Hair Growth Tea
If only regrowing your hair was as easy as sitting down with a cup of tea… While the solution to hair loss comes in many forms (including diet, exercise, and stress management) a common herb can be used to brew a hair growth tea! A recent study showed how adding spearmint tea to your diet will support the balance of your hormones by decreasing testosterone levels.
Spearmint Decreases Free Testosterone
Spearmint has been traditionally used in the Middle East to regulate female hormones. While the mechanism of action is still unknown, the International Journal of Endocrinology Metabolism published this study which shows that drinking Spearmint tea on a daily basis significantly decreases free testosterone while increasing luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol. Female hair loss is often related to an overabundance of testosterone or a testosterone sensitivity. If you are experiencing hormone related hair loss, spearmint will help tilt your hormones back in favor of estradiol – allowing you to regrow hair that is thick and healthy.
Discover the 5 Essential Habits for Hair Growth
Hair Growth Tea Recipe
For maximum benefit drink a cup of spearmint tea twice daily along with eating a balanced diet, daily exercise, and managing your stress. To brew your hair growth tea, use organic loose-leaf spearmint in a french press; this reduces the waste associated with bags and boxes. Add boiling water to 2 tablespoons of tea leaves and steep for 10 minutes. Boil a few slices of ginger with your water for a spicy zing!
Long Term Health with Herbs and Self-Care
Utilizing spearmint to brew hair growth tea is part of a long-term process aimed at balancing your hormones. Herbal remedies are gentle on your body compared to pharmaceuticals. If you make spearmint a part of your daily protocol, be sure to make time for tea every day. The balancing effect of spearmint will accumulate over time so the more diligent you are about your daily tea, the more time the herb will have to absorb free testosterone.
Creating to a balancing daily routine is a gift to your life. Tracking your herbs, supplements, and treatments on a calendar is a great way to honor your commitment. Balancing your hormones requires a devotion to self-care and self-love. You are worth it! <3
P.S. I discuss other herbs for hair growth in this guide: Hair Growth Supplements
>> Leave a comment if you’re a tea drinker! What is your tea time ritual?
24 thoughts on “Hair Growth Tea”
Would peppermint tea work like spearmint tea?
Great question! Peppermint is a cross between spearmint and watermint. It is possible that some of the hormone balancing properties of spearmint will also appear in peppermint. For maximum benefit I would stick to spearmint.
Best,
Cassy
Hi,
I would love for my question to be answered. So basically i’ve had massive hair loss on my head so basically my hair. And I have hairs on my face and my eyebrows and eyelashes used to be light in colour now they are black. How can I stop the eyebrow and eyelash growth and turn them back to normal. I also have acne. Does stress has something to do with this? Do I have to much testerone?
Can spearmint increase even more growth in my eyelashes and eyebrows as I do not want this. Or can spearmint help me with this?
Hi Naima,
Thank you for commenting! Have you talked to your doctor about the recent changes? They will be able to assess your testosterone levels and determine if you are within normal range. Unfortunately, I don’t know how spearmint will interact with your lash and brow growth. Though it’s difficult to determine the origin of hair-related issues, I have no doubt that stress reduction will benefit your health and healing!
The stress response effects every cell in our bodies. It’s designed to keep us alive and it takes it’s job very seriously. Secondary and unnecessary bodily functions are down-regulated when the body is under stress. Stress will negatively effect your hair growth by: limiting circulation to the scalp, limiting the body’s ability to produce progesterone, and slowing down digestion. Stress is a BIG deal.
I recommend daily stress release activities. Gentle exercise like walking, swimming or biking relaxes the nervous system response. Start wherever you are and work up to 20-30 minutes once or twice per day. You can regulate you stress response throughout the day by taking a double inhale followed by and extra long exhale. The double inhale and long exhale is called a physiological sigh in the science community. It happens naturally while you’re sleeping and dogs do it when they sleep too! The double inhale fills more of your lungs with oxygen and the long exhale releases more carbon dioxide. 1-3 rounds of this breath will have a significant effect on your stress level!
