Happy Chanukah to everyone celebrating around the world. Thinking of all those who died in the terror attack at Bondi and in the USA. Praying for the injured and for healing. My heart is broken but we will not let them succeed!
As the Jewish granddaughter of a Holocaust refugee and great grandaughter of Eastern European Jews who fled persecution from the Russian pogroms and Nazi Germany, I am all too aware of hatred and antisemitism in the UK and worldwide.
May we all stand together proud as a Jewish community, supported by good people in the world and not the evil perpetuated against us. May this Chanukah bring light against darkness and evil, humanity over antisemitism. Our community is resilient but we shouldn’t have to feel fear during our festival of lights.
Love to our friends and readers globally, especially in Sydney, Australia and the USA. I am proud to be Jewish and our light is greater than their darkness.
Thinking especially of the victims and their families- men, women and children who did not come home that day. As their names start to be reported, may we always remember them and for the injured.
Women’s wellness extends beyond the absence of illness — it is about achieving equilibrium across physical energy, hormonal harmony, and emotional wellbeing. From adolescence through menopause, women experience intricate biological changes that influence mental health, vitality, mood and desire. These fluctuations are often shaped by stress, nutrition, and environmental factors, making holistic self-care essential.
In recent years, many women have sought out natural and herbal approaches to maintain this balance, supporting their physical and mental health. Herbal wellness offers a time-tested, holistic alternative that works in harmony with the body’s natural cycles rather than overriding them. Rooted in ancient traditions like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, this approach uses plants and botanicals to regulate hormones, calm the mind, and renew energy.
Among these botanicals, Horny Goat weed for women has become particularly popular for its potential to revitalise energy, support hormonal balance, and enhance intimate wellbeing. Used traditionally to strengthen vitality and circulation, it is now gaining modern recognition as part of women’s natural wellness routines.
By exploring the synergy between herbs, hormones, and vitality, this article highlights how nature’s remedies can restore equilibrium, empowering women to sustain energy, regulate mood and mental health, and nurture desire naturally.
Energising from Within
Energy isn’t just about caffeine or sleep—it’s also about how your body maintains vitality through its hormonal and metabolic systems. For women, fluctuations in oestrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, and stress hormones like cortisol can significantly affect how lively or fatigued you feel. These also affect our mental health and wellness- balancing hormones is essential to keep balanced moods too and release stress.
The role of adaptogenic & tonic herbs
Adaptogenic herbs help your system respond to stress and restore equilibrium rather than merely stimulating energy. For example, botanicals such as Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) are shown to help regulate cortisol and support energy—particularly in women experiencing perimenopausal shifts. Meanwhile, classic tonic herbs can enhance overall vitality by supporting circulation, metabolism, and mind-body resilience.
Supporting daily vitality
Including herbal support doesn’t replace foundational habits—adequate sleep, balanced blood sugar, moderate exercise and good nutrition remain the core. But once you’ve done the basics, certain herbs can offer an extra layer of support: boosting mood, supporting adrenal reserve, and helping sustain physical and mental energy during hormonal transitions.
Hormone Balance: The Underpinning of Wellness
Hormones guide everything from mood and cycles to skin, sleep and sexual function. If they’re out of balance, the ripple effects can affect energy levels, libido, and overall well-being.
Herbs that support hormonal harmony
The research shows a growing list of botanicals that can help women:
Herbs such as Vitex agnus‑castus (chasteberry) and Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) have been used for menstrual problems, perimenopause and menopausal symptoms.
Adaptogens like ashwagandha may help regulate adrenal output and thus indirectly influence hormones like progesterone and oestrogen.
Broad-based herb lists emphasise the role of phytoestrogens and adaptogens in natural hormone modulation and stress resilience.
A specific botanical to highlight- but limited evidence
One herb worth special mention in women’s wellness for hormonal and energy support is Epimedium grandiflorum, more commonly known as Horny Goat Weed. While often marketed for men’s use, its active compound (icariin) has been studied for effects on hormone signalling, circulation, and energy.
Used in a women-centred herbal blend, it may contribute to hormone-supportive outcomes, though it’s important to emphasise the evidence is still limited and human data is scarce.
How this works in practice
When hormones are out of alignment, for example, in perimenopause or following a stressful period, typical symptoms may include low energy, irregular cycles, mood shifts or lowered sexual desire. By choosing herbs that support adrenal resilience, modulate mild hormonal shifts and promote circulation/tonicity, you give your system extra resources during transition periods.
Desire & Wellness, Naturally
Desire isn’t just a matter of emotion—it is influenced by hormone levels (especially oestrogen, testosterone, progesterone), mood, fatigue, circulation and self-image. Herbal support offers a gentle, subtle way to enhance this layered network.
The link between energy, hormones and libido
When a woman is tired, stressed and hormonally imbalanced, it’s no surprise that desire may take a back seat. Conversely, improving energy, reducing daily stress and supporting hormonal balance can create an internal environment more conducive to intimacy.
