Natural Ways to Lower Oestrogen Levels Holistically

How Ayurveda Perceives Oestrogen

Oestrogen, a hormone predominantly found in women but also present in men, is a crucial player in the intricate symphony of human physiology. It serves many functions, impacting various aspects of our health and well-being. Oestrogen plays a key role in regulating the menstrual cycle, supporting reproductive health, maintaining bone density, and influencing mood, cognition, and cardiovascular health.

The Different Types of Oestrogen and Their Effects

Within oestrogen, different types exert distinct effects on the body.

• The ovaries produce estradiol and are responsible for developing secondary sexual characteristics and the menstrual cycle.
• Estriol, another type of oestrogen, increases during pregnancy and contributes to foetal development.
• Estrone, produced mainly after menopause, plays a role in bone health and overall oestrogen balance.

Role of Optimum Oestrogen Levels in the Body

Oestrogen is produced primarily in the ovaries in women and testes in men. It is crucial in various physical functions, highlighting its significance in maintaining overall health and well-being. 

1. Reproductive Development, Health, and Functioning

Oestrogen is crucial for developing secondary sexual characteristics in females, including breast development and the growth of pubic and underarm hair. It also regulates the menstrual cycle, supports fertility, and contributes to the health of the reproductive organs.

2. Mood and Behaviour

Fluctuations in oestrogen levels throughout the menstrual cycle can influence emotional well-being. Thus, they contribute to premenstrual symptoms, such as mood swings and irritability. Oestrogen also plays a role in regulating neurotransmitters, including serotonin, which is associated with mood regulation.

3. Bone Health

Oestrogen is vital for maintaining healthy bones. It helps regulate bone turnover by supporting the activity of osteoblasts (cells responsible for bone formation). It also inhibits the activity of osteoclasts (cells responsible for bone resorption). Oestrogen deficiency, such as during menopause, can decrease bone density and increase the risk of osteoporosis.

4. Collagen Synthesis

Oestrogen contributes to the synthesis of collagen, a key protein that provides structural support to various tissues in the body, including the skin. Collagen helps maintain skin elasticity, firmness, and hydration. Oestrogen decline can contribute to skin changes, such as dryness, thinning, and loss of elasticity.

5. Circulation and Blood Flow

Oestrogen has a vasodilatory effect, meaning it helps relax and widen blood vessels, promoting healthy circulation and blood flow. It plays a role in maintaining cardiovascular health, regulating blood pressure, and reducing the risk of certain cardiovascular conditions.

6. Cognitive Function

Oestrogen influences cognitive function, including memory, attention, and verbal fluency. Declining oestrogen levels, such as during menopause, may contribute to cognitive changes and an increased risk of cognitive decline.

7. Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Levels

Oestrogen helps regulate blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin sensitivity. It also plays a role in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, promoting favourable lipid profiles, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Factors Contributing to High Oestrogen Levels

Oestrogen levels naturally fluctuate throughout a person's life, with noticeable variations before the menstrual cycle and during puberty, perimenopause, and menopause for women.

Understanding Oestrogen Dominance

Oestrogen dominance refers to a condition with higher oestrogen levels than progesterone levels. 

This imbalance can occur due to various factors, such as;

• Excessive production of oestrogen
• Alterations in oestrogen metabolism and elimination
• Imbalance between oestrogen and progesterone levels. 

Oestrogen dominance has been associated with several health conditions, including breast and uterine cancers, fibroids, endometriosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Research suggests that oestrogen dominance can contribute to developing or exacerbating these conditions.

Managing oestrogen dominance involves addressing the underlying causes, rebalancing hormone levels, and promoting overall hormonal health.

What are the Common Factors Triggering High Oestrogen Levels in Women

Three factors commonly trigger high oestrogen levels in women.

• Increased Oestrogen Production: The body may produce excess oestrogen due to various factors, including obesity, certain medical conditions (such as polycystic ovary syndrome), or hormone-producing tumours.
   
• Impaired Oestrogen Metabolism: Oestrogen metabolism refers to the body's ability to break down and eliminate oestrogen efficiently. Issues with liver function, poor diet, lack of exercise, or certain genetic factors can compromise oestrogen metabolism, leading to an accumulation of oestrogen in the body.
   
