4 HORMONAL PROBLEMS YOU CAN HELP WITH HERBS
We’re extremely good at ignoring the signs these chemicals are out of balance. But studies show herbal remedies really can help – here’s when and how to use them
NATURAL BALANCE
NIKKI HILL is a medical herbalist and naturopath specialising in hormone balancing. She’s based in Wilmslow, Cheshire, where she runs her own naturopathic clinic (bellawellbeing.co.uk)
Hormones are chemical messengers that tell the cells of our body what to do. They influence almost every system in the body and, if imbalanced, can lead to all manner of health issues ranging from simple tiredness to problems with fertility.
The problem is that most of us don’t realise that disrupted hormones are behind what we feel – particularly when it comes to matters related to the reproductive system and the balance of oestrogen and progesterone that control it. We think that painful periods, PMS or menopausal symptoms are just normal and put up with them, or we mask them with medication such as the contraceptive pill – in fact, many women don’t really pay much attention to how to their hormones might be affecting them until they decide that they want to conceive.