Cooling Hot Hormones: Best Herbs for Summer, Ovulation + Perimenopause
Living in Rhythm: How Your Body Works in Every Phase
Your body isn’t random—it’s rhythmic.
Each phase of your moon cycle brings real shifts in hormones, mood, energy, and cravings.This series breaks it down simply—so you can understand what’s happening and support your body with food, lifestyle, and flow.
Because when you know your rhythm, you thrive with it.
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When hormones heat up, your body feels it—literally. Whether you’re ovulating, riding a summer heatwave, or navigating perimenopausal shifts, that fiery internal buzz can leave you bloated, moody, inflamed, and craving relief.
In both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western herbal traditions, cooling herbs are used to clear internal heat, nourish yin, and gently detox the liver—all while supporting the hormonal dance that keeps you glowing, grounded, and balanced.
Why Cooling Herbs Matter
Hormones love heat—just not too much of it. Hormonal surges (like ovulation or perimenopause) and external heat can push your body into overdrive—think: irritability, skin breakouts, fatigue, hot flashes, or sugar cravings. Cooling herbs help regulate that fire.
Cooling herbs work by:
✨ Clearing excess heat + inflammation
✨ Supporting liver detox + hormone metabolism
✨ Calming mood + nervous tension
✨ Boosting skin clarity + hydration
✨ Preventing ovulation or menopausal “burnout”
It’s not about shutting your body down—it’s about helping you glow from the inside out, even when your hormones (or the weather) are turned up.
In TCM, this is called liver heat or yin deficiency: when your body’s internal fire overwhelms its cooling, nourishing forces. It can show up as:
PMS or ovulation irritability
Breakouts and inflamed skin
Sugar cravings + disrupted sleep
Bloating or sluggish digestion
In Western medicine, it connects to:
Estrogen surges or poor detox
Increased core body temp during ovulation
Electrolyte imbalances
Nervous system overdrive
Summer’s Cooling Queens — Herb Profiles
Here are the best cooling herbs to support your ovulation, perimenopause, and summer glow-up—with both traditional use and science-backed benefits:
Chrysanthemum (菊花)
TCM use: Clears liver heat, cools the body, supports eyes + skin.
Western view: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, supports skin health + immunity.
Best for: Calms irritability, clears skin, cools hot flashes.
🩸 Best during: Ovulation, Perimenopause, Summer
Avoid During Cycle: bleeding if cold-deficient; pregnancy
📚 Science-backed? Yes—studies show antioxidant + anti-inflammatory activity.
⚠️ Avoid if: You have allergies to ragweed family or are feeling very cold/deficient.
Hibiscus
TCM view: Cools blood + clears heat
Western view: Rich in vitamin C, polyphenols, and natural electrolytes.
Best for: Brightens skin, supports collagen, detoxes liver, regulates blood sugar.
🩸 Best during: Ovulation, Luteal, Perimenopause, Summer
Avoid During Cycle: Menstrual phase, early pregnancy
📚 Science-backed? Yes—shown to lower blood pressure + support metabolism.
⚠️ Avoid if: You have low blood pressure or take antihypertensive meds
Dandelion (蒲公英)
TCM use: Clears heat + toxins, supports liver + digestion
Western view: Diuretic, liver tonic, supports detox pathways
Best for: Clears breakouts, supports estrogen detox, reduces water retention
🩸 Best during: Luteal, Ovulation
Avoid During Cycle: Bleeding, pregnancy
📚 Science-backed? Yes—studies support liver and digestive benefits
⚠️ Avoid if: You’re on diuretics or have gallbladder issues
Goji Berries (枸杞)
TCM use: Nourishes blood + yin, supports liver, kidneys, skin, libido.
Western view: Packed with antioxidants, lutein, and beta-carotene.
Best for : Glowy skin, hormone harmony, libido boost.
🩸 Best during: Follicular, Ovulation
📚 Science-backed? Yes—studies support antioxidant + skin protective effects.
⚠️ Avoid if: You’re on blood thinners or sensitive to nightshades.
Rose (玫瑰花)
TCM use: Moves qi, harmonizes liver + blood, uplifts mood.
Western view: Mild nervine + digestive support, mood booster.
Best for : Reduces stress, soothes cramps, clears skin via liver support.
🩸 Best during: Luteal, Ovulation, bleeding
📚 Science-backed? Emerging evidence for mood + skin benefits.
⚠️ Avoid if: Heavy bleeding with heat signs (red tongue, restlessness, hot flushes) or if you're prone to feeling overheated or light-headed with blood loss. You’re in a cold-deficient state (feeling weak, cold, tired).
Lemon Balm
TCM perspective: Calms shen (spirit), eases digestion + tension
Western view: Nervine, antiviral, digestive aid, blood sugar support
Best for: Calms anxiety, smooths digestion, helps with mood swings
🩸 Best during: Luteal, Ovulation
Avoid During Cycle: Early pregnancy
📚 Science-backed? Yes—proven effects on stress, cognition, and glucose regulation.
⚠️ Avoid if: You have hypothyroidism (may reduce thyroid hormone levels in high doses)
Mulberry Leaf (桑叶)
TCM use: Clears heat, cools lungs + liver, moistens dryness
Western view: Regulates blood sugar + supports skin health
Best for: Blood sugar balance, reduces heat, supports clear skin
🩸 Best during: Ovulation, Late Follicular
📚 Science-backed? Yes—evidence supports its antidiabetic and antioxidant properties.
⚠️ Avoid if: You’re taking blood sugar medications—monitor closely.
🥤How to Use These Herbs
Tea: Steep a blend of chrysanthemum + goji + rose for the ultimate cool-down glow.
Iced infusions: Try hibiscus with lemon + mint for a hormone-happy summer mocktail.
Powders or tinctures: Add mulberry leaf or lemon balm to your daily routine for extra support.
The Bottom Line
Ovulation and summer don’t have to burn you out. With the right herbs, you can glow through the fire—balanced, cool, and magnetic.
These herbs aren’t just add-ons. They’re ancient tools, backed by both tradition and science, that help women flow through hormonal transitions with more ease, beauty, and resilience.
Start syncing with your cycle today:
Track where you are in your cycle right now
Adjust your meals, movement, and mindset with each phase
Follow @mymoonaffair for more education and daily tips
Your rhythm is wisdom. Own it. Explore it. Thrive with it.