Does Green Tea Help with Hirsutism Symptoms?
If you are dealing with excess body hair on your face, back, or abdomen, you may have a medical condition called hirsutism. This is a very common hormonal imbalance among women, which leads to the appearance of thick, dark body hair in areas where women usually do not have hair, or only have a very thin, light hair.
Even though there are treatment options available that can help with the symptoms of Hirsutism, many women are looking to find out more about natural supplements and ways to treat hirsutism naturally. Green Tea is known to have many health benefits, but does it also help with Hirsutism?
But First, What Causes Hirsutism?
To understand if green tea works, first it is necessary to understand what hirsutism is about. You should know that it is a condition that mainly affects women and is in most cases caused by an increase in the production of androgens, which are the main “male” hormones. This results in high amounts of androgens, such as testosterone, circulating throughout your body.
Under normal conditions, women have a low amount of circulating androgens, which does not cause any damage and is beneficial to many vital functions of the body. However, when this range gets out of control, the hair follicles react to this change, developing a hair with the characteristics of male hair: thick, abundant and dark.
But what causes hirsutism? The most common cause of hirsutism is a chronic hormonal condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS affects 10% of women of reproductive age, and also has other symptoms such as weight gain, acne, hair loss, anxiety and depression. There are also other causes of hirsutism, such as Cushing’s syndrome, tumors, and some medications.
As you can see, hirsutism can be caused by serious conditions, which is why it’s key to discuss it with your doctor. He can then start a diagnostic process to find the underlying cause and discuss treatment options with you. Based on what causes hirsutism, there are different treatment options available such as medications or hair removal methods.
Also, some women are using supplements as add-ons to their treatment regimen. If you’re interested in taking supplements for hirsutism, make sure to discuss them with your doctor first, as some can interact with other medications that you may be taking.
What is Green Tea?
Green tea is a type of tea extracted from the leaves of a plant called “Camellia sinensis”, first produced in China, but now has spread to many Asian countries such as Japan. Its first uses in China are legendary, dating back as far as 600-700 AD, thanks to a discovered book written by Lu Yu, where he tells the proper way to make green tea and how it should be served.
Today, it is considered one of the healthiest beverages on the planet, as it has many components that are said to be beneficial for a healthy body.
Among these components, antioxidants and polyphenols are always mentioned, important substances that help in many aspects of health. But can Green Tea also help with Hirsuitsm?
Green Tea for Hirsutism: Does It Work?
Green Tea has been studied for a lot of things, and there are many benefits that have been cited, especially in traditional medicine. But can green tea really have an effect on Hirsutism? What does science say?
Currently, there is too little research that has been done to confirm if there is a positive effect of green tea for hirsutism. More research and larger studies need to be done before it can be said if drinking green tea really is beneficial for hirsutism.
Conclusion
Hirsutism, or the presence of excess hair growth, can be very distressing for women. In most cases, there is an underlying cause that has to be identified before treatment can be started and the symptoms of hirsutism can improve.
It’s important to discuss the symptoms with your doctor, even if it may be a difficult topic to discuss. Together with your doctor, you can then find treatment options that work for you. Currently, there is too little scientific evidence to say if green tea has a positive effect on hirsutism.
Tip: Are you interested in learning more about the best supplements for hirsutism? Learn more in our in-depth article!