Do Fenugreek and White Peony Root Increase Estrogen Levels?

Does Fenugreek increase Estrogen or Testosterone levels in males?

Does White peony root contain Estrogen?
Does Estrogen stop facial hair growth?

Estriol vs Estrogen. What’s the difference?
Can Black Cohosh be used to manage Estrogen dominance?
Licorice root and Estrogen levels, is there a connection?

Can you apply Estrogen to your face?
Can Estrogen vitamins be used for breast growth?
Does Dong Quai counter the effects of Estrogen imbalance?

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Does Fenugreek increase Estrogen or Testosterone levels in males?

Some scientific evidence supports the claim that fenugreek increases testosterone instead of estrogen in the body. It contains steroid-like compounds known as furostanolic saponins, which are considered to increase testosterone production. Multiple studies have pointed to this conclusion.

For instance, an 8-week study involving 49 athletic men observed that administrating the men with 500mg of fenugreek supplement daily increased testosterone levels and greatly enhanced strength and body fat compared to a placebo group.

While another 12-week study in 50 men concluded that those who took a daily 500mg fenugreek supplement experienced significant improvements in their testosterone levels. The study also observed that the fenugreek supplement group experienced improvements in libido, energy, mood, and sperm count.

But it is essential to note that some of these studies may have a biased result as they were sponsored by companies that owned or invested in fenugreek products. Moreover, some studies have also finalized that treatment with fenugreek does not raise testosterone, which emphasizes the necessity for further research.

Does White peony root contain Estrogen?

White peony root doesn’t contain estrogen but contains compounds similar to estrogen.

According to a recent study, white peony root contains phytoestrogens. These compounds are structurally similar to estrogen and act like estrogen in the body.

Moreover, a 2012 review of older studies concluded the effect of paeoniflorin, the main compound in white peonies. Paeoniflorin has been found to improve the activity of aromatase, an enzyme responsible for turning testosterone into estrogen. The compound also decreases testosterone synthesis.

Another review observed that orally administrating a combination of licorice and white peony raised DHEA and serum estrogen concentration in the body of the subjects.

In the video below, Dr. Samina discusses botanical herbs that can reduce testosterone levels based on research.

This is our recommended Fenugreek supplement (Amazon’s Choice):

Does Estrogen stop facial hair growth?

Estrogen cannot stop facial growth, but it may promote hair thinning on the face and body since studies have shown that estrogen may cause the testes to stop producing testosterone.

People on estrogen-based hormone therapy or people with elevated levels of estrogen may experience hair thinning on the face, chest, abdomen, legs, and arms. Correspondingly, anti-androgens like progesterone also block testosterone to prevent cell growth of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a testosterone metabolite and a potent promoter of thicker dark hair growth on the face.

Estriol vs Estrogen. What’s the difference?

Estradiol and estriol are two different types of estrogen hormones in the body. Estrogens are sex hormones that primarily work by simulating estrogen receptors (ERα or ERβ) in the body. The receptors, in turn, regulate the transcription of specific target genes.

Estriol is also known as E3 or oestriol. It is the least potent form of estrogen in the body. Estriol levels are observed to increase naturally during pregnancy.

Estradiol, or E2, is the body’s most potent type of estrogen. Premenopausal women use some forms of it as low-dose birth control pills. It is mainly administered as a patch, tablet, or cream for estrogen replacement therapy(ERT).

The third type of estrogen is estrone or E1, produced in women during menopause and young women undergoing their first periods. Estrone is not commonly used for HRT because it is a less potent type of estrogen.

No direct research has been conducted comparing the three types of estrogen. However, Studies have shown that estriol is effective and safe for managing symptoms of menopause. Estriol has been reported to be effective when used topically with other drugs to treat vaginal atrophy. Because estriol is less potent, it is believed to have fewer unfavorable side effects.

While Estradiol treatment can be helpful as HRT after menopause, it is the most common estrogen used for managing symptoms of menopause. All forms of estradiol are backed for HRT. The transdermal patch has resulted in persistent estrogen levels for optimal therapy.

Can Black Cohosh be used to manage Estrogen dominance?

Black Cohosh can be used to manage estrogen dominance. This herb is famous for its use in menopause, especially in hot flashes. There have been mixed results on this herb’s efficacy from research studies, but it has been effective for many patients.

It is a good option when used with other herbals in a menopause formula. Outweighed by its attention for menopause relief, this herb is also excellent for Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), cramping, and irregular periods.

Estrogen dominance is a hormonal imbalance in which estrogen levels are excessively elevated relative to progesterone levels. This imbalance can occur due to elevated estrogen levels or depressed progesterone levels. Common symptoms of estrogen dominance are:

Tender breasts

Breast cysts
Bloating
Weight gain

Acne
Irregular cycles – long or short
PMS

Headaches
Anxiety
Difficulty sleeping

Fatigue
Hair loss
Difficulties getting pregnant

Licorice root and Estrogen levels, is there a connection?

There is some evidence that suggests the consumption of licorice root and body estrogen levels may be related. Licorice root can elevate or depress estrogen levels in the body depending on which compound of licorice root is utilized. But generally, licorice root soothes menopause symptoms.

During menopause, declining estrogen levels lead to painful symptoms such as hot flashes. In several studies, menopausal women administered licorice supplements noted a decrease in hot flash severity and duration.

One study looked at a licorice compound called liquiritigenin and observed that its estrogenic effects have the added benefit of selectively activating beta estrogen receptors without stimulating the alpha estrogen receptors linked to increased breast tumor formation. Researchers believe further investigations on liquiritigenin could lead to a much safer alternative to treating menopause rather than the traditional estradiol hormone therapy.

Another study observed the effects of another licorice compound, isoliquiritigenin, which instead lowers estrogen. Researchers found that when ovarian follicle cells are exposed to isoliquiritigenin. They undergo a drop in the expression of the genes required to produce sex hormones. However, this conclusion is based on a petri dish experiment, and much further research and animal trials are still needed.

Can you apply Estrogen to your face?

Typically, you can apply estriol (estrogen) topical creams on your face. It is recommended to use estriol daily, usually as a night-time moisturizer for the face. The recommended concentration of estriol in a topical cream is 4 mg/gram; it is best to apply 1/2 gram with each application.

A study conducted among postmenopausal women and aged-matched men observed that a 2-week application of topical estriol could stimulate collagen production in sun-protected hip skin but not in sun-exposed forearm or face skin. Concluding that long-term exposure to the sun can hinder the ability of estriol to stimulate collagen production.

Still, in all probability, Users claim that estriol helps their skin achieve a more youthful appearance by increasing skin blood flow, elasticity, and thickness while reducing wrinkles.

Can Estrogen vitamins be used for breast growth?

Estrogen vitamins will not work for breast growth. Supplement manufacturers usually market the potential advantages of plant-derived substances known as phytoestrogens for breast growth. However, there is no medical evidence for this claim.

Moreover, if not taken carefully, estrogen vitamins may cause serious drug interactions with other medications that you are taking, especially if you are on a blood-thinning prescription such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

Does Dong Quai counter the effects of Estrogen imbalance?

Dong Quai is believed to counter the effects of estrogen imbalance in women.

Some women report that taking dong quai relieves painful menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. Although research suggests that dong quai, when used alone, does not counter the effects of estrogen imbalance.

Women taking high doses of dong quai have reported side effects such as:

Increased sensitivity to sunlight
Skin inflammation and rashes.

As there is little understanding of dong quai’s action inside the body, there is no recommended dosage, but up to 150mg daily is considered safe.

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This article makes use of information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.