Hormone Balance the Ancestral Way: A Grounded, Whole Body Approach to Female Hormones
Hormones are not a trend. They are a conversation your body is having with itself every single day. Your energy when you wake up. The clarity of your skin. Your appetite, sleep, mood, cycle, libido, and resilience to stress are all shaped by an intricate hormonal symphony working quietly behind the scenes.
In the modern wellness world, hormones are often treated like something to hack or suppress. One supplement for acne. Another for PMS. A topical solution for hair loss. But the body does not work in isolated parts. Hormones are deeply interconnected, responsive to nourishment, stress, toxins, light, food, and even the ingredients we put on our skin.
At Tallow Twins, we believe hormone balance is not about forcing the body into submission. It is about removing what disrupts it and returning to what supports it. This guide explores hormone balance through an ancestral, herbal, and lifestyle lens, inspired by traditional wisdom and modern research, while staying grounded in simplicity and safety.
Understanding Hormones as a System, Not a Problem
Female hormones do not exist in isolation. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, insulin, thyroid hormones, and even gut signaling molecules all communicate with one another. When one pathway is under strain, others often follow.
One example is testosterone. While commonly labeled a male hormone, women naturally produce testosterone in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and peripheral tissues. In healthy amounts, it supports motivation, strength, bone density, libido, and mood. Problems arise not from testosterone itself, but from imbalance in how it is produced, bound, and metabolized.
Free testosterone is the active form circulating unbound in the bloodstream. When levels rise too high relative to estrogen and progesterone, women may experience acne, oily skin, hair thinning on the scalp, unwanted facial hair, cycle irregularities, mood swings, and stubborn weight gain around the midsection.
These shifts are not random. They are often rooted in blood sugar dysregulation, chronic stress, sluggish liver detoxification, inflammation, or environmental exposures that quietly interfere with hormone signaling.
The Liver, Blood Sugar, and Stress Connection
Before introducing any herbs or supplements, it is essential to understand the three pillars that most strongly influence hormonal balance.
Blood Sugar Balance
Insulin is a hormone, and when it spikes repeatedly throughout the day, it influences testosterone production and hormone binding proteins. Diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugars can lower sex hormone binding globulin, leaving more testosterone unbound and active.
Stabilizing blood sugar through protein rich meals, healthy fats, and fiber supports more predictable hormone signaling and reduces inflammatory cascades that worsen hormonal symptoms.
Liver Detoxification
The liver is responsible for metabolizing and clearing used hormones from the body. When detox pathways are overwhelmed, hormones can be reabsorbed instead of eliminated. This can amplify estrogen dominance, androgen excess, and inflammatory skin issues.
Cruciferous vegetables, adequate hydration, bitter herbs, and nutrient dense fats all support the liver’s ability to process hormones efficiently.
Chronic Stress and Cortisol
Stress hormones directly influence sex hormones. Elevated cortisol can suppress progesterone, disrupt ovulation, impair thyroid function, and indirectly increase free testosterone levels. Nervous system regulation is not optional in hormone health. It is foundational.
Sleep, gentle movement, time outdoors, breathwork, and nervous system safety all create the internal conditions required for hormonal repair.
Herbal Allies for Female Hormone Balance
Herbs have been used across cultures for centuries not to override the body, but to guide it back toward balance. Unlike pharmaceutical interventions, herbs work gradually, supporting feedback loops rather than forcing outcomes.
Below are traditional herbs commonly used to support female hormone harmony. These should be used with intention, consistency, and ideally with professional guidance, especially if pregnancy, medication use, or chronic conditions are present.
Spearmint
Spearmint has been studied for its ability to support androgen balance in women. Compounds within the plant may help reduce free testosterone activity while supporting insulin sensitivity and inflammation pathways. Traditionally consumed as a tea, it is often used for skin clarity and cycle regularity.
Licorice Root
Licorice root supports adrenal function and influences how hormones are metabolized. It has traditionally been paired with other herbs to support women experiencing androgen related symptoms. Due to its effect on blood pressure and cortisol, it should be used thoughtfully and not long term without guidance.
White Peony Root
White peony has been used in traditional medicine to support estrogen balance and calm inflammatory patterns. It is often paired with licorice root in formulas designed to support cycle regularity and skin health.