• Medications and Hormonal Interventions: Certain medications, such as hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills), hormone replacement therapy, or specific cancer treatments, can introduce additional oestrogen into the body, potentially causing oestrogen levels to rise.

Addressing the underlying causes of high oestrogen levels and reducing it is crucial for achieving hormonal balance and promoting overall well-being. The following section will explore holistic approaches and Ayurvedic remedies that can naturally lower oestrogen levels and support hormonal harmony.

What are the Symptoms of High Oestrogen?

Symptoms of high oestrogen are not just seen in females. Even males can experience some particular symptoms if they have an issue with a balance between testosterone and oestrogen hormones in their body.

High oestrogen levels can cause various symptoms, depending on the sex assigned at birth.

In females, symptoms may include;

• Unexplained breast tenderness.
• Recurrent headaches.
• Weight gain.
• Light or heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
• Lumps in your breasts.
• Fibroids (noncancerous tumours) in the uterus.
• Fatigue.
• Decreased sex drive.
• Feeling depressed or anxious.

In males, the symptoms may include;

• Hindrance in male secondary sexual characters.
• Infertility due to a fall in sperm levels.
• Gynaecomastia (larger breasts).
• Erectile Dysfunction.

High oestrogen levels can even worsen various health conditions, including:

• Breast cancer.
• Ovarian cancer.
• Endometriosis pain.
• Insulin resistance.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Uterine cancer (endometrial cancer).
• Tumors on your ovaries and adrenal glands.

This does not mean that high oestrogen is the cause of these conditions.

Ayurvedic Concepts on Oestrogen 

In the ancient texts of Ayurveda, you won't find direct references to "hormones." Instead, Ayurvedic physicians understood the intricate workings of our organs and body systems, such as the thyroid, pancreas, testes, and ovaries, and how they collaborated to maintain balance.

By addressing the doshas, Ayurveda provided solutions to hormonal imbalances and related disorders like PMS, diabetes, and thyroid disease.

Understanding the Doshas and Hormonal Health

Just as hormones involve an interplay of organs and systems, the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—play integral roles in maintaining hormonal health.

1. Vata: Nervous System and Stress

Vata is significant in hormonal health because stress is prominent. Vata, closely connected to the nervous system, influences the adrenals and hormones. 

Modern-day stressors, such as technology and a fast-paced lifestyle, aggravate Vata, disrupting the balance of the other doshas. The fight-or-flight response is a Vata-driven reaction to imbalance.

2. Pitta: Chemical Processes, Liver, and Blood

From a chemical perspective, hormones fall under the domain of Pitta. Just as fire transforms substances, Pitta is involved in the body's chemical processes, including the production of digestive enzymes, molecular catalysts, and hormones. Pitta also governs the liver and blood, where many transformations occur. 

Anything that aggravates Pitta, such as sour, acidic, and heating substances like fermented or spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, can impact hormone balance through liver function.

3. Kapha: Mucus and Heaviness

Kapha, composed of the elements of earth and water, has a nature of building and nourishing. Its domain encompasses mucus, muscles, skin, and fat. Sedentary lifestyles and heavy diets increase Kapha, slowing digestion and eventually obstructing the flow of nutrients and waste products. 

This heaviness, often influenced by Vata, can lead to sluggish thyroid function, uterine fibroids, bloating, and more.

According to Ayurveda, oestrogen falls under the category of the Kapha dosha, representing qualities of stability, nurturing, and growth. When the Kapha dosha becomes imbalanced, it can contribute to the accumulation of excess oestrogen and its related symptoms.

Symptoms of Oestrogen Dominance

1. Weight Gain: Excessive oestrogen levels can contribute to weight gain, particularly in the hips, thighs, and abdomen.
    
2. Fatigue or Feeling Tired: High oestrogen levels may cause fatigue and a feeling of low energy.
    
3. Mood Changes: Oestrogen imbalance can lead to irritability, mood swings, anxiousness, and even symptoms of depression.
    
4. Irregular Menstrual Cycles: Oestrogen dominance can disrupt the normal menstrual cycle, leading to irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or prolonged periods.
    
5. Breast Tenderness: Increased oestrogen levels can result in breast tenderness, swelling, or discomfort.

High oestrogen levels can contribute to or worsen certain conditions.

1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a hormonal disorder characterized by elevated oestrogen levels, insulin resistance, and ovary cysts.
    