Send me a message with the forum if you’d like more individualized support 🙂
Every website I googled ( there are hundreds) says spearmint tea reduces facial hair growth so I don’t understand why you’re claiming it stimulates and promotes hair growth? Please explain
Thank you Cindy
Hi Cindy,
This is such an excellent question! I’m so glad you’re asking. Fist of all, I want to reiterate that adding spearmint tea into your grow back protocol only makes sense if you know your hair loss is related to androgen sensitivity or hyperandrogenism (elevated levels of testosterone). This is the case for women whose hair loss occurs along with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Now to your question directly; you have stumbled upon what scientists call the ‘androgen paradox’. This term points to the fact that androgens (testosterone and the like) can increase hair growth on the face while decreasing hair growth at the scalp. Androgens regulate the type of hair produced by the hair follicle. On the face and chin, androgens turn vellus hairs (thin & unpigmented hair) into terminal hairs (coarse & pigmented hair). Androgens have the opposite effect at the scalp, which can lead to androgenic alopecia.
Your sensitivity to androgens depends on your genetic inheritance, to add another layer of complexity.
Read more here, if you’re interested!
-Cassy
Hi
I’ve been so confused. The doctor says my overall testosterone is low yet I might be androgen sensitive. If I supplement with testosterone is this going to fix my hormonal balance or worsen my hair loss?
Hi Angela,
I’ve been trying to find a satisfactory explanation for you (and for me and all of us) about the issue of testosterone sensitivity, but unfortunately there aren’t a lot of scientific studies that discuss testosterone sensitivity in women.
It’s important to note the difference between total testosterone and free testosterone. Free testosterone is unbound and able to act upon your organs. I would ask your doctor if your free testosterone is normal.
Which brings up another issue; ‘normal’ is a tricky subject. A ‘normal’ result according to one test, might actually be on the high end for your body. Kind of like being a testosterone lightweight, a little bit may be effecting you more than the next gal.
I don’t recommend starting a testosterone supplement without guidance from your doctor and I doubt testosterone supplementation will help your hair loss because free testosterone can be converted into dihydrotestosterone at the scalp (which shrinks your hair follicles and increases hair loss).
I recommend having a conversation with your doctor about how to support sex hormone binding globulin (SBGH) which counterbalance testosterone and progesterone production which supports hair growth (and healthy skin, bones, and serotonin for a healthier mental state). If you’re pre-menopausal, a healthy menstrual cycle is also an important part of this conversation. You should be producing progesterone every time you ovulate. Are you ovulating? Are you experiencing PMS symptoms? PMS is a sign that you may not be producing enough progesterone.
Thank you for taking the time to post a comment! I hope this leads to a better conversation with your doctor. Let me know what you learn!
Every website i googled says that spearmint tea helps in reducing facial hair does it removes facial hair permanantly or the time till u are using spearmint tea( or do i hve to continue it throughout the life so that hairs don’t grow on my face)???
Hi Fatima,
Thank you so much for your comment!! Spearmint tea can help lower free testosterone (which causes unwanted facial hair), but it’s good to ask why is testosterone high in the first place?
Testosterone can be elevated in women with a higher than normal body fat percentage and testosterone rises with insulin and lutenizing hormone (LH). LH stimulates testosterone production in the ovaries (and excess insulin stimulates LH). Alternatively testosterone lowers as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) increases.
First of all, ask your doctor if your insulin, LH and SHBG levels are normal.
Higher insulin levels can happen in women with insulin-resistant Poly-cyctic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Insulin resistance occurs when your cells start to have a hard time recognizing and using insulin. How does your body do with processing sugars? A lot of women find their hormones are more balanced when they cut out refined sugars and start to pair carbohydrates with fats and proteins. These two habits will help prevent insulin spikes.
And omega 3, Myo & D-chiro-inositol and peony & licorice formula have all been shown to lower free testosterone! You can find omega 3’s in fish, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and walnuts. Work with a naturopath or herbalist before starting Myo & D-chiro-inositol or peony & licorice formula (and be aware peony & licorice can rise your blood pressure.)
Stress also effects your hormones in a big way. Work with your doctor to develop a diet and exercise routine that will start to gently re-balance your hormones then use supplements like spearmint tea, omega 3, Myo & D-chiro-inositol and peony & licorice to help support your rebalancing efforts.
