Herbal Hormones For Her

QUESTION: I suffer from irregular menstrual periods and I'm wondering whether there are any herbs or dietary nutrients that might help me?

ANSWER: Several herbs and foods can balance hormones and regulate menstrual cycles. These include dong quai, chasteberry, Siberian ginseng, and soy. All contain plant hormones that can gently yet powerfully stimulate your endocrine system. Dong quai is a traditional Chinese herb that is often referred to as the female ginseng. Chasteberry, also known as vitex agnuscastus, seems to stimulate the pituitary and to normalize progesterone levels, which are sometimes low in women with irregular cycles. Siberian ginseng has a very mild estrogenic effect. Finally, soy contains powerful plant estrogens that can help stimulate a woman's sluggish hormones.