Spearmint Tea for PCOS - Does it Actually Help?

The short answer is yes, kind of. There are a surprising number of benefits of Spearmint Tea for PCOS. I've covered a lot of different types of teas on this site and Spearmint Tea comes in as one of the best teas for PCOS. If you're already very familiar with PCOS then jump down to the section, because I'm going to cover what it is first.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is an endocrine disorder, meaning the hormone system does not work correctly in women who experience this syndrome.

The male-type hormones, androgen, and insulin are produced in irregular or unusual amounts.

Does Spearmint Tea Help with PCOS Symptoms by Lowering Testosterone?

Yes, spearmint tea helps with PCOS symptoms.

One of the main ways it can help is by lowering testosterone, but not as much as you may think.

There are several natural remedies can help decrease the severity of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome and spearmint tea is one of them.

For example, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting carbohydrates, and staying active. This is what I mainly promote on this site. I offer PCOS Recipes, a PCOS diet plan, and have even published an Amazon Best Selling cookbook.

These teas help eliminate indigestion, bloating, and sleep disorders.

Apart from ginger tea, green tea, and cinnamon tea, spearmint tea is also effective in treating PCOS naturally.

Let’s find out more about this gift of nature and study the benefits of mentha spicata, that is mint or spearmint. 

How Does Spearmint Tea Help with PCOS Symptoms?

Spearmint Tea helps with PCOS by lowering androgens. These hormones are the ones responsible for causing facial hair in women with PCOS. It's also responsible for increasing hair loss in women with PCOS.

In fact, that's what this whole site is about. It's about making healthy lifestyle changes and eating a healthy diet that helps to balance your hormones naturally. PCOS can cause Hyperandrogenism and that's what we're battling here. There are a lot of other benefits of drinking spearmint tea for PCOS too.

What is Hyperandrogenism?

Clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism, the defining characteristic of PCOS, include hormonal acne, hirsutism, and alopecia. Hyperandrogenism is a result of excessive androgen production from the ovaries and adrenals.

The generation of ovarian androgen is stimulated by excess LH, whereas a relative deficiency in FSH affects follicular growth.

The proliferating ovarian theca cells brought on by the LH: FSH imbalance promote steroidogenesis, which induces hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS. 

The CYP genes involved in steroidogenesis are thought to be the main contributors to hyperandrogenism in PCOS because they play a role significantly in androgen production.

One of the best methods for treating irregular menstrual cycles, insulin imbalances, and other PCOS symptoms in overweight or obese women is weight loss. For instance, many PCOS-afflicted fat women who decrease their body weight 5 to 10%  report that their periods become more regular. With the proper diet and exercise routine, weight loss is easily possible.

Benefits of Drinking Spearmint Tea for PCOS

There are dozens of benefits of spearmint tea. According to research, spearmint tea has significant anti-androgen actions that control female hormones, including luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH. 

As a result, consuming spearmint tea regularly can decrease the likelihood of PCOS complications such as hormonal acne, oily skin, excessive hair, growth, or alopecia.

Excess androgens, typical in women with polycystic syndrome, lead to hormonal imbalances. Other complications include fertility problems, menstrual abnormalities, excessive facial hair growth, and weight gain. 

The reason spearmint tea is such an excellent herbal treatment for PCOS is that it has anti-androgen effects.

Researchers observe that spearmint may be able to treat PCOS since it restores follicular growth in ovarian tissue and inhibits testosterone production. Spearmint tea also offers a host of benefits, such as:

• Relieves PMS-related issues such as bloating, nausea, and cramps
• Promotes good gut health
• Boosts memory
• Protects heart health
• Reduces stress and anxiety

In a nutshell:

• It can lower levels of free testosterone, a leading cause of PCOS acne and hirsutism, by 30%.
• It causes a 30% increase in luteinizing hormone (LH), which keeps the menstrual cycle regular by initiating ovulation.
• It raises follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by around 15% to ensure that ovarian follicles mature correctly.

What Does The Research Suggest?

According to recent scientific research, spearmint tea helps as it reduces androgen levels in PCOS women. It is possible to observe a drop in free testosterone and an increase in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) after consuming spearmint tea for five days.

However, measuring actual PCOS improvements over a longer time is preferable.

