Spearmint for Hirsutism: Tea, Capsules or Oil? What Studies Show

Short answer: Spearmint tea is the best-studied herbal remedy for hirsutism, but the evidence is still limited. Two small studies found that drinking two cups a day lowered free testosterone within 5 to 30 days^[1]^[2]. In the only randomized trial, women felt their hair had improved, but the doctor-rated hair score did not change significantly after a month^[2]. There are no trials of spearmint capsules or spearmint essential oil for hirsutism.

From our survey: 26% of women with PCOS in our survey had tried spearmint. 14% said it clearly worked, 13% said it didn’t and 73% weren’t sure. Compare with the evidence.

Spearmint tea is probably the most-recommended home remedy in hirsutism and PMOS (formerly PCOS) forums. It’s cheap, easy to find and pleasant to drink, and many women say it helped them. But what do the studies actually show, and is tea better than capsules or oil?

Hirsutism is coarse, dark hair growing in a male-like pattern on a woman’s face, chest, stomach or back. It is mainly driven by androgens, a group of hormones that includes testosterone, acting on sensitive hair follicles. The most common underlying cause is PMOS, the condition that was called polycystic ovary syndrome until 2026^[3]. Because spearmint seems to lower androgens, researchers have tested whether it could help.

Mug of fresh spearmint tea with mint leaves

What the studies on spearmint and hirsutism show

The 5-day study (Turkey, 2007)

Researchers in Turkey started looking at spearmint after local doctors believed that drinking spearmint or peppermint tea lowered libido, and after rat studies suggested both herbs had anti-androgen effects^[1].

They gave 21 women with hirsutism (12 with PCOS and 9 with idiopathic hirsutism, meaning no hormonal cause was found) a cup of spearmint tea twice a day for 5 days during the first half of their menstrual cycle. Free testosterone, the active, unbound form, fell significantly. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol rose. Total testosterone and DHEA sulfate, an adrenal androgen, did not change significantly^[1].

The study had no comparison group and was far too short to measure hair growth. It shows a hormone effect, not less hair.

The 30-day randomized trial (2010)

The best study so far is a randomized controlled trial run at two centers. Forty-two women with PCOS and hirsutism drank either spearmint tea or a placebo herbal tea twice a day for 30 days, and 41 completed the study^[2].

In the spearmint group:

Free and total testosterone fell significantly compared with placebo.
LH and FSH rose.
Women’s own ratings of their hirsutism improved significantly, measured with a quality-of-life questionnaire.
The Ferriman-Gallwey score, the standard doctor-rated hirsutism score, did not improve significantly compared with placebo (p = 0.12)^[2].

The author suggested that 30 days was simply too short for hair changes to show, because hair grows in slow cycles, and called for a longer study^[2]. That may be true, but it means the trial did not prove that spearmint reduces hair. Learn more about how hirsutism is scored in our article on the Ferriman-Gallwey score.

What this means for you

Study	Who	Dose and length	Testosterone	Hair
Akdoğan 2007^[1]	21 women with hirsutism, no control group	1 cup of tea twice a day, 5 days	Free testosterone lower	Not measured
Grant 2010^[2]	42 women with PCOS, randomized vs placebo tea	1 cup of tea twice a day, 30 days	Free and total testosterone lower	Self-rated better; doctor-rated score not significantly better

Evidence: Limited We rate spearmint tea’s evidence for reducing hair as limited. The hormone changes are consistent across both studies, which is encouraging. But the studies were small and short, they were mostly in women with PCOS, and the one trial that measured hair objectively didn’t show a significant improvement. Lower testosterone on a blood test is not the same as less hair on your chin, and we don’t know yet whether the effect lasts beyond a month.

For comparison, the treatments recommended by the Endocrine Society, such as birth control pills and anti-androgen medicines, have been shown to reduce hair in larger trials, and even those need at least 6 months to judge^[3].

Spearmint tea vs capsules vs essential oil

Spearmint tea

Evidence: Limited Tea is the only form that has been tested in women with hirsutism. Both studies used one cup twice a day^[1]^[2]. If you want to try spearmint, tea is the form with the most evidence behind it.

Practical tips for making it:

Use one tea bag or about a teaspoon of dried spearmint leaves per cup, or a small handful of fresh leaves.
Pour over freshly boiled water, cover, and steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
Check the label says spearmint (Mentha spicata), not peppermint or a “mint blend”.
Drink it hot or let it cool and keep it in the fridge. Skip the sugar if you can.

Because the trials didn’t standardize their tea in a way you can copy exactly at home, the strength of your tea may differ from what was studied.

Spearmint capsules

Evidence: None We could not find any published trials of spearmint capsules or extracts for hirsutism or androgen levels in women. Capsules may suit you if you dislike the taste or can’t drink two cups a day, but nobody knows what capsule dose, if any, matches the tea used in the studies. Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so the amount of spearmint in a capsule can vary between products.

