Spearmint and cutting carbs may help 'hairy' women

In my practice from time to time I m consulted by women who complain of excess hairiness. Many of them tell a story of finding hairs sprouting in places where they weren’t there before such as their chins and around their nipples. This condition ” the medical term for which is ‘hirsutism’ ” is often related to higher-than-normal ‘male’ hormones known as ‘androgens’, of which testosterone is the most notorious. Conventional treatments for hirsuitism include the oral contraceptive pill (which can suppress androgen production) as well as spironolactone ” a drug which reduces the effect androgens have in the body.

This week, my attention was caught by a study which suggests that spearmint tea may offer some assistance to hirsute women [1]. The study found that hirsute women drinking two cups of spearmint tea for just five days saw significant lowering in blood levels of ‘free’ testosterone ” the form of testosterone that is metabolically active in the body.

While this study was short and was not designed to assess the effect of spearmint on hair growth, it seems reasonable to conclude that the regular imbibing of spearmint tea may help reduce hirsutism in women with raised androgen levels.

However, spearmint tea is not the only ‘natural’ approach that may be useful in the treatment of hirsutism. Women with this condition may benefit from dietary change too. Of particular relevance here is the fact that raised androgen levels in the body can be a response to elevated levels of another hormone ” insulin. Quite often, these hormonal imbalances come as part of a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), common features of which include not just hairiness, but acne, weight gain and infertility too.

Below, I have pasted a previous column which outlines a nutritionally-oriented approach to PCOS, the core component of which is a cutting back of carbohydrates that tend to disrupt insulin levels. In practice, I have found this approach is usually help in reducing the symptoms of PCOS, including hirsutism, though it can take several months for real results to be seen.

Natural approaches to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – 16 November 2003

Even in my relatively brief time as a doctor I have witnessed the rise to prominence of previously rare conditions including hyperactivity, autism and chronic fatigue syndrome. Another contemporary condition, and one which I seem to be seeing in increasing numbers in my practice, is the exclusively female affliction known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). One frequent feature of PCOS is the abnormal sprouting of hair on the face and perhaps other parts of the body. As a result, many women with this condition can find themselves developing an ever-growing reliance on tweezers, depilatory creams, strip-waxing and the like.

For sufferers of PCOS, the cosmetic burden of unwanted hirsutism can mean that every day is a bit of a bad hair day.
Hairy moments, however, are not the only feature of PCOS. As its name suggests, the condition is characterised by the presence of multiple cysts in one or both ovaries. Also common in PCOS is a slew of hormone imbalances including an excess of male hormones known as androgens. A surfeit of androgens is believed to be at the root of the excess of hair familiar to many women with PCOS. Hormonal disruption may also give rise to a number of other complications common in the condition including acne, excess weight, menstrual irregularity, problems with ovulation and infertility. While it is now known for sure what causes PCOS, there is mounting evidence that the diet plays more than a bit part here.

The potential role of the diet in the development of PCOS is borne out of the fact androgen secretion is believed to be stimulated by excesses in another hormone – insulin. Insulin is itself produced by the body in response to rises in blood sugar levels induced by the eating of foods rich in sugars and/or starches (carbohydrates). Some have theorised that the rising tide of PCOS seen in modern times is related to an increasing emphasis on carb-based foods such as biscuits, bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and cereals in our diet. There is also some thought that a glut of such foods is also a principle factor in the increasing incidence of diabetes and its precursor known as insulin resistance syndrome. Interestingly, these two conditions are known to be particularly prevalent in sufferers of PCOS.

The best diet for sufferers of PCOS seems to be one based on foods that give controlled release of sugar (and therefore insulin) into the system. Foods that fulfil this criterion include beans, lentils, meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and most fresh fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, French beans and cabbage. If starchy carbs such as bread, rice and pasta are consumed, these are best had in their unrefined forms and in moderate quantities only. Regular meals, perhaps with snacks such as fruit and nuts in between, may help to keep insulin and androgen levels under control too.

In addition to consuming a blood sugar stabilising diet, the effects of androgens may also be quelled in the long term by taking a supplement of the herb Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). One of the effects of this herb is to slow down the conversion of a major male hormone known as testosterone into its more potent form (dihydrotestosterone). Taking Saw palmetto (at a dose of about 320 mg per day), combined with a diet lower in sugar and starchy carbs, can do much to keep women with PCOS from tearing their hair out.

References:

1. Akdogan M, et al. Effect of spearmint (Menthat spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytotherapy Research. e-pub 20th Feb 2007.