Spearmint tea is widely used to manage the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), mainly because of its anti-androgenic properties.
Research has proven that spearmint tea could potentially lower testosterone levels in women with PCOS and subsequently improve PCOS symptoms like hirsutism.
Additionally, studies have also shown that the consumption of spearmint tea in women with PCOS not only decreases the levels of free testosterone in the blood but also increases luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.
Spearmint tea offers a safe, natural, and effective option that you can try to manage your symptoms better.
In addition to the brief points we mentioned above, let’s take a closer look at the specific health benefits of spearmint tea for PCOS:
We’ve mentioned that spearmint lowers androgen levels, but let’s discuss why that’s a critical feat among women with PCOS.
According to research, elevated levels of androgenic hormones are common in women with PCOS, and may cause “secondary disorders.”
These include:
High levels of androgens also lead to excess male hormones, including testosterone, circulating freely in the body.
In a study where two groups of women with PCOS were observed, the group drinking spearmint tea twice a day for a month had lower levels of free and total testosterone in the blood compared to the placebo group.
This shows that spearmint tea has a beneficial effect of reducing testosterone in the body and can thus help women with PCOS deal with related symptoms like acne and male pattern baldness, which high testosterone levels may exacerbate.
Hormonal imbalances may disrupt the menstrual cycle.
If one hormone is abnormally high or low, it could affect other hormones and cause an imbalance.
Spearmint tea’s ability to lower male hormones and raise female hormones responsible for ovulation makes it a powerful aid in regulating menstrual cycles in women with PCOS.
Additionally, a study on animals with PCOS has also revealed the ability of spearmint to decrease ovarian cysts while increasing the number of viable eggs in the ovaries.
While the same has not been replicated in humans, it supports the efficacy of spearmint as a natural remedy to aid in hormone balance.
Women with PCOS often have low-grade chronic inflammation.
Studies have shown that blood tests reveal higher levels of inflammatory markers in women with PCOS than those who do not have the condition.
Inflammation, the body’s natural response to viruses, injuries, and other threats, originates from the immune system.
It’s a protective response to help the body while it heals.
However, in long-term, chronic inflammation cases, the response could cause more harm than good.
This often happens because the body sees its own tissues as a foreign threat and may be exacerbated by obesity, stress, and other lifestyle factors.
In women with PCOS, inflammation levels are measured by looking at biomarkers like C-reactive proteins.
Spearmint tea contains high quality antioxidants that can significantly lower levels of oxidative stress in the body, thereby bringing down chronic inflammation in women with PCOS.
There’s also a correlation between PCOS and poor gut health.
As such, PCOS sufferers may also experience bloating, nausea, hyperacidity, and other gastrointestinal disturbances.
Spearmint has long been proven to improve gut health.
It contains a compound called carvone, which can inhibit muscle contractions in the gut—effectively helping to relieve digestive upset and soothe discomfort.
Teas are a well-known diuretic that can help you expel excess fluids by urination.
Spearmint, in particular, is used to treat suppressed and painful urination and can be very helpful in reducing water retention.
Additionally, spearmint is rich in vitamins A and C, which have been used to improve eyesight, cure scurvy, and keep your eyes and hair healthy and shiny.
Spearmint tea can be prepared and consumed much like other herbal loose-leaf teas.
Bring water to a boil, steep the tea for 3 to 5 minutes, then take the tea bag or tea leaves out.
For an even more potent brew, cover the cup while steeping so that the constituents don’t evaporate.
Most studies also found that two to three cups of spearmint tea daily is ideal for women with PCOS.
Additionally, spearmint tea may not result in overnight changes but will likely be felt gradually with regular consumption over at least five to six months.
Drinking one cup in the day and one before bedtime is ideal.
Also, in terms of one’s menstrual cycle, drinking spearmint tea during the follicular phase has proven effective in decreasing testosterone and increasing hormones responsible for ovulation.
Spearmint is specifically used to address hirsutism and other PCOS symptoms and cannot be replaced with peppermint or generic mint teas.
However, green tea may be a good supplementary tea if you’re looking for other teas that may also help address PCOS symptoms.
It also has great anti-inflammatory properties and potentially potent anti-androgenic properties.
However, studies show that green tea may be more effective as an extract (in capsule form) for PCOS treatment purposes and not just as a beverage.
Green tea has also shown great potential in improving fasting insulin and free testosterone levels in women with PCOS.
At Nourished Natural Health, we have a wide range of supplements and resources to help you overcome PCOS.
Our best-selling Androgen Blocker Plus is specially designed to help support healthy androgen levels and is the perfect supplement to help you tackle PCOS symptoms caused by imbalanced androgens.
We also have bundles to help you address specific PCOS concerns, like acne, bloating, cycle regulation, and more.
There are different PCOS types (you can take a free assessment here), but spearmint tea is specifically proven to reduce PCOS symptoms associated with high androgen and testosterone levels.
Spearmint is considered very safe with reactions unlikely.
However, if you have any concerns about medications you may be taking, please consult with your healthcare practitioner before use.
Spearmint tea is generally safe in moderate amounts (2 to 3 cups daily).
Still, in very large amounts over a long period, it could cause kidney disorders or increase liver damage.
Very large doses of spearmint tea might damage the uterus during pregnancy, whether or not a woman has PCOS.
It should, therefore, only be taken in moderation, especially when pregnant or breastfeeding.
The best way to drink spearmint tea is to steep it in boiling water in a tea pot or covered cup (to prevent the herbal constituents from evaporating) for 3 to 5 minutes and drink immediately.
However, if you prefer a cold drink, preparing a batch in advance and chilling is fine.
Take the tea leaves or tea bags out after infusing them, as leaving them in may cause the tea to become bitter.
Yes! Nourished Natural Health has a curated line of supplements specially made to address PCOS symptoms and different subtypes.
Whether you’re looking to improve skin health, regulate your cycle, lose weight, or improve mood and energy levels, our supplements are designed to work together or individually to help you achieve your health goals.
