The market is flooded with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) specific teas and drinks that claim to cure the condition or help you reverse it. It is very understandable to feel confused between the various options available. One such drink that became very popular for PCOS is spearmint tea. Now, does this tea really work? If so, how does it improve the symptoms? Is there evidence proving its efficacy? Keep reading further to know the answers to these questions.
PCOS and Hyperandrogenism:
Before we jump into the workings of spearmint tea, let’s discuss a little about hyperandrogenism, that is, excess male hormones in the body. PCOS is a condition characterized by hormonal imbalance. The Rotterdam Criteria is the standard used for diagnosing PCOS and it has three criteria, of which at least two need to be true to be diagnosed. One of these criteria includes androgen excess. Studies show that 9.13%-22.5% of women with PCOS in India suffer from hyperandrogenism. Now, spearmint tea could be the answer to reverse hyperandrogenism, let’s break down the benefits of spearmint tea further.
What is spearmint tea?
Spearmint tea is made from the leaves of the spearmint plant, which is a species of mint. It has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions, including digestive problems, headaches, and respiratory ailments.
Benefits of spearmint tea for PCOS:
- Reduce free testosterone:
As established, hyperandrogenism leads to excess male hormones wandering around in the body, testosterone being one of them. A study was conducted where two groups of women were involved, one group consumed spearmint tea twice daily, and the other group was on a placebo. At the end of the month, it was observed that the spearmint tea group had lower levels of free and total testosterone in the blood compared to the control group.
Thus, spearmint tea could have a beneficial effect in reducing testosterone in the body, thereby reducing related symptoms like male pattern baldness and acne. Though it cannot get rid of already existing facial/ abnormal hair growth in the body, it has been shown to have a positive response to reducing/ slowing the pace of abnormal hair growth.
- Lowering androgen levels:
One of the main benefits of spearmint tea for PCOS is its ability to lower androgen levels in the body. Androgens are hormones that are typically found in higher levels in men than in women, but women with PCOS often have elevated levels of androgens as well. This can cause a range of symptoms, including acne, unwanted hair growth, and irregular menstrual cycles. However, studies have shown that drinking spearmint tea can help reduce androgen levels, which can in turn alleviate these symptoms.
- Improving insulin sensitivity:
Another benefit of spearmint tea for PCOS is its ability to improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body. Women with PCOS often have insulin resistance, which means that their cells are less responsive to insulin and therefore require more of it to keep blood sugar levels stable. This can lead to high blood sugar levels, which can increase the risk of developing diabetes. However, research has shown that spearmint tea can improve insulin sensitivity, which can help reduce the risk of diabetes and other health problems associated with insulin resistance.
- Reducing inflammation:
Additionally, spearmint tea has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for women with PCOS. Inflammation is a natural response of the body's immune system to injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can lead to a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Women with PCOS are at increased risk of inflammation, but studies have suggested that spearmint tea can help reduce inflammation and improve overall health.
- High antioxidant quality:
Low-grade chronic inflammation is a sword that hangs over a PCOS cyster constantly. Spearmint tea has a high antioxidant quality which brings down oxidative stress in the body and can curb inflammation. This is a definite win-win situation in PCOS.
- Takes care of gut issues:
Your gut quality is compromised in PCOS, one may suffer from bloating, nausea, acidity, and an array of other symptoms that affects the health of the gut even further. Spearmint tea is not caffeinated and is rather a herbal drink and it can come in handy to get rid of gut-related symptoms and tackle indigestion.
- Helps balance hormones:
Hormones tend to talk to each other, when there is an imbalance of a single hormone, it can cause a chain reaction and other hormone levels also could get affected. The androgen lowering ability of spearmint tea could also lower other hormones such as luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Due to this hormone lowering quality, prolonged intake of spearmint tea might help regularize periods.
- Improves focus:
If you have PCOS, you know to expect some mood swings, constant tiredness, and even some kind of brain fog. Spearmint tea has been shown to improve focus, memory, and cognitive functions. This might be owing to their high antioxidant quality which reduces stress greatly.
References:
- Mehraban, M., Jelodar, G. & Rahmanifar, F. A combination of spearmint and flaxseed extract improved endocrine and histomorphology of ovary in experimental PCOS. J Ovarian Res 13, 32 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-020-00633-8
- Mahboubi M. Mentha spicata as natural analgesia for treatment of pain in osteoarthritis patients. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017 Feb;26:1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.11.001. Epub 2016 Nov 2. PMID: 28107842.
- Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2010 Feb;24(2):186-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2900. PMID: 19585478.
- Ashraf, S., Nabi, M., Rasool, S.u.A. et al. Hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovarian syndrome and role of CYP gene variants: a review. Egypt J Med Hum Genet 20, 25 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43042-019-0031-4