Let me know how it goes!!
I started losing hair after being diagnosed with fibroids. I am taking a contraceptive pill now to control the blood loss due to fibroids. Hair thinning is at its max. And my hair line is receding badly. What can I do to stop this??i am super stressed.
Hi Sheen,
First thing’s first; exhale. Now, take ten deep breaths.
I understand how alarming it is to watch your hairline change. You’re not alone, a lot of women have been through this and there is so much you can do to support natural hair growth. Before we talk about fibroids: Pay attention to those alarm bells and take time everyday to release stress. It’s completely natural to have a big reaction to hair loss, but remember that if we don’t manage stress it can perpetuate a vicious cycle of hair loss. I hope you make space to process and release the thoughts and feelings that come up, then return to a place of self-acceptance & love.
(Before I offer suggestions, just a reminder, I’m a health coach, not a doctor. Work with a doctor you trust to make a plan.)
If the hair loss was triggered by blood loss then you can help your body recover by eating blood-building foods like red meat, iron rich vegetables, and organ meat. The cells of our hair follicles are rapidly dividing and need a steady flow of nutrient rich blood to continually reproduce. If you’re a vegetarian, take vitamin C or eat something containing ascorbic acid with your iron-rich veggies. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron from non-animal sources.
I did a little research on fibroids in Dr. Lara Briden’s book “Period Repair Manual” and Lisa Hendrickson-Jack’s “The Fifth Vital Sign”. Oral contraceptives are a standard treatment for fibroids, but hormonal contraceptives don’t treat the root cause of fibroids: estrogen excess. Additionally, certain kinds of hormonal contraceptives may contribute to hair loss.
Some hormonal contraceptives have a “high androgen index” which means your body interprets them as testosterone, which can shrink your hair follicles. Here is a list of “High androgen index” birth control pills: medroxyprogesterone acetate, levonorgestrel, norgestrel, and etonogestel.
“Low androgen index” birth control pills don’t cause hair loss while you’re taking them, but may increase androgen sensitivity and cause an androgen surge when you stop taking them. “Low androgen index” birth control pills: drospirenone, norgestimate, cyproterone.
Most fibroids are located on the outside of the uterus, but fibroids and heavy bleeding often occur together because both are caused by estrogen excess. (Only 10% of fibroids are located inside the uterus where they can be a contributing factor in excessive blood loss.)
Dr. Briden & Lisa Hendrickson-Jack both infer that hormonal contraceptives may cover-up the symptoms of fibroids, without necessarily treating the root cause. I looked for a clinical study that used contraceptives to treat fibroids, but unfortunately I couldn’t find one. I don’t suggest going off the contraceptives without support and careful planning with a doctor- blood loss is clearly a big deal!
Treating the fibroids directly requires surgical removal, a procedure that blocks blood flow to the fibroidor a hysterectomy.
Here are some natural ways to limit estrogen excess and slow the growth of fibroids:
Limit alcohol – this supports your body’s ability to detoxify and metabolize estrogen
Maintain healthy gut bacteria – this helps your body remove excess estrogen
Maintain a healthy body weight – body fat makes a type of estrogen called estrone
Avoid unstable plastics and pesticides – they can hyper stimulate your estrogen receptors
Consider iodine supplements – iodine may slow the growth of fibroids by downregulating estrogen receptors (do not exceed 500 mcg except under professional guidance; iodine can harm your thyroid gland)
Consider calcium d-glucarate – glucarate helps to deactivate estrogen & prevents reabsorption. Dr. Biden recommends 1000 – 1500mg per day
I know you just asked about hair growth, but there’s just so much to know about fibroids. 🙂
Plus fibroids, birth control pills and hair loss are all related to each other!
To recap: eat iron-rich, blood-building foods to help your hair recover from blood loss and take time to relax and release stress every day.
What if the hair on my head is exceptionally thick and coarse. The texture varies from smooth and shiny near my temples to rough and kinky at the crown. Is it possible that spearamint could normalize the texture? I am generally very healthy and my hair is strong, but just very odd in texture. It started becoming kinky when I went approached puberty, and hasn’t changed since.
