Cycle Tea is Supposed to Help with Irregular Cycles

What is Cycle Tea?

There isn't just one type of cycle tea. Instead, various tea blends are grouped under this term, intended to support women in different phases of their cycle. Cycle tea is said to not only help with cycle disorders but also alleviate menstrual discomfort. This is due to the herbs contained in the tea, which are believed to have hormone-like effects.

How Does Fertility Tea Work?

Depending on which herbs are included in the cycle tea, the application varies. Depending on the respective half of the monthly cycle, different tea blends can be chosen. The lowland tea is best suited for the first half of the cycle, while the highland tea is consumed in the second half. But how do the effects of each type of tea differ, and what is meant by the so-called high and lowland?

Cycle Half (Days 1 to 14)

In the first half of the cycle, two hormones dominate the female menstrual cycle: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogens. The hormone estrogen, produced in the ovaries, causes the uterine lining to build up. At the same time, a fertilizable egg matures. Just before ovulation, large amounts of estrogen trigger a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), which in turn triggers ovulation. The egg is fertilizable for up to 24 hours after ovulation. Therefore, it may be beneficial to drink a tea blend that stimulates estrogen production during the first half of the cycle. Since body temperature is lower until ovulation, these cycle tea blends are also referred to as lowland tea.

Cycle Half (from Day 15)

The second half of the cycle is dominated by the hormone progesterone (corpus luteum hormone). This hormone is produced by the corpus luteum. The luteal phase lasts about ten to twelve days. During this time, the fertilized egg can implant into the uterine lining (nidation). If fertilization does not occur, the lining is broken down and shed during menstruation. However, if pregnancy occurs, the body continues to produce progesterone – the hormone that many women also attribute to morning sickness. Body temperature is slightly higher during this time than in the first half of the cycle, which is why this phase is also referred to as highland. During this cycle phase, the so-called highland tea is supposed to support by having the included herbs exert a progesterone-like effect.

Which Herbs are Suitable for the Tea?

The following herbs are suitable for fertility tea (or cycle tea 1) in the first half of the cycle:

• Geranium – Commonly known as "baby maker." The tea should be consumed over a longer period. It contains tannins that can exert estrogen-like effects on a plant basis.
• Rosemary – Not only a delicious spice in food but also said to have estrogen-like effects, promoting egg maturation.
• Elderflower – Contains phytohormones that are said to act like estrogen.
• Raspberry Leaves – Often used in preparation for childbirth. Before pregnancy, the active ingredients in raspberry leaf tea can support the uterus in building the lining for implantation.
• Wormwood – Stimulates estrogen and gestagen production.
• Basil – A true all-rounder that not only stimulates estrogen production but also positively affects libido.
• True Verbena – A traditional medicinal plant that contains flavonoids and phytohormones that stimulate the production of FSH hormone.

The following plants and herbs are suitable for highland or cycle tea 2:

• Ladies' Mantle – Suitable for both the first and second halves of the cycle. Enjoying ladies' mantle tea is said to not only promote ovulation but also alleviate menstrual discomfort.
• Chaste Tree – Is said to help stabilize the cycle and stimulates the corpus luteum hormone progesterone.
• Yarrow – Is said to promote progesterone production and thus be helpful for the implantation of the egg in the uterus.

Should You Buy Cycle Tea or Mix Your Own?

Cycle tea is available in numerous stores, such as health food stores, organic shops, pharmacies, and drugstores. Pre-packaged blends in tea bags are usually not very fresh – and quite expensive. Therefore, it is advisable to have a tea mixed at the pharmacy. Most pharmacies also offer pre-packaged blends.

Alternatively, you can buy herbs at the organic store or pharmacy and create your own tea blend. Important aspects to consider are:

• You know a good recipe from a reliable source (e.g., pharmacy or midwife).
• You have a precise kitchen scale.
• You have an airtight container that protects against moisture and light.

Homemade blends are cheaper than pre-packaged ones. However, if you want to save effort, a tea blend from the pharmacy is the best choice. In general, the fresher the herbs, the greater the effect.

How Often and How Long Should You Drink Cycle Tea?

The use of cycle tea requires perseverance. Fertility tea must be consumed regularly and over a longer period to take effect. Since the herbs in cycle tea are naturally lower in dosage than in corresponding fertility medications, only regular consumption over several cycles can have an effect – if at all. And even if the hoped-for effect does not occur, a daily cup of herbal tea at least won't cause any harm.

What Side Effects Does Fertility Tea Have?

Overall, cycle tea is more healing than harmful. As always, moderation is key. Drinking several pots of tea a day can be problematic because herbal tea can be contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). PAs are secondary plant compounds produced by many plants to defend against herbivores. An estimated 6,000 plant species worldwide contain PAs. If such plants are accidentally harvested, the PAs can end up in the tea. Although the amounts found in herbal teas so far have been so low that people cannot be poisoned directly by the tea, drinking it daily and in large quantities can, in the worst case, harm the liver.

Therefore, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises: "Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consume herbal teas and tea alternately with other beverages. This also applies to individuals who cover the majority of their daily fluid needs with herbal tea." Additionally, caution is advised if you need to take certain medications. Some herbal blends can interfere with the absorption of medications – especially tea blends with a high tannin content.

Can Cycle Tea Help with Fertility?

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question. Scientific studies that have been able to demonstrate a positive effect of cycle tea on potential pregnancy are currently lacking. Whether a woman became pregnant with the help of the tea blends or even became pregnant faster is thus not confirmed. Nevertheless, there are women who report positive effects on their cycle in online forums. Others report no change.

If you are struggling with infertility, you should not reach for a teacup but rather plan a visit to the gynecologist. There, the cause of the difficulties will first be determined, and appropriate measures will be initiated. Nevertheless, you can always resort to cycle tea. Because even if there is no study on the effectiveness of fertility tea, it can certainly be beneficial for a regular cycle.