Spearmint essential oil

Evidence: None There are no studies of spearmint essential oil, on the skin or otherwise, for hirsutism. The only essential oil trial in hirsutism tested a lavender and tea tree oil spray, and it found only slightly thinner hairs in a small group of women^[4]. Never drink or swallow spearmint essential oil. It is highly concentrated and is not the same as tea. If you use it on your skin for its scent, dilute it and patch test first. Our essential oils hub covers the evidence for every oil.

Is spearmint tea safe?

Spearmint is a common food flavoring and tea. But the two hirsutism studies lasted only 5 and 30 days^[1]^[2], so we have no data on the safety of drinking it every day for many months as a treatment. Some practical points:

It changes hormones. The studies found rises in LH, FSH and estradiol^[1]^[2]. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before drinking it regularly as a treatment.
It’s not contraception. If you take an anti-androgen such as spironolactone, you still need reliable contraception, because these medicines can harm a developing baby^[3].
Tell your doctor if you drink it regularly, especially if you have liver or kidney disease or take other medicines. No studies have looked at spearmint combined with hirsutism medicines.
It may make blood tests harder to read. If you are having hormone tests to find the cause of your hirsutism, mention that you drink spearmint tea, since it can lower free testosterone^[1]^[2].

Spearmint vs peppermint: which is better?

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) and peppermint (Mentha piperita) are different plants. Both showed anti-androgen effects in rat studies, which is part of why researchers started testing spearmint^[1]. But only spearmint has been tested in women with hirsutism. Peppermint has not, so if you want to follow the research, choose spearmint.

Where spearmint fits in your treatment

Spearmint tea is a reasonable thing to try if you want a low-cost, low-risk natural option alongside other approaches, as long as you keep your expectations realistic. It should not replace a medical check-up or proven treatments. The Endocrine Society suggests^[3]:

Hormonal birth control pills as the first medicine for most women who aren’t trying to get pregnant
Adding an anti-androgen, with contraception, if hair is still a problem after 6 months
Laser hair removal for dark hair and electrolysis for light hair, alone or alongside medicine

See our guides to hirsutism medication, permanent hair removal and natural supplements for hirsutism.

When to see a doctor

Before you try any remedy, it’s worth finding out what’s causing your hair growth. Our hirsutism self-check can help you decide whether to see a doctor. Go soon if hair growth started suddenly or is getting worse quickly, or if you notice a deepening voice, an enlarged clitoris or increasing muscle mass. These signs of virilization can point to a rare androgen-producing tumor^[3]. Irregular or missing periods are also a reason to get checked, as they can be a sign of PMOS.

Frequently asked questions

Does spearmint tea reduce facial hair?

It might, but it hasn’t been proven. In the only randomized trial, women felt their hair had improved after 30 days, but the doctor-measured hair score didn’t change significantly^[2].

How long does spearmint tea take to work for hirsutism?

Testosterone levels fell within 5 days in one study and within 30 days in another^[1]^[2]. Hair changes take much longer because hair grows in slow cycles. Medical treatments for hirsutism are judged after at least 6 months^[3], and it’s reasonable to expect the same for spearmint.

How many cups of spearmint tea a day for hirsutism?

Both studies used one cup twice a day^[1]^[2]. There’s no evidence that drinking more works better.

Does spearmint tea lower testosterone?

In two small studies, yes. Free testosterone fell in both, and total testosterone also fell in the 30-day trial^[1]^[2].

Are spearmint capsules as good as tea?

We don’t know. No studies have tested spearmint capsules for hirsutism, so tea is the only form with evidence.

Key takeaways

Spearmint tea is the best-studied herb for hirsutism, but the evidence for less hair is limited.
Two small studies found that a cup twice a day lowered free testosterone within 5 to 30 days.
In the only randomized trial, the doctor-rated hair score did not improve significantly after 30 days.
There are no studies of spearmint capsules or essential oil for hirsutism. Never swallow essential oil.
Spearmint tea can be a low-cost add-on, but it isn’t a substitute for a medical check-up or proven treatments.

Sources

Akdoğan M, Tamer MN, Cüre E, et al. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother Res. 2007;21(5):444-447. PubMed 17310494
Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2010;24(2):186-188. PubMed 19585478
Martin KA, Anderson RR, Chang RJ, et al. Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(4):1233-1257. PubMed 29522147
Tirabassi G, Giovannini L, Paggi F, et al. Possible efficacy of Lavender and Tea tree oils in the treatment of young women affected by mild idiopathic hirsutism. J Endocrinol Invest. 2013;36(1):50-54. PubMed 23211454

This article is for education and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor about diagnosis and treatment.