Hormonal changes can hit hard. They might show up as mood swings that come out of nowhere or anxiety that suddenly feels heavier than usual. These shifts don’t always have a clear cause, but they’re real—and often tied to things like menstrual cycles, perimenopause, thyroid imbalances, or even stress-related hormone spikes. What makes it more frustrating is how misunderstood it can feel, especially when the body is sending signals that don’t always make sense on the surface.
Thankfully, nature has always offered ways to help bring the body and mind back into a more grounded place. Whether it’s through gentle herbs, calming foods, or holistic support from a professional who actually listens, there are real ways to feel more balanced again. At Avena Natural Health, the focus is on whole-body healing—supporting emotional shifts without harsh chemicals or synthetic treatments. For those looking to understand the options out there, the natural route is one that feels steady, patient, and deeply rooted in how the body actually works
Support Hormonal Balance Through Adaptogenic Herbs
Adaptogens are a group of herbs that gently help the body respond to stress, and many people don’t realize how deeply that affects hormone levels too. When the body feels stress—whether from work, parenting, or just existing in a loud, fast-moving world—cortisol gets released. That’s the stress hormone, and when it floods the body too often, it can throw off everything else, including estrogen, progesterone, and even insulin.
Herbs like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil have been traditionally used to support the adrenal system and bring the body back to homeostasis. They don’t act like a quick fix, but over time, they may help steady the ups and downs that so often come with mood swings and hormonal dips. These herbs also gently support the nervous system, which plays a direct role in how we respond to emotional triggers and mental overwhelm.
Naturopathic providers may tailor these herbs to a person’s unique constitution—since no two hormone profiles are the same. That’s one reason many people benefit from naturopathic consultations in San Diego, where guidance is personalized and rooted in whole-body awareness. Avena’s approach isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s hands-on, compassionate, and focused on uncovering what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Regulate Blood Sugar to Steady the Mood
It might sound unrelated at first, but blood sugar stability can play a massive role in mood regulation. When blood sugar dips too low, irritability, anxiety, and even tearfulness can sneak in fast. And when it spikes too high, energy may crash hard later, leaving behind an emotional whiplash that feels difficult to shake.
Eating regular meals with balanced protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs makes a real difference. It keeps glucose more stable and helps prevent the spikes and drops that contribute to emotional volatility. Simple shifts, like starting the day with a protein-forward breakfast or adding fiber to afternoon snacks, may help the body stay more even-keeled throughout the day.
People who have underlying hormone imbalances, including insulin resistance or thyroid issues, may be more sensitive to these swings. That’s why it’s not always just about eating better—it’s about understanding how the body processes food based on its own hormone landscape. At Avena, these factors are all considered together, not in isolation. It’s this kind of integrative support that builds long-term emotional steadiness from the inside out.
For some people dealing with anxiety that stems from hormonal changes, extra nutritional support can help fill in the gaps. IV therapy in San Diego has become a sought-after option for delivering key nutrients quickly—especially B vitamins, magnesium, and amino acids that play a big role in nervous system health. It’s a gentle and effective way to recharge depleted systems, especially when regular food intake isn’t enough.
Use Nervine Herbs to Calm the Nervous System
When mood swings turn into anxiety or irritability that feels hard to shake, the nervous system is usually overstimulated. That’s where nervine herbs come in. These are plants that support the body’s stress response and help regulate emotional patterns in a grounded, natural way. They’ve been used for generations to ease tension and help restore a sense of inner calm.
Lemon balm, chamomile, passionflower, and skullcap are a few of the more well-known options. They work subtly, often without making someone feel drowsy or foggy. Many people take them as teas, tinctures, or capsules to help wind down at night or soften the emotional edge during hormone-related shifts. They’re especially helpful during PMS, perimenopause, or stressful life periods when hormones already feel out of sync.
At Avena Natural Health, herbal blends are customized based on the whole person—not just a symptom or diagnosis. This means if someone feels anxious, irritable, and exhausted at the same time (which is more common than it sounds), their herbal formula might include both energizing adaptogens and calming nervines, working together to bring things back into balance.
For those unsure where to begin, talking to naturopathic doctors can open up a new way of thinking about mental health. It’s not just about treating a symptom—it’s about finding out what the body is trying to say and working with it, not against it.
Lifestyle Shifts That Support Emotional Stability
Hormonal anxiety doesn’t live in a vacuum. It often flares up when people are under pressure, not sleeping well, eating erratically, or forgetting to move their bodies. But making drastic changes overnight rarely works. What does help are small, sustainable adjustments that support overall nervous system health and hormonal balance at the same time.
Getting outside in natural light for even ten minutes a day can reset the body’s circadian rhythm and help rebalance cortisol. Gentle movement like walking, stretching, or yoga also supports lymphatic drainage and releases endorphins without overtaxing the body. Sleep matters, too—both how much and how deeply someone sleeps affects hormone production and mental clarity the next day.
Many people don’t realize that environmental toxins and synthetic chemicals in everyday products may interfere with hormone function. Detoxing from these isn’t always about doing a full cleanse. Sometimes, it starts with choosing glass over plastic, swapping out conventional lotions, or filtering drinking water. These little acts of awareness add up.
When the nervous system needs deeper support, Avena offers personalized care that takes everything into account—hormones, diet, stress, and even past emotional experiences. That’s why many people begin with a naturopathic consultation in San Diego and discover not just symptom relief, but a whole new relationship with their body and mind.
It’s also worth noting that IV nutrient therapy, which delivers vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, has helped many people feel better faster—especially when hormone swings are tied to deficiencies or long-standing depletion. For those looking for more intensive support, IV therapy in San Diego can be part of a broader, holistic plan that gets results without feeling invasive or extreme.
A Gentle Way Forward
Hormonal mood swings and anxiety don’t have to feel like a life sentence. When people begin to understand how the nervous system, hormones, nutrition, and stress all work together, the path to emotional balance becomes a lot clearer. Natural options like those offered at Avena Natural Health are about honoring what the body already knows how to do—heal, adapt, and stabilize—when given the right kind of support.
It doesn’t need to be dramatic or overwhelming. Even small steps, taken with care and understanding, can lead to big changes over time.
Media Credit: All photos licensed from Adobe.
Dr. Laura Kostrzewski, a San Diego native, completed her undergraduate degree at California Polytechnic State University, earning a BS in animal science with minors in Spanish and Psychology. She then earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and taught fifth grade in the central coast of California for two years. After being extremely involved in her grandfather’s journey with Parkinson’s disease and end-of-life care, Dr. Kostrzewski decided to move back to San Diego and enroll at Bastyr University California. Dr. Kostrzewski received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University California in June of 2019, and then went on to complete her residency at Bastyr. Before AVENA Wellness, DR. K started her own private practice, focusing on management of neurodegenerative conditions, and continued teaching at Bastyr as adjunct faculty, until founding Avena Health.