Today a friend on a forum posted some interesting research about the effects of spearmint tea on testosterone levels and therefore symptoms of PCOS. I don’t suffer too badly with PCOS symptoms – I would say most of them are mild, but my bloods did show elevated testosterone, which I’m guessing is what causes my occasional chin hairs!
Put simply, a recent study showed that in a sample of women who drank spearmint tea twice a day for thirty days, many of them reported a decrease in facial hair and blood tests showed a decrease in testosterone level. This was compared with women who drank a placebo herbal tea for the thirty days and saw no difference.
Forty one of 42 patients completed the study. Free and total testosterone levels were significantly reduced over the 30 day period in the spearmint tea group (p < 0.05). LH and FSH also increased (p < 0.05). Patient's subjective assessments of their degree of hirsutism scored by the modified DQLI were significantly reduced in the spearmint tea group (p < 0.05). There was, however, no significant reduction in the objective Ferriman-Galwey ratings of hirsutism between the two trial groups over the trial duration (p = 0.12). There was a clear and significant alteration in the relevant hormone levels.
You can read the full study here.
Anyhow, as always I’m all about the natural remedies so I decided to give this a go. I dug around in my tea collection and found the Clipper After Dinner Mints infusion that I had previously reviewed here on the blog. You can read the review here . This contains spearmint amongst other things, so my resolution is to drink two cups of this a day. It might not help, but it certainly won’t hinder and is worth a go if you ask me! Bottoms up!
*disclaimer*
As always this post is not intended as medical advice. I am not a Dr or a healthcare professional. I am just passing on information that I have found.
Papa, Eden & Me 
Very interesting!
I thought so too. It’s one of those things where I thought well… I envy the tea anyway so drinking more of is ISNT a huge lifestyle change and might help
Yeah for sure. Plus, I’ve been told chamomile isn’t good for lining, so I’ve been drinking mint more often anyway!
Ahhh I hate chamomile. Generally won’t catch me anywhere near the stuff
I too am a pcos sufferer. Love the natural remedies. I’m going to add this to my bag of tricks. I’m currently taking a cinnamon supplement and an apple cider supplement.
How would the apple cider work? Because we have apple cider vinegar available home. Would that work?
Apple cider vinegar helps regulate blood sugar levels. I notice a huge improvement in appetite, energy, and some regulation to my cycle.
Well, as much as I don’t like it, I’ll give it a try.
I use the pill form, it’s much easier to take and is pretty low cost on amazon
Not sure if to invest yet in pills. But I will try the liquid
I wish you luck, make sure you dilute it with water and honey. Straight is too harsh on your system
Thanks for the tip
I remember I tried it, drinking mint tea, alternating it with cinnamon. It worked for a month, in that I only spotted, with nothing the following month. I ended the habit mainly because I forgot to do it as often as before, so there was nothing.
I wonder though, did you come across anything suggesting that fasting had an effect on PCOS? Because come January this year, during my church’s prayer and fast I had gotten mine properly for the first time in years, and heavier than I remembered having it.
I find that fasting just makes me feel unwell, but I ovulated early every month on spearmint tea. I think it only works, though, if testosterone is your problem. If not it won’t do much
Hirsutism is a major problem with me, so the tea may help me. I’ll try it
Reblogged this on Rantings from inside my head and commented:
Sorry, I’m a bit desperate here. If these work to treat the symptoms at least, is be glad.