Endocrine System Herbs
The endocrine system is vast. Using hormones to balance homeostasis and the circadian rhythm, the endocrine system can effect everything from reproduction to blood pressure to appetite. While many herbs can have downstream interactions with the endocrine system, the herbs included here directly effect the endocrine system. For example: though ginger helps lower blood pressure, it interacts with calcium channels, not the endocrine system; ashwagandha directly effects the thyroid, adrenals, and more, thereby having direct effect on the endocrine system. This page includes herbs that exhibit actions such as: hypoglycemic, adaptogen, reproductive tonic, adrenal tonic, estrongenic, etc. The herbs listed here do not fall under all of these categories; with each herb I have included what its main effect would be on the endocrine system, but many of these herbs have more effects on this system, and as mentioned above, on many other systems in the body. Please see the Materia Medica page, or Teas & Guides, for more information on specific herbal actions.
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Astragalus membranaceus
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C
Cinnamomum zeylanicum, C. verum - increases insulin sensitivity
Codonopsis pilosula
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Eleutherococcus senticosus
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Ganoderma lucidum
Glycyrrhiza glabra - estrogenic, adrenal tonic, adaptogen
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O
Ocimum tenuiflorum - reduces insulin resistance
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Panax ginseng - adrenal tonic
Panax quinquefolius - adrenal tonic
Polygonum multiflorum
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Rhodiola rosea
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Serenoa serrulata
Schisandra chinensis - adaptogen, balances endocrine responses
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Trigonella foenum-gracium - increases insulin sensitivity
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Vaccinium spp. - increasing insulin sensitivity
Vitex agnus castus
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Withania somnifera - normalizes endocrine function