15 replies to this topic

[LIVEandLOVE]

Sorry if there's information on this already...



Studies have shown that spearmint tea can help block androgens in the body, which we all know lend themselves to hormonal acne and oily skin. They also say that it can help with excess hair growth in women, which is another symptom of over-production.


I haven't tried it, but am going to as soon as I find a decaf version of the tea. What do you guys think about this?



Here's a link with a bit of info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6376599.stm

[databased]

Thanks!

2004 study finds peppermint or spearment tea decreases available testosterone in rats.

Leads to 2007 study of spearment tea in women. As in rats, sig decrease in available testosterone.

And finally in 2008, testing just the spearmint in rats to show it to produce:

Our study suggested that spearmint probably induced oxidative stress in hypothalamus resulting in decreased synthesis of LH and FSH which in turn down-regulated the production of testicular testosterone through the disruption of a number of intermediate cascades.

Spearmint/peppermint tea threads have appeared on this site multiple times. As with all acne treatments, it's clearly no miracle cure for everybody. (But I want to test it to see if it is a miracle cure if you also work to improve your zinc status.)

[alternativista]

Yeah, there's a fairly current thread on this, citing the studies on women with hirsutism. And I've found it makes androgenic hair growth much less coarse. My skin, however, was already clear so I can't report any benefit on that. And I don't think anyone else has reported it noticeably improving their acne.

[rakbs]

Peppermint is now an established anti-androgen, how strong of one, I don't know. I think that it could be easier and possibly safer to use it directly on the skin as peppermint oil, rather than drink peppermint tea.

[LIVEandLOVE]

Peppermint is now an established anti-androgen, how strong of one, I don't know. I think that it could be easier and possibly safer to use it directly on the skin as peppermint oil, rather than drink peppermint tea.

Why do you think it would be unsafe to drink the tea?

[rakbs]

Peppermint is now an established anti-androgen, how strong of one, I don't know. I think that it could be easier and possibly safer to use it directly on the skin as peppermint oil, rather than drink peppermint tea.

Why do you think it would be unsafe to drink the tea?

I'm just thinking of other anti-androgen drugs that are taken systematically that can cause hormonal side effects. I just don't think it's a good idea to try to systematically alter your hormone levels without proof that what you're doing is even effective. But I guess it's safe to drink peppermint tea.

[alternativista]

Ok, so rereading some old threads, something I'd ignored before sunk in. And that is that there are different enzymes that convert Testosterone to DHT. Type 1 effects DHT that binds to oil follicles. And type 2 effects DHT that binds to hair follicles.

Spearmint tea contains a substance that is a Type 2 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Therefore, Spearmint tea is specifically going to help with hirsutism, but probably not help acne or oily skin at all.

One of the studies comments that peppermint tea has a more estrogenic effect and might help some people because of that. But it might make some people worse. And this implies that spearmint also has an estrogenic affect, just less of one.

Some threads to read:
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Hormonal-...s-Spir-f51.html
EGCG can decrease DHT, but other substances in green tea can increase DHT
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Green-tea...in-t189363.html
Phyto-Androgens, foods with plant androgen hormones: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Phyto-And...;hl=cholesterol

[LIVEandLOVE]

Ok, so rereading some old threads, something I'd ignored before sunk in. And that is that there are different enzymes that convert Testosterone to DHT. Type 1 effects DHT that binds to oil follicles. And type 2 effects DHT that binds to hair follicles.

Spearmint tea contains a substance that is a Type 2 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Therefore, Spearmint tea is specifically going to help with hirsutism, but probably not help acne or oily skin at all.

One of the studies comments that peppermint tea has a more estrogenic effect and might help some people because of that. But it might make some people worse.

Some threads to read:
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Hormonal-...s-Spir-f51.html
EGCG can decrease DHT, but other substances in green tea can increase DHT
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Green-tea...in-t189363.html
Phyto-Androgens, foods with plant androgen hormones: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Phyto-And...;hl=cholesterol

Well, for the record, spearmint tea made my skin less oily.

[rosieposie]

spearmint tea helping my acne. I take the tea out of the dry tea bag and put it into an empty geletin capsule I buy at whole foods and take it in capsule form, if I don't have time to drink the tea.

[SmirfyTyme]

spearmint tea helping my acne. I take the tea out of the dry tea bag and put it into an empty geletin capsule I buy at whole foods and take it in capsule form, if I don't have time to drink the tea.

That's a really good idea. I've been drinking the tea a few weeks and I think it has really helped me. I also quit drinking coffee, which helped considerably as well. My skin is much better and now I don't have to depend on a lot of BP or AHA for treatment of my pimples b/c I'm not getting them as much any more.

I'm unsure though you will get enough of the Spearmint you will need from packing a little in some capsules. I guess if it's working that it must be enough. How many capsules are you taking?
You know you can also buy it in capsule form.

[rosieposie]

I take one capsule a day and drink about 1 cup of tea a day. I thought I would be getting a great deal more from the capsules since I am actually injesting the spearmint leaves into my body and not just a liquid tea form. Hmmm now I am wondering what is the best way to take it. Anyone else take the capsule form? I am going to look on line and see what is available in a pill form. It is helping my skin very much.

[alternativista]

Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. a randomized controlled trial:

http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/news92.html#sec2

[MelOuttaMegacity]

Hey guys,

I know this is a really old topic, but I was wondering whether anybody has been doing the Spearmint Tea thing for an extended period of time and seen continued improvement in their skin and its oiliness.

[MeowB]

I've been drinking one cup of Peppermint tea every morning now for about 6 months.
I wouldn't say there is continuing improvement in the amount of oil on my skin. But there is definitely less oil on my skin now than 7-8 months ago. The improvement has just plateaued.

I stopped for a week a while ago and thought I felt oilier. So I started drinking it again.

However, I'm also taking Omega-3 capsules and apple cider vinegar. I'm not sure which specific one is helping me the most.

[BN92-11]

Anyone know whether if I start spearmint tea now, while I'm waiting to get in to be tested for a hormonal imbalance, will it mess up the result of that blood test? I'm waiting, but of course I just happen to be having an even worse-than-usual flare up, when I learn about the success of spearmint tea for many women and their oily skin. I've got some PCOS/hirsutism symptoms (including cystic acne), which is why I asked my doctor to refer me to an endocrinologist. She doesn't think my symptoms amount to much without being obese or having irregular cycles, from what I gathered. Still, I'm going to get a blood test at least. Don't really want to wait to try the spearmint tea (been waiting 19 years to get free of my acne, ya know), but certainly if the cause of my hirsutism/acne symptoms could be serious, which PCOS can be, I don't want to screw up the results and miss getting diagnosed. So just throwing this question out there in case anyone knows. Thanks!

[GreenEyes33]

I've been drinking peppermint tea everyday for about 1.5 weeks now and I haven't noticed it doing anything spectacular in particular. I was clearing again and then ate some junk and drank 2 bottles of wine in one night and of course broke out again But the peppermint tea is quite good regardless so I keep drinking it.