2. Breast, Ovarian, and Uterine Cancer: Prolonged exposure to high oestrogen levels can increase the risk of developing certain hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer.
    
3. Tumours in the Adrenal Glands and Ovaries: Oestrogen dominance may be associated with developing tumours or cysts in the adrenal glands or ovaries.
    
4. Endometrial Pain: Excessive oestrogen levels can contribute to endometriosis, a condition characterized by the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus, resulting in pelvic pain and inflammation.
    
5. Insulin Resistance: Oestrogen imbalance can contribute to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body's cells become less responsive to the hormone insulin, potentially leading to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

If you suspect you have symptoms of high oestrogen levels or if you know your levels are elevated, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional. They can provide an accurate diagnosis, determine the underlying causes, and recommend appropriate treatment options to restore hormonal balance by reducing Oestrogen levels and improving overall health.

How to Lower Oestrogen Levels Naturally?

Lowering oestrogen levels via natural ways of healing requires making some lifestyle changes. 

Getting Troubled by High Oestrogen Levels? Discover How to Lower Them Naturally
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1. Evaluate Your Caffeine Consumption

Research suggests that caffeine intake can affect oestrogen levels. Moderating your caffeine consumption can improve hormonal health by decreasing oestrogen levels. 

2. Refine Your Diet

The standard Western diet, high in processed foods, refined grains, and sweets, may promote higher oestrogen levels. Adhering to a Mediterranean diet, rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, olive oil, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices, can help reduce oestrogen levels.

3. Add Cruciferous Vegetables to Your Grocery List

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts contain DIM ( Diindolylmethane ), which can help modulate oestrogen metabolism.

4. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Excess body weight, especially in the form of adipose tissue, can contribute to elevated oestrogen levels. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise promotes hormonal balance and decreases oestrogen naturally.

5. Curb Your Alcohol Intake

Excessive alcohol consumption can increase oestrogen levels. Limiting alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day (for females) is recommended.

6. Implement Smart Stress-Coping Strategies

Chronic stress can disrupt oestrogen balance. Engage in activities such as yoga, meditation, massage, listening to music, and taking time to unwind to manage stress effectively.

7. Increase Fibre Consumption

Fibre plays a role in liver health and oestrogen breakdown. A high-fibre diet closely links with lower oestrogen levels and reduced risk of breast cancer. Include fibre-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts.

8. Practise Sleep Hygiene

Getting adequate sleep is essential for hormonal balance. Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night, establish a consistent sleep routine, limit technology use before bed, and create a relaxing bedtime routine.

9. Dodge Xenoestrogens

Minimize exposure to xenoestrogens, which are chemical compounds that mimic natural oestrogen. Opt for organic foods, hormone-free meats, and BPA-free plastics ( Bisphenol A) to reduce exposure to these substances.

It's important to note that these lifestyle changes can contribute to reducing oestrogen levels naturally, but individual circumstances may vary.

5 Ayurvedic Herbs to Help Reduce Oestrogen 

Here are 5 Ayurvedic herbs that can help reduce oestrogen levels:

1. Nigella Sativa (Kalonji)

Rich in antioxidants, these seeds can regulate insulin and other hormones like testosterone and thyroid levels.

2. Ashwagandha

The adaptogenic herb helps manage stress and cortisol levels, promoting hormonal balance.

3. Black Cohosh Root

Used for menstrual symptoms, menopause, and hormonal imbalances, it acts as a phytoestrogen and supports overall hormonal health.

4. Chaste Berry

It can improve symptoms related to menopause, PMS, and reproductive health by affecting hormones like prolactin and dopamine.

5. Marjoram

The herb helps reduce stress hormones, balances estradiol levels, and aids blood sugar management.

You can consume these herbs in various forms, such as tea, powders, or supplements.

To Conclude

Fluctuating hormone levels are a natural part of life, but when oestrogen levels become imbalanced, it can lead to uncomfortable symptoms and affect overall health and well-being. If you suspect oestrogen dominance, it's important to determine your hormone levels through testing, as this will provide a clearer picture of your hormonal status.

Practising detoxification techniques supports the body's natural processes of eliminating toxins and promoting hormone balance.

However, it's important to remember that hormone balance is complex, and consulting with an expert is vital to ensure personalised guidance and support.