant commonly found in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Both human and animal studies have shown that spearmint tea consumption can help to reduce androgen levels, such as testosterone and DHEA, which are often elevated in people with PCOS. This is how you will find it in my MyoInositol Plus. Inositol is a natural compound found in the body that assists in glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and egg maturation.
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How Spearmint Works
The mechanism behind spearmint tea's effects may involve boosting androgen metabolism, possibly through its influence on liver enzymes responsible for breaking down testosterone. One proposed mechanism is that spearmint may inhibit enzymes responsible for converting testosterone into the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The tea's primary active compound, carvone - which makes up between 29% and 74% of spearmint - plays a pivotal role in its effects. One of its main actions is inhibiting enzymes responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen linked to hirsutism. Additionally, spearmint tea stimulates the liver enzyme CYP3A4, which helps break down hormones like testosterone and DHEA more quickly. Beyond carvone, the flavonoids and polyphenols in spearmint tea may also contribute to its effects. These compounds appear to influence the regulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), both crucial for maintaining hormonal balance. In one study, women who drank spearmint tea twice daily saw reduced testosterone levels and an increase in LH and FSH.
Studies on Spearmint and Hirsutism
Researchers have conducted two notable clinical studies exploring the effects of spearmint tea on hirsutism, with findings pointing to its potential for reducing hormone levels. In one study, the effect of spearmint herbal tea was investigated on hirsutism women. All patients received spearmint tea twice daily for 5 days. After treatment, free testosterone decreased by about 30%, and a significant increase in LH, FSH, and estradiol (E2) was observed.
In a 2007 study led by Akdoğan et al. in Turkey, women with hirsutism consumed spearmint tea twice daily over five days. A year later, a 2008 randomized controlled trial by Grant et al. in the United Kingdom examined 42 women with PCOS over a 30-day period. This study confirmed testosterone reductions in the range of 20-30% compared to a placebo group. Additionally, the researchers used the modified Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DQLI) to capture patient-reported improvements in hirsutism symptoms. The effect of spearmint on hair growth and density is possibly due to its ability to increase the metabolism rate of androgens by inducing cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4.5. This can affect the concentration of sex hormones in the body, leading to a reduction in free testosterone but an increase in estrogen. Higher levels of estrogen can also result in higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which carries the most amount of testosterone in the blood in the inactive form.
Limitations of Existing Research
Both studies faced challenges due to small sample sizes, short treatment durations, and differences in methodology. For example, the Turkish study lasted only five days, while the UK trial spanned 30 days. Such brief durations may not be sufficient to observe changes in hair growth, given the slow cycle of hair follicles. Additionally, variations in control beverages and outcome measurements between the studies make direct comparisons difficult.
Dosage
For women interested in trying spearmint tea, research supports a dosage of two cups daily. Studies suggest drinking two cups daily - one in the morning and one in the evening - helps maintain steady levels of its active compounds.
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How to Incorporate Spearmint Tea into Your Routine
Incorporating spearmint tea into your routine is simple and can be highly beneficial. To prepare, steep one to two tablespoons of fresh or dried spearmint leaves in hot water for several minutes. For those with a busy lifestyle, spearmint supplements in capsule form offer an easy alternative. These capsules provide consistent dosing, making them especially useful for frequent travelers or anyone who finds brewing tea twice a day inconvenient. Another tip is to replace other beverages, like coffee or regular tea, with spearmint tea to make it a seamless part of your day.
Spearmint Tea vs. Prescription Treatments
When comparing spearmint tea to prescription treatments, it’s important to weigh their effectiveness, side effects, and other factors. Prescription treatments often focus on specific hormonal pathways and show effectiveness rates of 19% to 41% within six months. However, they can come with significant side effects, ranging from mild issues like nausea to more serious risks such as blood clots, heart complications, or bone density loss. On the other hand, spearmint tea offers a gentler approach with fewer side effects. Research has shown promising results, such as a 24% reduction in free testosterone and a 29% drop in total testosterone in women with PCOS. Ultimately, the decision between spearmint tea and prescription options depends on factors like symptom severity, personal tolerance, and treatment goals.
