5 Herbs to Increase Progesterone
Progesterone is the hormone released in the second half of your menstrual cycle after ovulation. The corpus luteum produces progesterone, which is the sac that remains once you ovulate and turns into a hormone-producing gland during the luteal phase.
Progesterone is a sex hormone released from the ovaries that is vital for conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. While progesterone is crucial for healthy fertility and pregnancy, it’s still important whether you are trying to conceive or trying NOT to get pregnant.
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Progesterone:
makes the uterine lining sticky for egg implantation
protects the uterine lining
has anti-anxiety benefits due to it’s relationship with releaseing GABA – our natural relaxation mood chemical
has muscle relaxation effects (which may also be why if you ARE ovulating you could experience some constipation around ovulation because it’s slowing things down)
balances out estrogen levels
Certain things can impact progesterone production:
stress
nutrient deficiencies
lack of ovulation
estrogen dominance
under eating
not eating enough fat
over-exercising
high prolactin
low thyroid function
short luteal phase
menopause
Signs and symptoms of low progesterone include:
PMS
cramps
painful periods
heavy periods
cyclical headaches / migraines
irritability
anxiety
poor sleep
breast tenderness
bloating
ovarian cysts
irregular periods
infertility
1st trimester miscarriage
LEARN EXACTLY HOW TO SUPPORT HEALTHY PROGESTERONE LEVELS NATURALLY IN LESS THAN 1 HOUR!
You may be wondering: “are there any herbs that can help to increase progesterone levels?”
The good news (actually, great, amazing, fantastic new) is YES - there are herbs to help raise progesterone levels in the body.
This important question we need to be asking is: why is my progesterone low in the first place?
This is taking a root cause approach when it comes to understanding our health and hormones. When we answer this question, we are understanding what is driving the imbalance (which is showing up as symptoms in the body).
By addressing the root cause, not simply just the symptom (or the hormone imbalance for that matter), we can find long-term, sustained healing.
I’m here to help you have better periods, symptomless cycles, and optimize fertility (whether that’s now or in the future) all through simple nutrition and lifestyle shifts that feel simple, doable, and empowering (not overwhelming).
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As always, I’m giving away my best hormone tips here, answering your burning questions, and letting you in on the what the science says.
This is the kind of insider info I share with all of my 1:1 coaching clients and students in my signature course, Heal Your Period.
I’m so passionate about sharing this info with anyone on a hormone healing journey, so I’m letting you in with all the info here!
So, let’s dive in into it!
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There is so much noise and confusion around nutrition and lifestyle shifts to healing your hormones with clarity and ease, which is why I’m so passionate about getting this info into your hands!
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Are there herbs to help raise progesterone levels?
Here are 5 herbs to increase progesterone:
*Consult with your healthcare provider before beginning herbal supplements
1. Chasteberry or vitex
Another one of the herbs to increase progesterone naturally is called Chasteberry. Chasteberry is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine, most particularly for women’s health and menstrual issues. Other names include vitex, chaste tree berry, and vitex agnus-castus. It comes from a shrub-like tree native to the Mediterranean and Centra Asia. Chasteberry, is used to treat a variety of different conditions, such as PMS, infertility, acne, and more. It is an ideal herb to balance female hormones. It works by decreasing levels of prolactin, which in return balances out estrogen and progesterone. Due to the effect chasteberry has on the pituitary gland, increasing the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), this promotes ovulation and raising progesterone levels. This is why chasteberry is another one of the herbs to increase progesterone.
Source: Alternative Medicine Review, 1497442
2. Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil comes from a plant native to North America though it does grow in parts of Europe too. It is one of the herbs to increase progesterone. Evening primrose oil has both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which are types of healthy fats because they are unsaturated. This is one of the only foods that contain optimal amounts of both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Due to this, the healthy fat composition in primrose oil is the main mechanism for how it can increase progesterone naturally. It has been found to be beneficial in managing PMS symptoms which are tied to lower progesterone levels. This is why evening primrose oil is one of the herbs to increase progesterone.
Source: 31497576
3. Rhodiola
Rhodiola is another one of the herbs to increase progesterone. This herb grows at high altitudes in the arctic mountains, so it is relatively rare to find naturally, but it is useful as a natural medicinal remedy. Rhodiola is an adaptogenic herb that can indirectly help to increase progesterone by managing the stress response. Stress can reduce progesterone levels due to cortisol release. When cortisol is released our body suppreses ovulation as a protective mechanism (it does not deem it safe to bring a child into the world right now), so as a response, we decrease progesterone secretion. Rhodiola helps supporting the stress response, which explains why it can be an herb to increase progesterone.
Source: 30393593
4. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is another one of the herbs to increase progesterone naturally. This herb is found in the middle east and is scientifically proven to have many health benefits including properties such as anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, adaptogenic, memory-enhancing, hematopoietic, and sleep-inducing. Additionally, studies have shown the beneficial effects it has on stress levels. Ashwagandha can decrease the stress response in the body. This is the mechanism for why ashwagandha is great to increase progesterone because it decreases cortisol secretion.
Source: 32021735
5. Schisandra
Schnisandra has a long history of being used in Chinese medicine. The fruit of this plant has been studied to have many health benefits and has properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, supports detoxification, supports the immune system, antiviral, and anti-cancer activities. Due to schisandra’s antioxidant properties, it can be used to decrease stress levels. As mentioned, the decrease in stress can indirectly help to increase progesterone. This is why schisandra is one of the herbs to increase progesterone.
Source: 30720717
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are several herbs that may help increase progesterone levels.
While we chatted through lots of different options, remember that every body is unique and it’s about determine what works best for your body.
Remember: simple shifts build to make a big impact over time!
Healthy progesterone levels are possible for you.
-Krista
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KRISTA KING, MS, RDN, LDN, IFNCP
If you’re looking for individualized support for period problems, PCOS, endometriosis, stopping birth control, and/or fertility I’m your person! I have select spaces each month for:
Krista is an integrative dietitian helping you have regular, pain-free periods, symptomless cycles, and optimal fertility! Together we cover: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, cycle tracking, supplements, navigating doctor appointments, and lab testing.
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