Spearmint Tea For PCOS: Your Ultimate Guide

Are you one of the millions of women struggling with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? If so, you know the challenges that come along with this hormonal disorder. From irregular periods, infertility, weight gain, and unwanted hair growth, it can feel like an uphill battle to manage PCOS. While there are many safe and effective treatments, many women turn to natural remedies such as spearmint tea for relief from PCOS symptoms.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the potential benefits of spearmint tea for PCOS. We also explore how incorporating this herbal beverage into your daily routine could help improve your overall health and well-being. So grab a warm cup of tea and let’s dive in together on this journey towards managing PCOS.

Spearmint Tea and PCOS: Types, Benefits, and Options

Spearmint tea is a herb, known formally as Mentha spicata, from the Labiatae (mint) family. It can also be taken as a capsule. 

What About Peppermint Tea and PCOS?

Spearmint’s close relative, peppermint (Mentha piperita), would fall under the same family. Though spearmint and peppermint have the same origin, most research has been on spearmint for its potential as a treatment for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). 

Since there is such limited research available for peppermint tea and PCOS, we cannot comment whether it will have the same effect.

A Brief Review of the Current Treatment Options

PCOS affects millions of women worldwide, causing symptoms like irregular menstrual cycles, acne, weight gain, and excessive hair growth (hirsutism).

Traditional treatment options for managing PCOS include hormonal birth control, anti-androgen medications, and insulin-sensitizing drugs. These medications are safe and generally more effective than alternative methods; however, women may choose alternative methods for a variety of reasons including side effects (see below for more details). This has led many women to explore natural alternatives, such as dietary changes, supplements, and herbal remedies like spearmint tea for PCOS. 

Common Medications

Metformin, a common treatment for regulating blood sugars and metabolic concerns of PCOS, comes with the possibility of gastrointestinal issues, and long-term use depletes vitamin B12. Metformin is primarily used to treat the metabolic effects of PCOS like insulin resistance; however, the 2023 PCOS International Guidelines recommend metformin over inositol supplements for hirsutism treatment but also note that metformin may not be accessible or the best fit for everyone since it does increase stomach side effects.

Spironolactone increases the risk for gastrointestinal issues (which is also already a common concern with PCOS) and high levels of potassium in the blood (potentially dangerous). 

Cyproterone is also commonly used to treat hirsutism, but comes with rare side effects of liver toxicity and venous thromboembolic complications.

Birth control is another common and effective treatment for hirsutism (plus balancing hormones and regulating the cycle), but again, comes with various side effects. Long-term use of hormonal birth control can deplete women of many important nutrients for health and fertility, such as B vitamins (including folate, B6, and B12), zinc, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, and coenzyme Q10. Check out our other blog post on the best vitamin for PCOS.

Other treatments for hirsutism are expensive, such as laser hair removal or dermatologist treatments. 

As Dietitians, we always recommend chatting with your physician and/or pharmacist to make the most informed decision for your health especially when it comes to medications and herbal treatments for PCOS.

At Edge Nutrition, we are all about informed decision making so the more information you have the better you can make a decision that works for you!

Spearmint Tea and Hirsutism: Can You Lower It Naturally? 

In recent years, spearmint tea has gained popularity as a natural remedy for PCOS due to its potential to reduce androgens—male hormones that are often elevated in women with PCOS. High levels of androgens can lead to symptoms like acne, facial or body hair growth, and hair loss.

The limited research we have available for PCOS and spearmint tea shows that spearmint may be a promising option for women looking to manage their symptoms naturally.

Spearmint tea offers women a potential treatment for their PCOS symptoms with minimal side effects and little expense. Check out another blog on treating acne in women and PCOS.

The Root Cause

A component of the root cause of PCOS is elevated androgens, or male sex hormones such as testosterone and DHEAS. These elevated androgens are responsible for many of the physical symptoms of PCOS such as hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the chin, face, chest, and belly), hair loss on the head, and acne. Part of the treatment of PCOS is lowering androgens to help regulate hormones internally thus reducing the external symptoms. 

Anti-androgens work by blocking or suppressing the production of testosterone. Anti-androgens are useful for reducing many of the physical symptoms of PCOS. (Grant & Ramasamy, 2012) 

Although the research on spearmint for PCOS isn’t elaborate, there are a few interesting studies with promising results. 

Total Testosterone vs. Free Testosterone

When evaluating current and future studies, it’s important to consider the levels of free testosterone, which is the active form. The total testosterone is the total amount in the body, with most being bound (and inactive) to SHBG or albumin. So, reductions in free testosterone, as seen in the above research, is promising and relevant to the results.

Can You Use Spearmint Tea To Balance Hormones?