Hi Amber,
I love this question! My good friend experienced a similar change in the texture of her hair around puberty. Her hair was stick-straight, just like both of her parents. Once puberty hit, her hair started to get wavy, then slowly turned into ringlets! The hormonal changes of puberty shifted the shape of her hair follicles. This is amazing to me!
I looked around for some science that could explain how this works, but nothing turned up… Though hormones influence the changes in our hair (along with diet and digestion) and spearmint was shown to influence the amount of free testosterone, I think it’s unlikely that spearmint tea will have a dramatic effect on the texture of your hair.
I know the grass is always greener, but I wish I had even half a head of curls! Your hair is a unique expression. Spend some time playing around with it. My good friend with the ringlets had to learn how to take care of a completely new head of hair. She stopped washing as often, stopped brushing it dry, and started experimenting with hair masks to keep her curls hydrated. She also said it can be a hassle to find someone who knows how to cut kinky hair. It sounds like you’ll want a stylist who’s good with smooth and coarse hair.
I’m sure you’re aware, there are lot’s of products and processes available at the salon to modify the texture of your hair. If that’s what you want, then by all means, life is more fun when we decide to play! Just keep two things in mind for me:
1) I don’t know if you’re trying to go curlier or straighter, but if you’re looking into chemical treatments be sure to ask if the stylist is planning to apply a protective base to your scalp before the treatment. Work with someone who wants to protect your scalp! These treatments can burn your hair follicles and cause hair loss if they aren’t done correctly. The effects of poorly executed chemical treatments can show up years later as central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia.
2) Your hair is perfect exactly the way it is. Take a moment to celebrate your perfection. <3
I hope this helps!
Hello, happy to know spearmint can help for hair loss.
I am 40, I got PCOS. I also have “hair loss” problem.
i also googled flaxseed also can help for hair loss, right?
do you think I take “spearmint tea” and “flaxseed” both together everyday?
Hi Bella!
Thank you so much for commenting. PCOS is such an important topic! I used to have PCOS too. I didn’t undergo an ovarian ultrasound, but I had a cluster of PCOS symptoms: irregular periods, PMS, extra facial hair, and of course thinning hair at the crown.
PCOS is essentially a failure to ovulate. Our ovaries are always producing little follicles (these are the ‘cysts’ of poly-cystic ovary syndrome). As an adult we have around 12 developing follicles at once. If you ovulate, then one of these follicles dominates the others, grows, and bursts open to release an egg. The rest of the follicles are reabsorbed. If you don’t ovulate regularly, then the follicles will continue to multiply (this is the ‘poly’ in PCOS).
Did you know it’s possible to reverse PCOS?? Yes!! Your ovaries are constantly changing. If you work to figure out the reason why you’re not ovulating, then you can take steps to reverse PCOS.
There are a few different causes of PCOS. The most common cause is insulin resistance.
Insulin is the “key” hormone that “unlocks” our cells and allows glucose (sugar/energy/food) to enter the cell. Over time, if our cells are constantly exposed to high levels of insulin the key/lock connection wears out. Our cells have a harder time recognizing insulin, which means that glucose (sugar/energy/food) cannot enter our cells and stays in the bloodstream. This is a problem. Our cells are hungry for that glucose! The body will keep producing insulin to try to get the glucose into the cell and we end up with a lot of extra insulin in the bloodstream.
All of that extra insulin can cause our ovaries to produce testosterone instead of estrogen!!
What causes insulin resistance? There are many lifestyle factors that can lead to insulin resistance. A diet high in fructose
(sugar) is usually the culprit. Other lifestyle factors that can contribute to insulin resistance include: smoking, hormonal birth control, stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol (also a form of sugar), trans fats, magnesium deficiency, and environmental toxins.
To answer your question: yes, spearmint tea and flaxseed can help you recover from hair loss. Spearmint tea has been shown to reduce free testosterone (which is higher in women with PCOS). Flaxseed oil is high in omega 3 fatty acids which supports circulation and helps decrease the role of androgens like testosterone. These two natural remedies help decrease the role of androgens, but it would be more effective if we heal your PCOS so the body starts to produce fewer androgens in the first place. If insulin resistance is causing extra androgens and leading to PCOS, it would be smarter to work on insulin resistance so that your body starts to produce fewer androgens.