Vitex Chaste Tree Berry
Vitex works through the brain rather than directly on hormones. It supports communication between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries, making it especially useful for luteal phase support, PMS, and cycle irregularities. It requires consistent use over several months.
Shatavari
Shatavari is traditionally used as a nourishing reproductive tonic. With gentle phytoestrogenic properties, it supports estrogen balance, ovulation, and resilience during perimenopause. It is also considered an adaptogen, helping buffer stress related hormone shifts.
Dong Quai and Lady’s Mantle
These herbs have long histories in women’s wellness traditions. Dong quai is often used to support circulation and estrogen pathways, while lady’s mantle supports uterine tone and progesterone balance, particularly for heavy or irregular cycles.
Herbs are not quick fixes. They are subtle teachers, guiding the body back toward equilibrium when the foundation is stable.
Nutrition That Supports Hormone Intelligence
Hormone friendly nutrition is not restrictive. It is deeply nourishing.
Focus on whole foods that support metabolic health and detoxification. Prioritize quality proteins, ancestral fats, seasonal vegetables, and mineral rich foods.
Foods that tend to support hormone balance include:
- Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts
- Wild caught fish, pasture raised meats, and collagen rich cuts
- Healthy fats like tallow, butter, olive oil, avocado, flax, and walnuts
- Fiber rich foods including lentils, oats, leafy greens, and seeds
- Herbal infusions like nettle, oatstraw, and alfalfa for gentle mineral support
Foods that may worsen imbalance for some individuals include refined sugars, inflammatory seed oils, ultra processed foods, and excessive alcohol.
The Often Ignored Factor: Endocrine Disruptors
One of the most overlooked contributors to hormone imbalance in women is daily exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. These compounds interfere with hormone signaling by mimicking, blocking, or altering natural hormone activity.
Endocrine disruptors are commonly found in synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, petroleum based preservatives, and many conventional skincare products. Because the skin is a highly absorbent organ, what we apply topically matters just as much as what we eat.
These compounds can accumulate over time, placing additional strain on the liver and disrupting delicate hormonal feedback loops.
At Tallow Twins, we intentionally formulate without endocrine disrupting ingredients. Our products are free from synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, and hormone disrupting preservatives. We believe skincare should support the body, not confuse it.
When choosing products, read ingredient labels carefully. Look for simple formulations, transparent sourcing, and ingredients with long histories of safe traditional use. If an ingredient list reads like a chemistry experiment, your hormones may be paying the price.
Why Ancestral Fats Matter for Hormones
Hormones are built from cholesterol. This is not a flaw in the system. It is biology.
Ancestral cultures understood the importance of animal fats for reproductive health, skin integrity, and nervous system resilience. Tallow is rich in fat soluble vitamins and fatty acids that mirror the lipid structure of human skin, making it deeply compatible and nourishing.
Topically, tallow supports the skin barrier, reduces inflammation, and avoids the need for synthetic stabilizers. Systemically, diets rich in healthy fats support hormone production and blood sugar stability.
Fear of fat has done more harm to hormone health than most people realize.
A Gentle Daily Rhythm for Hormone Support
Rather than rigid protocols, think in rhythms.
Morning nourishment with protein and fats to stabilize blood sugar
Gentle movement and natural light exposure
Balanced meals with fiber and minerals throughout the day
Herbal teas or infusions as needed
Evening routines that calm the nervous system and support sleep
Consistency matters more than perfection. Hormones respond to patterns, not extremes.
Hormone Balance Is Personal
There is no one size fits all approach to hormone health. Symptoms are signals, not diagnoses. Two women with acne may need entirely different support based on their stress levels, digestion, sleep, and environment.
Listen to your body. Track patterns across your cycle. Introduce changes slowly and observe how your system responds.
One More Thing, Babe.
Your hormones are not broken. They are adaptive, responsive, and deeply intelligent.
When supported with nutrient dense foods, gentle herbal allies, nervous system care, and clean skincare, the body has an extraordinary capacity to recalibrate.
We are committed to honouring that intelligence through simple, ancestral formulations that respect both skin and hormones.
Balance is not about control. It is about creating the conditions where the body can remember how to thrive. <3