24/03/2026
Everyone is talking about ābalancing hormones.ā
But very few are talking about how we clear them.
From a naturopathic perspective, hormone health isnāt just about productionāitās about how effectively your body can metabolise and eliminate what it no longer needs.
Because if your detoxification pathwaysāparticularly Phase I and Phase IIāarenāt well supported, oestrogen may be broken down into more proliferative or inflammatory metabolites, such as:
ā¢ 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OH)
ā¢ 16Ī±-hydroxyestrone (16Ī±-OH)
These metabolites are associated with increased tissue proliferation and can contribute to symptoms of oestrogen excess when not properly cleared.
Ideally, we want to favour the production of:
ā¢ 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH) ā considered the more protective pathway āļø
But hereās the keyā¦
If Phase II detoxification isnāt working efficiently, even these metabolites arenāt effectively conjugated and eliminated, allowing them to recirculate in the body.
Which meansāyou can eat well, do all the right things, and still experience symptoms like:
sluggishness, inflammation, painful periods, and PMS.
āļø Hormone balance = healthy production and efficient clearance
āļø Phase I + Phase II must work in synergy
āļø Phase II relies on adequate protein, key nutrients, fibre, and gut support
āļø You canāt out-supplement poor diet and lifestyleāyour foundations matter most
When these pathways are supportedāand your foundations are in placeāyour body can more effectively process and eliminate hormones, helping you feel clearer, lighter, and more balanced.
Comment RESET if youāre ready to understand your body more deeply, support your detox pathways, and reduce your daily toxic load š§Ŗšæ
