Happy Sunday,
Another Sunday, another review of a popular supplement recommended for PCOS: Spearmint.
This week’s question
Can spearmint tea help my PCOS?
The short answer is yes. Spearmint seems to aid in lowering testosterone levels. Mint has been used for centuries to aid with various medical issues.
In this newsletter:
What does the research say?
How does it help with PCOS?
How much should I be drinking?
What does the research say?
I wouldn’t say it has very robust research, but there are a few studies that are showing the potential of spearmint on lowering testosterone levels. A study from Turkey in which 21 females with hirsutism drank a cup of speamint tea twice daily for 5 days during the follicular phases of their menstrual cycles. After treatment, the patients had significant decreases in free testosterone with increases in luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol. There were no significant decreases in total testosterone or DHEAS levels. This study was followed by a randomized clinical trial, which showed that drinking spearmint tea twice daily for 30 days (vs. chamomile tea, which was used as a control) significantly reduced testosterone.
Despite these findings, it is essential to note that there is also conflicting evidence. A review of herbal extracts for PCOS, oligo/amenorrhea, and hyperandrogenism found no evidence for the effects of whole herbal extracts, including spearmint, on PCOS. More research is definitely needed to understand its mechanism and have a definitive answer.
How does it help?
Androgens, such as testosterone, play a significant role in the development of PCOS symptoms, including hirsutism and acne. Spearmint has been found to have anti-androgen properties. The exact mechanism of action is not yet fully understood, but it is hypothesised that spearmint may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. This exact enzyme is also stimulated by excess insulin to increase the levels of testosterone.
How much should I be drinking?
In the studies above, participants drank spearmint twice per day. If you want to try this, I would aim for 2 cups per day for three months to see results.
Given that this is a pleasant drink derived from herbs and has been used for a long time, I don’t see any harm in trying it. Given the level of evidence, I wouldn’t add it to your regime in the form of pills.
I hope you got another idea of something simple you can do to help your PCOS from today’s newsletter.
See you next Sunday,
Francesca
1 Sources
Arentz, S., Abbott, J. A., Smith, C. A., & Bensoussan, A. (2014). Herbal medicine for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and associated oligo/amenorrhoea and hyperandrogenism; a review of the laboratory evidence for effects with corroborative clinical findings. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-511
Grant, P. (2010). Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial: SPEARMINT AND HIRSUTISM. Phytotherapy Research: PTR, 24(2), 186–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2900
Grant, P., & Ramasamy, S. (2012). An Update on Plant Derived Anti-Androgens. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10(2), 497–502. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.3644
Sadeghi Ataabadi, M., Alaee, S., Bagheri, M. J., & Bahmanpoor, S. (2017). Role of essential oil of Mentha spicata (spearmint) in addressing reverse hormonal and folliculogenesis disturbances in a polycystic ovarian syndrome in a rat model. Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 7(4), 651–654. https://doi.org/10.15171/apb.2017.078
Disclaimer: We are all unique in our ways, so this information is for educational purposes only. In my communications, I summarise research data and bring my experience. This shouldn’t be viewed as medical advice at any point. Please further consult your healthcare provider about your health needs.