Can Moringa Balance Hormones? [With Scientific Research]

Key points to highlight:

• Hormone-Balancing Properties: Moringa leaves have traditional and scientific support for their ability to balance estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and insulin levels.
• Women’s Health Benefits: Moringa may aid in menstrual regularity, fertility, and post-menopausal wellness for women, potentially reducing risks like osteoporosis and heart disease.
• Men’s Health Benefits: For men, Moringa could regulate testosterone levels, supporting sexual health, fertility, and prostate function, potentially mitigating issues like erectile dysfunction and prostate enlargement.
• Stress Management & Diabetes Prevention: Moringa’s compounds may help manage cortisol levels, reducing stress-related risks, while also regulating insulin secretion, offering potential benefits for stress management and diabetes prevention.

Moringa leaves have been traditionally used in ancient medical practices and households for the management of conditions caused by hormone imbalance. However, it is only recently that medical research has provided evidence to establish the hormone-balancing properties of Moringa leaves. 

 Clinical research suggests that Moringa leaves possess medicinal properties that could help in improving the prognosis of patients diagnosed with conditions caused by imbalances in the levels of hormones, including estrogen and progesterone in women and testosterone in men. Some studies also suggest that these leaves could be effective in regulating the balance of thyroid and adrenal hormones. 

This article discusses whether Moringa can actually help balance hormones. We will also have a look at the hormonal disorders that could be treated by using this natural remedy. 

How can Moringa Balance our Hormones?

Estrogen and Progesterone 

Estrogen and progesterone are female sex hormones, which play a key role in regulating menstrual periods in women. Having normal levels of estrogen and progesterone is also essential for the growth and development of girls at puberty. These hormones also support successful conception and smooth and healthy pregnancy in women. 

Changes in the levels of these hormones can disrupt the processes involved in the release of eggs in the ovaries called ovulation, due to which women may have difficulty getting pregnant. It may also interfere with normal reproductive functions, resulting in menstrual irregularities, infertility, and a higher risk of miscarriage. 

Moringa leaves might help regulate the secretion of estrogen and progesterone thereby lowering the risk of complications associated with the imbalances in the levels of these hormones. 

The hormone-balancing effect of Moringa might also mitigate some issues that are likely to crop up due to the decline in estrogen levels during and after menopause. This effect of Moringa leaves can help minimize the risk of osteoporosis, heart attacks, and ovarian cancer in post-menopausal women. [1]

In addition, the estrogen and progesterone balancing effects of Moringa, coupled with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, might also provide significant relief from menstrual cramps to women who suffer from dysmenorrhea or premenstrual syndrome. [2]

Testosterone

The hormone-balancing benefits of Moringa leaves are not limited only to women. Men, too, can benefit from using Moringa, thanks to its testosterone-boosting potential. 

Testosterone is a critical hormone that supports the sexual and reproductive functions in men. Testosterone plays a key role in supporting the growth and development of sexual organs in young boys during puberty. It also helps in the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as muscle growth, growth of facial and pubic hair, and a deep voice. 

Having a normal level of this hormone is also essential for maintaining or improving the sperm count and motility, libido, and sexual functions in men. 

Moringa can help regulate testosterone production in men. It can, thus, support the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics in boys at puberty and maintain or improve fertility in adult males by improving their sperm count and motility. The testosterone-balancing property of Moringa might also be effective in the management of male sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction, low libido, and premature ejaculation. [3]

The benefits of Moringa associated with its testosterone-balancing property also extend to men who are at high risk of prostate enlargement or prostate cancer. Moringa leaves, by regulating the secretion and release of testosterone, might help lower the risk of these conditions, especially in men above 50 years of age. 

Cortisol

Cortisol is a stress hormone that is typically released in the body as a response to an unfavorable situation. This hormone is produced in the adrenal glands and is released in high amounts when a person encounters a challenging situation to help him or her escape or fight. 

This suggests that cortisol is a protective hormone released in the body to help you fight or escape sudden adverse conditions. 

However, a persistently elevated cortisol level can be highly detrimental to your health as it can put you at risk of long-lasting undesirable consequences, such as depression, obesity, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic syndrome. 

Research suggests that Moringa leaves might help restore a healthy balance of cortisol in the body, thanks to the presence of isothiocyanates, phenolic acids, and flavonoids in them. [4]

In addition, Moringa can also help fight inflammation in the adrenal glands, thus restoring a healthy balance of cortisol. It can also protect these glands against oxidative stress. This can help regulate the physiological functions of adrenals, thereby protecting you against the complications associated with persistently elevated cortisol levels. [5]

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas. This hormone plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels. The disruption in insulin secretion is the primary factor that makes a person vulnerable to developing diabetes and related complications. 

Moringa contains a compound called chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels and improve glucose uptake by cells by regulating the secretion of insulin in the pancreas. The insulin-balancing property of Moringa could, thus, help prevent diabetes in high-risk individuals. [6]

Other than chlorogenic acids, isothiocyanates present in Moringa, have also been tied to enhanced protection against diabetes. One study has revealed that isothiocyanates can create a positive effect on insulin and glucagon levels in patients with diabetes, especially when eaten as a part of a high-carb meal. [7]

The results of these studies suggest that including Moringa leaves or seeds in your regular diet or using supplements might offer an effective alternative treatment option for patients at risk of diabetes. 

Thyroid hormones

Moringa consumption might lower the secretion of thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, making it a potential natural remedy for patients diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. 

However, this effect of Moringa also makes it unsafe to use for those who suffer from hypothyroidism, as it might cause a further decline in the production of thyroid hormones, thus exacerbating the symptoms of this condition. 

Conclusion

Moringa possesses potential hormone-balancing properties. The use of supplements containing Moringa could be beneficial for patients diagnosed with conditions associated with imbalances in the levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, or insulin. Including Moringa in your treatment plan – in the form of diet or supplements – might also help improve your recovery and protect you against potential complications. 

References: 

1. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-012-0859-9
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28073097/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25743119/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17089328
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5872761/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25629046
7. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09637489309017439