I tried ‘seed cycling’ to manage heavy periods and balance my hormones, and I’m never going back

Seeds: 1tsp to 2tsp of flax seeds and pumpkin seeds daily.

During the follicular phase, a normal cycle with balanced hormones will see oestrogen levels rise. However, if your hormones are unbalanced, you can take flax seeds and pumpkin seeds to help boost oestrogen production.

“Flax helps to increase oestrogen levels whilst also preventing oestrogen from rising too much,” Mays explains. “Flax contains lignans which are known as phytooestrogenic which means they have a two-way effect – sometimes increasing it, whilst other times binding excess oestrogen.  It’s super clever and works in a way to help balance the body’s hormones in any way that’s needed.”

A study from 1993, one of the only studies on seeds and the menstrual cycle, found that flax can help to improve ovulation, lengthen the luteal phase, and reduce PMS symptoms such as cramping and breast tenderness.

“Flax also helps to support the omega 3 production pathway which is important for inflammation reduction and healthy cell membranes as well as hormone production,” Mays adds.

Pumpkin seeds should also be taken during the follicular phase as they are high in zinc which helps improve how the corpus luteum forms in the uterus each month. The corpus luteum is a normal and harmless cyst that forms on a woman’s ovaries each month right after the egg leaves their ovary and can play a crucial role in a woman’s fertility.

“The corpus luteum is responsible for producing progesterone which triggers the thickening of the uterus in preparation for egg implantation helping prepare the body for the second part of the cycle,” Mays says.

The Luteal Phase

When? From the first day of ovulation to the first day of your period.

Seeds: 1tsp to 2tsp of sesame seeds and sunflower seeds daily.

While the follicular phase is all about oestrogen, the luteal phase is all about progesterone. Progesterone’s main function is to prepare the lining of a woman’s uterus to be able to grow a fertilised egg and the uterus lining thickens during this stage.

“Sesame seeds contain phytooesterogenic lignans, this time to help reduce oestrogen production allowing progesterone to rise in this phase,” Mays explains. “Sesame seeds are also high in zinc, helping to increase progesterone production too.”

Sunflower seeds also help to reduce the production of oestrogen during this phase as it contains selenium which can help to improve liver detoxification of oestrogen.

“All four seeds [in the follicular and luteal phases] also contain vitamin E which has been shown in numerous research to reduce both physical and mental symptoms of PMS & dysmenorrhea (irregular cycles),” Mays says.

Does seed cycling really work?

When I decided to try seed cycling for a month, I think the thing I was the most drawn to was the promise that it could potentially help to alleviate heavy period pains. My cycle has been consistent for as long as I can remember, arriving each month bang on time, with a heavy first two days bringing pains often so bad that I need to lie down for a good 10-20 minutes when they hit. (Remote working has been a game-changer in this respect, it feels illegal that we were meant to suffer in silence in the office before now).