In 2018, I convinced myself my hormones were out of whack. Acne and unusual tiredness are supposedly tell-tale signs that your hormone levels are off—I had both. So, I scheduled an appointment with my physician and asked him to test my hormone levels.
A quick blood draw revealed that my androgens, a group of hormones produced by the adrenal gland and the ovaries in women and testicles in men (testosterone is the primary androgen), were elevated (and likely causing my skin to flare up).
My doctor said my hormones were imbalanced and prescribed me spironolactone, an anti-androgen medication that’s commonly prescribed to treat acne. He sent me on my way. But I hated the drug—it made me feel light-headed and dizzy. I later learned that if you have naturally low blood pressure, the drug could lead to faintness and dizziness.
So, after a follow-up convo with my doctor, I stopped taking it and started investigating natural ways to balance my hormones.
According to internet strangers, I could cure my hormonal imbalance by drinking spearmint tea and snacking on ginger. When I asked my doctor for his two…
