Tipping the balance – balancing hormones with Agnus Castus

There is a universal empathy among women that revolves around the stages of life when hormones very rudely and insensitively take the reins. Take heart sisterhood: you are not alone!

This is for the lovely young ladies struggling with teenage skin. I can certainly empathise with the battle that breaks your self-confidence and leaves you wanting to hide your beautiful face. Here’s the first thing to remember: what looks like a massive breakout to you doesn’t look nearly as bad to anyone else. I mean that! Remember, you stand in front of the mirror and zoom in on all your flaws, analysing your face as if you were looking through a magnifying glass. Here’s the secret girls – everyone is so wrapped up in themselves that they probably won’t even notice you’re having a bad-skin day. That being said, a large cause of teenage acne is an imbalance in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. When the natural see-saw of these two hormones starts flying out of balance you start experiencing things like mood swings, migraines, bloating, sugar cravings and yes, acne.

To the more mature ladies, you might have entered unknowingly into a tunnel of confusion that leaves you wondering whether you are losing your wits. It may come with the exasperating hot flushes that make you realise why lace fans were once at the peak of fashion. You may find yourself snapping easily or crying at the drop of a hat. It may get to the point where you feel so overwhelmed by your responsibilities that you fantasize about packing your bags and leaving on an open-ended holiday. But then you feel guilty for feeling this way because of your strong sense of duty, so you keep on giving and giving out of a well that has long since run dry. Find relief in the knowledge that there is an herbal alternative that can help calm the storm raging unseen within you. 

Vitex agnus castus, also known as Chasteberry, is an effective herbal remedy used to balance hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone. Chasteberry contains many phytochemicals, including the isoflavonoids vitexcarpin and linoleic acid. In a nutshell, these act as ‘oestrogen receptor ligands’, which are molecules that help the binding of oestrogen to receptor sites in the body. According to a systematic review done in 2018, Chasteberry is the most widely used herbal remedy used to balance hormones and treat the symptoms of PMS and other female-related conditions. As always, it is important to note that this herb is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation. 

So stick together gals and spread the word: there is hope and all will be well.