Does all that make sense?
The key to your healing will be figuring out what’s causing PCOS and treat the root cause. As I mentioned earlier, insulin resistance is the most common cause of PCOS, but it’s not the only cause. Other possible causes of PCOS include: coming off hormonal birth control, chronic inflammation, or high levels of DHEAS caused by the adrenal glands.
There is a lot here to talk about with your doctor or naturopath! Let me know if you have any more questions. I will do my best to help you!
I’ve been struggling with hair loss since I was about 29, I’m now 34, I’ve been taking Spironolactone and it stops the shed. I stopped taking it to try to get pregnant though and I swear I lost half my hair, it was so traumatizing. My periods, which have always been spot on went crazy too. I saw a fertility doctor after a few months who tested all my hormones and said my Testostorone was actually low?? If that was the case then why does the Spiro work? Fast forward to now, I stopped taking it for 2 weeks (got pregnant then quickly miscarried), back on the Spiro but it doesn’t seem to be working this time. Thoughts? I hate tea, do you know what the equivalent dosage of a supplement would be?
Oh my gosh, Jess. You have been through so much. I hope you’re taking lots of time to process all that’s been happening. It is traumatizing to loose your hair and I can imagine painfully heartbreaking to miscarry. How are you releasing stress? Are you into meditation, getting massages, yoga, tai chi, walks in the park, or deep breathing?
It’s especially important for you to take time to process and release what’s been happening, because unregulated stress can trigger hair loss and prevent hair regrowth.
According to research published in Dermatologic clinics, Spironolactone reduces adrenal androgen production and protects your hair follicles from the effects of testosterone by blocking androgen receptors in the skin.
Here are a few possibilities you can discuss with you doctor: If your testosterone is low then I see at least two possibilities 1) you are sensitive to testosterone and the Spiro was protecting your hair follicles from it’s effects. 2) Spiro lowered your testosterone levels.
If you still want to get pregnant, then at some point you’ll have to transition off of the Spiro. I highly recommend Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture to help you ease off of the Spiro, harmonize your periods, and increase your fertility. Find a TCM practitioner who can read your labs from the endocrinologist and who will carefully listen to your entire journey. If TCM doesn’t resonate, then seek out any sort of holistic practitioner who’s willing to investigate the true cause of hair loss.
Before we talk about supplementation, I just want to put out there: diet, digestion, and stress have a much larger combined effect that any herb or supplement. Does your diet include hair healthy foods with lots of vitamins, minerals, and protein? Do you have any digestive issues like cramping, bloating, constipation or diarrhea? If you’re eating all the right foods, but having a lot of digestive trouble, then you’re probably not absorbing enough of the nutrients from the food you eat. Stress and your menstrual cycle are a big part of the equation too. (For example, if you work on your cycle and start to ovulate regularly then your body will naturally produce progesterone. Progesterone protects your hair follicle from the harmful effect of testosterone.)
Healthy hair is a reflection of internal health. Over time, small changes to your diet & lifestyle make a huge impact on your internal health, which will eventually flow into healthy hair.
Spearmint supplementation: Follow-up studies to the Turkish study listed above found a significant decrease in serum testosterone after 30 days in women who drank two cups of spearmint tea per day. There are few different spearmint supplements available, but they might not be as effective as drinking tea. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how to translate the dose of two cups of brewed tea (4-6 grams total) into a supplement form (400-500mg/capsule). One might assume that if you’re consuming the whole plant in the capsule, then it would be more potent than a comparable amount of tea, but there are too many variables to be sure. For example, there might be something in the tea-brewing process that brings out the anti-androgen properties of spearmint. What if you brewed the tea ahead of time and drank it cold/room temp instead of hot?
I know it’s stressful and traumatizing to go through this. I’ve been there. <3 <3 <3
Please remember that your body is constantly changing. The current state of your hair and health will change as you start to make small adjustments to your diet and lifestyle. And know that you’re not alone!