According to a 2010 Spearmint Trial in the UK, spearmint herbal tea significantly reduces high testosterone levels in women with PCOS. 

The trial involved monitoring forty-two women with PCOS and hirsutism over a period of one month. Participants in the spearmint tea group consumed two cups of tea every day.

Over 30 days, the spearmint tea group's free high testosterone levels decreased dramatically, whereas LH and FSH levels rose. However, there was no discernible decline in hirsutism.

Generally, most herbal medicines need more time to work effectively. The same is the case with spearmint tea for treating PCOS. 

For that reason, scientists of this study claim that the study was too short to fully determine the extent of spearmint tea's advantages for hyperandrogenic women.

Similar findings were obtained in a second Turkish study. Researchers from Suleyman Demirel University chose to study how this herbal tea affected the testosterone levels in hirsute women. The study comprised 21 hirsute female patients, 12 with polycystic ovary disease and 9 with idiopathic hirsutism.

They consumed spearmint tea twice a day for five days. At the end of the trial, there was a significant decrease in free testosterone and an increase in luteinizing hormone. 

As a result, researchers concluded spearmint could be an alternative treatment for mild hirsutism because of its anti-androgen effects.

Is it Okay to Drink Cold Spearmint Tea?

Yes, there is no proof drinking cold spearmint tea lessens its effectiveness. However, this type of tea has several soothing properties. Cold spearmint tea should offer the same advantages as hot tea if you drink it for longer.

Should You Drink 100% Spearmint Tea?

While spearmint essential oil is popular for its many benefits, fresh spearmint tea offers a plethora of benefits. 

Most teas sold now are blends of various mints. But, primarily, the tea used as an intervention is fresh spearmint tea which is brewed for 10-minutes.

In busy lives, picking fresh spearmint daily may not be as practical as purchasing dried spearmint tea in a tea bag, to benefit from its properties. 

It is a perennial plant that originated in Europe and Asia but currently flourishes on five different continents. Its name is derived from the distinctive spear-shaped leaves.

Spearmint has a delightful sweetness and is widely used to flavor toothpaste, sweets, mouthwash, chewing gum, and other products.

However, you can use it as a tea by brewing fresh or dried leaves to treat PCOS-related issues. In addition to being delicious, spearmint tea offers several health benefits. 

Hence, we can confidently conclude from this research that drinking two cups of spearmint tea every day can control hormonal imbalances in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. However, no herbal treatment will produce noticeable results in days.

Cautions and Side Effects of Spearmint Tea

First, it can be an acid reflux and heartburn trigger. Second, some women won't gain any benefits from lower testosterone levels. Also, you should consult your doctor before trying out any remedies to control hormone levels. 

Your doctor may also ask for regular bloodwork when consuming spearmint tea. That’s because these hormones offer us benefits, so we don’t want to drive them completely down.

It's essential to be careful of the side effects when we start taking something new. For example, if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, you should avoid using spearmint tea because it can trigger stomach issues. 

Also, check with your doctor if you are expecting, nursing, or have any other side effects. 

How Long Does it Take Spearmint Tea to Start Working?

It takes around 6 months to start noticing benefits of drinking spearmint tea twice per day. So, you shouldn't expect spearmint tea to start working right away. The advantages of spearmint tea may take time significantly before showing any noticeable results. 

So it’s essential to stay consistent when drinking spearmint tea to relieve PCOS.

How to Prepare Spearmint Tea for PCOS

Instead of using spearmint essential oil, you can brew spearmint tea for treating PCOS. There isn’t much information available on how to properly prepare spearmint tea.

However, women often make it in a standard pot with boiling water and steep it for 10 minutes before consuming it. Some women like drinking it cold. No matter how you like, spearmint herbal tea offers a host of benefits. 

When is the Best Time to Drink Spearmint Tea for PCOS?

The best time to drink spearmint tea for PCOS is the morning and evening. It's important to start your day off right and to end the day right. This tea will help balance your hormones while you sleep!

Sources & References

Grant, P., Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res, 2010. 24: p. 186-8.

Sadeghi Ataabadi, M., et al., Role of Essential Oil of Mentha Spicata (Spearmint) in Addressing Reverse Hormonal and Folliculogenesis Disturbances in a Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in a Rat Model. Adv Pharm Bull, 2017. 7: p. 651 - 654