A short, 5-day study tested if spearmint tea consumption could improve hormones in women with PCOS. They recruited just 21 women, 12 who had PCOS and the other 9 with hirsutism without PCOS. They all saw reductions in free testosterone, and increases in luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (estrogen). (Akdogan et al., 2007; Grant & Ramasamy, 2012) 

The study occurred during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, which encompasses a woman’s period and the week just before ovulation. Usually the 3 hormones studied in this time are steady, aside from the days right before ovulation, where all 3 hormones surge. It’s possible that the lowering of testosterone allowed for these to rise as the menstrual cycle improved.

Lower FSH levels in particular, can lead to anovulation, a common concern in PCOS. Another commonality in PCOS is higher LH relative to FSH, which seems to promote the production of more androgens. Since these hormones have such a strong link, impacting one has the potential to break these vicious cycles.  (Ainehchi et al., 2019)

Interestingly, blood lipids saw some slight improvements too, with triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reducing too. These clinical findings are wonderful results, as we know women with PCOS are at a heightened risk for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes, with elevated blood lipids contributing to that risk. 

Of practical note, these teas were steeped for 5-10 minutes. 

Unfortunately, the study is too short and too small of a sample size to make such links with total confidence. 

If you are unsure of where to start treating your PCOS, consider checking out our blog on the different types of PCOS and how to treat Lean PCOS.

Can I Use Spearmint Capsules For PCOS?

A very small study tested whether spearmint capsules could reduce hirsutism. The majority of participants (that’s 3 out of 4 people… I told you it was VERY small) who consumed a daily capsule of 50 mg of dried spearmint daily for 3 months saw a 25-50% reduction in hirsutism.

Hirsutism was measured using a standard scale called the Ferriman-Gallwey scale. Women photographed their skin with areas of hair growth at the beginning and end of the trial, using this scale to compare the improvements. With this, we can interpret these results with a bit more certainty. (Moore, 2022) 

Caffeine-Free for Gut Health

Another benefit of spearmint tea for PCOS is that it is naturally caffeine-free. Why is this a benefit? While the link has yet to be confirmed, there are hypotheses that women with PCOS more often have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several mechanisms have been proposed as to why these conditions occur concurrently, but what we can say for now is that caffeine can often aggravate IBS symptoms. So, for women with PCOS, gut health is often an important part of their treatment plan.

If you are struggling with gut health, check out our other blogs on gut health here.

How To Make Spearmint Tea For PCOS

Most studies tested whether 2 cups of spearmint tea daily reduced androgens. One study mentioned a standard tea bag was steeped for 5-10 minutes. 

With this, a couple of cups of spearmint tea, with the bags left in, could be a nice addition to a self-care ritual. 

Best Time to Drink Spearmint Tea For PCOS

There is not enough information from research for us to tell you exactly what the best time to drink spearmint tea for PCOS is. But as a Dietitan who spend a lot of time counselling women with PCOS, I recommend that you add this habit in when it works best for you! It could be a bed-time routine or a great way to start your morning.

Spearmint Tea Side Effects: Should I Worry?

Spearmint tea is generally very safe to consume. In fact, doctors have used spearmint tea to treat various conditions for centuries, including inflammation, bronchitis, fever and vomiting in pregnancy, to name a few. Doctors have also prescribed 3-4 cups daily between meals to treat gastrointestinal issues, as Mentha is helpful to reduce flatulence (a nice way to say gas) and relaxes the gut. (Akdogan et al., 2007)

One thing to be aware of, is the potential of spearmint and peppermint teas to lead to iron-deficiency anemia. This is because Mentha teas are potent in phytic acid and polyphenols, both of which inhibit iron absorption. To combat this risk, it’s advisable to consume spearmint tea outside of meal times. Other foods with high levels of phytic acid or polyphenols are fruits, vegetables, spices, coffee, teas, red wine and cocoa. Certainly, many things like fruits, vegetables and spices are likely to be eaten in the context of a meal, and that is okay! Aim for realistic habits, such as drinking tea, coffee and red wine (if that’s your jam) outside of meal times when possible. Humans aren’t perfect, and sometimes red wine and steak hits the spot. (Akdogan et al., 2007)

Conclusion

Spearmint tea offers a natural and effective way to manage PCOS symptoms, particularly for reducing androgen levels and treating hirsutism. With its refreshing taste and numerous health benefits, incorporating spearmint tea into your daily routine can be a simple and enjoyable addition to your self-care practices.

By understanding the potential benefits and being mindful of consumption habits, women with PCOS can harness the power of spearmint tea to improve their quality of life. Remember, it’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or treatment plan.

If you’re looking to explore more natural remedies and personalised advice for managing PCOS, consider booking a consultation with one of our expert healthcare providers. Your path to wellness starts with a single step—why not make it a sip of spearmint tea? Sip your way to better health and balance with every cup.