Hi . My hair started thining at about age 18 when i went under a diet. Lost 20 kgs within few months. I tried everything but nothing worked. First I thought it is due to my poor eating but when I consulted a dermatologist he said its androgenic alopecia and prescribed minoxidil and spiro. I am 20 and really scared using these also am concerned if i reallt have it as my mom has really thick hair however my dad is bald. My brother too show signs of male pattern hairloss. I’ve started applying rosemarry oil and want to use spearmint tea as an alternative. Will it help??
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for sharing your story. <3 My hair loss experience happened early in life too. It's a challenge at every age, but I really feel you. I also appreciate your hesitation with taking minoxidil and spiro. Neither of these really addresses the root cause or answers the core question; why did your hair start changing?
Did the dermatologist test your testosterone levels? It's not uncommon for the scalp to be sensitive to the effects of testosterone. If that's the case for you, then taking spiro would cover up the symptoms without addressing the root cause. There are natural ways to decrease the effect of testosterone with diet and lifestyle changes.
I also trust the intuition that your diet is playing an important role in this puzzle. 20 kgs is a lot in such a short time! Crash dieting often means the body misses out on key nutrients. If there aren't enough nutrients to go around, then our internal organs and muscles will be first in line for essential nutrients; hair growth is way at the bottom of the list.
As for spearmint and rosemary, yes! These herbs will help, but herbal solutions are the icing on the cake. Diet and stress release is the foundation for healthy hair growth. If you dial in your diet and lifestyle routine then your body will have all that it needs for healthy hair growth.
If you're interested in fine tuning your diet and lifestyle, reach out to me at growbackgirl@gmail.com. I’d love to help! 🙂
Cassy, I have learnt more from your website in 15 minutes than from doctors in the past 15 years. I am suffering from insulin resistance and PCOS. Due to emotional stress and lack of sleep my hormonal balance recently got very bad and I lost like 3/4 of my hair. The doctor prescribed birth control pill but I know that it would only make things worse once I’d stop them..
I will follow your advices and hope to get better without the OC pills.
Hi Kata,
Thank you so much for your comment. I’m sorry your doctors haven’t been more helpful. It’s such a struggle to find good information about women’s health, but it sounds like you’re on the right path! Sleep and stress management are so essential for hormone health. Check out Dr. Lara Briden’s “How to Fix Your Period” – it’s full of great information.
I’d be happy to support your journey in any way that I can! Please reach out via the contact form if you’d like more individualized attention.
I have PCOS, I’m also post menopausal. All my PCOS symptoms ramped up heading into menopause…beyond frustrating and embarrassing! I started drinking 2 c of organic spearmint tea a day back in Jan or Feb. I’d let my hair grow to my shoulders during the pandemic, had tons of breakage, lots of hair in the shower and gently combing it after. I knew my hair had thinned on top since officially becoming post-menopausal. Recently went back to really short hair and OMG I swear I’ve lost half my hair! I see SO much scalp when it’s wet it’s made me cry. I’m happy the spearmint tea has thinned n slowed my chin hair, my big toe hair, possibly is responsible for controlling my near 40 yr bad acne, but, I can’t help but wonder if it’s also making me lose the hair on my head! Any clue??
Hi Susie,
Thank you for sharing! I’m so sorry you’re struggling, but it totally makes sense because of the pressure we put on our appearances. There’s always a flood of emotions that come with hair loss. I hope you’re being very kind and gentle with yourself during this difficult time.
As for you question; no, I don’t think that the spearmint tea is increasing hair loss because the effects of testosterone are tissue dependent. Testosterone will increase body hair growth while decreasing the growth of hair on your head. You should definitely work with your doctor on this, but anecdotally it seems like the spearmint tea is lowering your free testosterone because you’re seeing less body hair. Less free testosterone would be a positive thing for hair growth.
Diet and nutrition really effects hormone health and hair growth. How much protein are you eating? Your body needs protein to support hair growth. Eating enough protein is especially important in menopause because protein metabolism decreases with age (check out this study if you want to get science-y!).
Reach out via the contact form if you’d like more individualized information!