Happy hormones, happy skin

This tea blend is a nutrient-packed remedy designed to provide gentle hormone balancing benefits while simultaneously supporting liver health. It is an everyday blend that can easily be paired with other therapies or strategies for the liver and/or female reproductive system. All the herbs in this blend are safe to take as long-term daily tonics.

 

This tea works by improving the liver’s ability to metabolize and eliminate excess hormones, supporting the bodies detoxification processes and moderating hormone expression.

 

Most of these plants are what herbalists call hepatic or bitter herbs. Hepatics can help protect the liver from cellular damage and promote regeneration. On the other hand, when we consume bitter plants our taste buds begin a series of reactions which amongst other things, causes the liver to secrete more bile. This bile then helps the body to release excess hormones, environmental toxins and numerous metabolic byproducts from the body. Many bitters, such as the ones in this blend specifically help to breakdown extra estrogen which can cause issues in our system if left hanging around.

 

Poor skin health and appearance tends to occur when we are in the need of reproductive support so this blend also contains herbs that specifically have a history of supporting skin quality. These herbs are known as alteratives and they help to cleanse and detoxify the blood which helps to remedy skin ailments from the inside out. Years ago, I struggled with severe acne and it wasn’t until I began including medicine like this in my life that I finally saw improvements. The extra hydration that results from drinking tea also helps to improve skin quality as well.

 

Whenever you consume this tea, you can rest easy knowing that without much effort you are supporting your liver and reproductive health. This helps foster a sense of accomplishment and makes you feel empowered. Both of these feelings can leak into the rest of your life and day by subconsciously encouraging you to continue making choices that leave your body happier and healthier.

 

Now… let’s get into more of the specifics of each of the herbs in this formula

 

DANDELION is a classic liver and blood tonic with a long history of use for remedying eczema, psoriasis, acne and hives. The whole plant is edible and medicinal but I use only the leaves in this blend for 3 reasons. #1 it makes the tea easy to prepare as the roots need to be added to the water while bringing the water to the boil and require a minimum of 20 minutes of simmering. #2 the leaf is very nutritive, providing vitamins and minerals helpful for promoting overall health and wellbeing. #3 the leaves may provide a stronger remedy in regards to the plants bitter, cholagogue and diuretic actions. Please note: although dandelion does increase urine output the leaves contain high levels of potassium so you will not see dramatic potassium loss like you do with pharmaceutical diuretics. Diuretics can be in increasing the elimination of inflammatory compounds. Because of Dandelions ability to stimulate the liver to release excess hormones (via bile), it can be a great daily remedy for endometriosis, cyclic breast tenderness, PMS and ovarian cysts.

 

Taken internally, CHICKWEED is lovely for its strengthening nutritive qualities and blood cleansing abilities. This food-medicine is safe for babies, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and elderly. Similarly to dandelion, chickweed helps to gently increase the eliminative pathways of the body. It is often recommended as a daily tonic for acne, psoriasis and eczema. This plants high mineral content helps to support overall health but more specifically, it is often used to address anemia due to its high levels of iron. Chickweed also helps gently increase milk production in breastfeeding women (for extra support in this area, pair it with fenugreek).

 

When it comes to fertility and women’s health, RASPBERRY LEAF is one of the most helpful herbal remedies. It encourages conception, strengthens uterine muscles, improves labor outcomes (including helping to expel the placenta), helps enrich + build a breastfeeding mother’s milk supply and helps the uterus regain its former size after birth. Overall, it is a structural tonic rather than a hormone-balancing herb, exhibiting a toning effect on the uterus making it useful after birth, miscarriage, uterine surgeries/procedures, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), during painful periods or heavy menstrual bleeding. It is also a lovely tonic to use throughout the menstrual cycle. This plant is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants making it another fantastic nutritive tonic. Regular consumption helps support the development and healthy teeth, cartilage, connective tissues and bones.

 

The difference between ALFALFA and RED CLOVER is that alfalfa provides more nutrients while red clover has the benefit being a traditional liver and blood tonic. There are 3 areas in the body that work together to help regulate the female reproductive cycle: the ovaries, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Together these glands/organs form a hormonal feedback loop known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPO axis). Both RED CLOVER and ALFALFA help to balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPO axis). Herbs which directly affect the HPO axis have been found to do so by alter enzymatic activity or acting as precursors to the hormones themselves. Additionally, both RED CLOVER and ALFALFA act as phytoestrogens. This means they can bind estrogen receptors and gently effect the body just as estrogen does. They just do so more subtly than the estrogen produced within the body. Because their effect is subtle, phytoestrogens are helpful for women who have high and low estrogen levels alike.

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I add GINGER into many of my herbal remedies because it helps to increase circulation and reduce congestion. It also contains a proteolytic enzyme shown to reduce inflammation within the body. This trio of benefits helps to improve the efficiency of the medicine by getting things moving within the body. Ginger is specifically helpful in this formula because its circulation boosting tends to be especially powerful within the pelvic area. Furthermore, ginger is fantastic at relieving cramps, nausea, morning and motions sickness. In fact, it rivels antinausea drugs used in chemotherapy in efficiency, just without the side effects!