Medications used to treat hirsutism can have side effects, ranging from mild symptoms like nausea and headaches to more serious complications such as vascular clots, heart attacks, hepatotoxicity, osteoporosis, and effeminization of a male fetus. Spearmint tea provides a gentler, herbal alternative. Unlike prescription treatments such as spironolactone or oral contraceptives, which often take six months or more to show results and can lead to side effects like menstrual irregularities, spearmint tea provides a gentler, herbal alternative.
A Personalized Approach
Each woman's experience with hirsutism can differ significantly, making a one-size-fits-all approach ineffective. A personalized plan considers your unique hormone levels, symptom severity, medical history, and lifestyle. For instance, a woman with mild hirsutism might benefit from adding spearmint tea and making dietary changes, while someone with more severe symptoms may need prescription medications alongside complementary therapies.
Historical Use of Spearmint
Spearmint has a history that stretches back thousands of years, with ancient civilizations recognizing its potential long before science caught up. In ancient Egypt, spearmint was a cornerstone of herbal remedies. The Ebers Papyrus, dating to 1550 BC, documents its use as a digestive aid and a remedy for flatulence. The Greeks and Romans also embraced spearmint, weaving it into their daily lives. Romans believed it could "stir up the mind" and often added it to therapeutic baths to ease muscle soreness. Fast forward to medieval Europe, where monks and herbalists cultivated spearmint for its medicinal properties. They brewed spearmint tea to aid digestion and alleviate cold symptoms, practices that influenced herbal medicine for generations. Turkish clinicians noted that spearmint tea appeared to reduce libido in some cases, sparking curiosity about its potential antiandrogenic properties.
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Additional Herbal Remedies for Hirsutism
This review includes clinical trials in the form of original articles, case series, and pilot studies that evaluated the efficacy of herbal medicine on both idiopathic and non-idiopathic hirsutism and androgen hormones. Only English papers with available full text were included, and no limitations were applied based on age or ethnicity. Additionally, both single plant extracts and herbal compounds were considered. The results suggested that various herbs, including fennel, licorice, spearmint, saw palmetto, green tea, combination of Zingiber and neem, curcumin, and teupolioside have the potential as herbal remedies for hirsutism.
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare, commonly known as fennel, is a widely-used herb traditionally used for various gynecological conditions. These conditions include dysmenorrhea, increasing milk secretion in breastfeeding women, managing menopause-related symptoms, and improving libido. Major components of this plant are flavonoids, volatile compounds, phenolic compounds, and a variety of fatty acids and amino acids. One study examined the effects of 1% and 2% fennel topical gel on mild to moderate idiopathic hirsutism. After assessing hair growth speed and thickness based on patient satisfaction and hair thickness measurements, it was found that patients who used 1% fennel topical gel experienced a 7.8% reduction in hair thickness. In contrast, those who used 2% fennel topical gel significantly affected hair growth speed and had an 18.3% reduction in hair thickness. In another study, women with mild to moderate idiopathic hirsutism were treated with 3% fennel topical gel and a placebo. Despite an increase in the active component of fennel extract in this study, there is no significant difference between the previously mentioned 2% and 3% fennel topical gel. Previous studies mentioned that a possible explanation for this anti-androgenic effect of fennel is due to anethole, dianethole, and its polymers in the fennel extract. These compounds are similar to diethylstilbestrol and have estrogenic effects on the body.
Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra, or licorice, is an old remedy for different medical conditions. Also, licorice has been used in various healthy products, such as laxatives, throat pearls, cough syrups, and to treat gastric ulcers. Its main components (glycyrrhizic acid hydrolyzed in d-glycyrrhetinic acid and 18 β glucuronic acids) have anti-androgenic and estrogen-like effects and could regulate ovulation. Consequently, based on a few studies, licorice could be considered an adjuvant therapy for hirsutism and PCOS. One clinical trial investigated the licorice root effect on testosterone levels in healthy women. Women consumed a commercial preparation of licorice for two cycles. After one month, total testosterone was reduced from 27.8 to 19 ng, while after the second month reached to 17.5 ng. In another study, women with mild to moderate idiopathic hirsutism were treated by laser and 15% licorice topical gel versus laser and placebo. This study showed that participants who used 15% licorice topical gel as adjuvant therapy, regardless of skin phototype, had experienced a nearly 40% reduction of terminal hair density. The effect of licorice on hirsutism can be explained by different mechanisms. Licorice can reduce androgen levels by blocking 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17HSD) and 17, 20-lyase. Furthermore, licorice by affecting 5α- and 5β-reductase and aromatase activity, have a direct effect on estrogen and androgen metabolism. Since the methods used to conduct them were different in the two above studies, they cannot be directly compared.
Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repens as saw palmetto (SP) is a medicinal herb native to the subtropical southeastern United States. SP has been utilized as an alternative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In numerous studies, SP is safe and effective in mild to moderate BPH compared to finasteride, tamsulosin, and placebo. However, in a recent meta-analysis, it was strongly recommended for the nocturia symptoms. In a trial, women suffering from idiopathic facial hirsutism of the chin area used the SP extract twice daily as a topical cream for two months. The number of excess hairs revealing a 16% decrease after one month and a 29% decline after two months of treatment. Hair loss at the end of the second month compared to the end of the first month was 15%, which was statistically significant. The length of time for taking the drug appeared to impact decreasing hirsutism. The difference in the number of required hair removal methods was not statistically significant after the first and the second months of treatment. SP has an anti-androgenic effect. In various studies, its mechanism has been described as 5α-reductase inhibition.
Zingiber and Neem
Zingiber officinale, with the common name of Zingiber, is native to Asia and popular as a spice in food. One study clinically evaluated the efficacy and safety of mixed neem and Zingiber in hirsutism associated with PCOS. In this study, hirsutism patients secondary to PCOS in the test group were administered a decoction of neem and Zanjabeel orally from the 5th day of the cycle for 21 days for three consecutive cycles. In the control group, the standard drug-tablet cyproterone acetate 2 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg daily once were given for the same duration. In statistical analysis, there was a decrease in modified Ferriman-Gallwey score (mFGS) in both groups, but the difference was not significant. Free testosterone serum levels in both groups significantly decreased but in the test group reduction was more. The brief duration of the intervention may have been the reason behind the results. Even though there was a decrease in the mFGS score in the ginger group, the difference with the control group was not significant. Azadirachtin-A, one of the neem components, has antiandrogen activity, so it causes a significant reduction in free testosterone in the test group. Also, neem and Zingiber have hypolipidemic effects related to the isoprenoid ingredient.
Green Tea
Today, camellia sinensis, commonly called green tea, treats many skin diseases, including rosacea, acne, atopic dermatitis, keloids, and hair disorders, and promotes wound healing. In one double-blind clinical trial women with moderate to severe hirsutism due to PCOS in the test group received one 50 mg capsule of dried spearmint leaves plus one 50 mg capsule of dried green tea leaves, once daily for three months. Grant’s study showed no significant changes in FG scores despite decreased DQLI by prescribing spearmint tea for a month. The longer duration or a different formula used in the study (green tea plus spearmint tea) may have contributed to this result. Epigallocatechin, one of the components of green tea, inhibits 5α-reductase.
Curcumin and Teupolioside
A study examined a combination of curcumin and teupolioside for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who experienced hirsutism, acne, and other clinical manifestations associated with hyperandrogenism for 12 weeks. Teupolioside has been shown to act primarily on the ovary cells as a 5α-reductase inhibitor, reducing DHT serum levels.
Cautions and Considerations
Spearmint tea is generally safe for most people to drink daily. Spearmint tea is generally safe to consume 2-3 times a day to improve symptoms such as irregular hair growth and other symptoms related to hyperandrogenism (high androgen levels). However, the effects of consuming very high quantities of spearmint tea for a prolonged period of time have not been well investigated in a human population. Further research is needed in order to completely understand the effects of spearmint and any potential risks or side effects.
However, like many herbal remedies, it’s not without its risks. Drinking it daily in excess might strain the kidneys or liver, especially for those with existing health conditions. If you have allergies to mint or are taking other medications, consult your healthcare provider before adding spearmint tea to your regimen. Spearmint is most commonly used in addition to nutrition, lifestyle, and medications.
Importance of Professional Guidance
Although spearmint tea shows promise, professional guidance is essential for creating an effective treatment plan. Hormonal imbalances are complex, and what works for one person may not work for another. Working with healthcare providers allows for regular progress monitoring and adjustments to your treatment as needed. This ensures that any underlying conditions contributing to your symptoms are addressed effectively. It’s also important to manage expectations. Prescription medications often take three to six months to show noticeable results, while natural remedies like spearmint tea typically require consistent use for at least a month to see benefits. Being patient is key. It can take a month or more to see results, although you may notice changes sooner.
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