(image: Unsplash)
Practical Recommendations for Women
Here are suggestions on how to incorporate a herbal-wellness strategy, mindful of safety and synergy:
Foundations first – Prioritise sleep, movement, a nutrient-rich diet (plenty of leafy veg, healthy fats, quality protein), hydration, and stress management.
Choose adaptogens & tonics—for example, ashwagandha to regulate stress hormone output, or herbs such as chasteberry or black cohosh if you’re experiencing menstrual or menopausal challenges.
Circulation & desire-support – A herbal blend containing Horny Goat Weed (for women) can be one component of a holistic intimate-wellness support plan, provided there are no contraindications.
Cycle & life-stage awareness – Tailor your regimen to your particular stage (e.g., pre-menopause, post-menopause, post-partum). Your hormone profile and needs will differ.
Check interactions & contraindications – Herbs are powerful; for example, Horny Goat Weed may interact with certain heart medications or hormone-sensitive conditions. Always consult a healthcare practitioner, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications.
Expect gradual, subtle shifts – Herbal support is not abrupt therapy; you might notice steadier energy, fewer mood dips, mild improvements in desire—not dramatic overnight changes.
Track your metrics—keep a wellness journal: energy levels, mood, cycle regularity, libido. Over 6–8 weeks, you can judge what’s working and what might need adjustment.
Evidence, Safety and Realistic Expectations
It’s important to approach herbal wellness with grounded expectation and awareness about the evidence base.
While many herbs show promising effects in cell or animal studies, human clinical trials are often limited. For example, with Horny Goat Weed, evidence for its impact on female intimate function is still very preliminary.
Herb-drug interactions and contraindications must be taken seriously. For instance, Horny Goat Weed can affect blood-pressure regulation, heart rhythm and hormone-sensitive cancer situations.
Quality matters: herbs vary in strength and purity. Look for credible sourcing, third-party testing and clear labelling.
Natural support is part of a broader wellness framework—not a substitute for medical evaluation if you have severe conditions (e.g., thyroid disorders, significant hormonal imbalances, sexual dysfunction caused by other medical issues).
Final Thoughts
For women, aiming for wellness means harmonising energy, hormones and desire, not just treating symptoms. A well-chosen herbal strategy adds an extra layer of support: adaptogens to stabilise stress, tonics to bolster circulation, hormone modulators to ease transitions, and formulae that incorporate botanicals like Horny Goat Weed for women to nurture desire and vitality gently.
When aligned with good lifestyle practices, this approach offers a natural, empowering path towards feeling balanced, energised and responsive. Remember: always tailor to your individual life stage, check with a health professional, and allow time for your system to respond.
Please know that Horny Goat Weed on its own is not a substitute for mental health or other medication. Please see your GP before taking new supplements.
Every year, the incredible charity Christmas For CAMHS brightens up the lives of children and teens on NHS CAMHS mental health wards. These are for children who are too ill with their mental health (often distressed and traumatised) to be at home with their families, friends and loved ones. In 2004, when I was just 16 and going through a bipolar episode, at Christmas, I was in a mental health ward away from home (I am Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas religiously but there is something about being given a gift, a card, activities when you are far from home that warms the soul). I know how scary it can be to live in hospital with other ill children and teenagers. So, I absolutely love the work of this important charity.
Christmas For CAMHS was founded by Dr Ro Bevan. While working as a doctor on a children’s ward in 2015, she saw first hand that, during the festive season, hospitals supporting children with physical illnesses were showered with huge amounts of gifts, festive treats and celebrations – as they should be! They even had enough to cover ward birthdays the following year! The following year she was working on a child and adolescent mental health ward. She was shocked by the contrast. So she posted about the inequality on Facebook – “We had no presents donated. Our patients had one present each using money scrimped and saved from the NHS budget.” Her plea went unexpectedly viral, inspiring an intrepid bunch of volunteers to come together with her to create our charity Christmas For CAMHS. We had to make sure that no child or young person on a UK mental health ward was ever forgotten at Christmas again.
Since then the charity has gone from strength to strength, providing some essential Christmas hope for almost 9875 children and young people. Last year, in 2024, the charity sent over 1100 individual gifts (with an additional fidget toy too) to these children and young people – that’s gifts to every young person in every CAMHS unit in the UK!
They also sent 52 special additional gifts for young people on the ward particularly in need, such as those with no parental support and young people in foster care – this included items such as oodies, comic books and specialist art equipment. But that wasn’t everything! As well as individual gifts and goodies, they sent wellbeing advent calendars, festive decorations and activity kits – great for distracting and boredom-busting – paper chains, homemade cards and ward gifts such as jigsaws, art kits, books and board games. Festive season in a box!
(Image: Christmas for CAMHS)
The charity say, ‘It’s never really about the gift itself. For these young people struggling with conditions such as anorexia, psychosis, bipolar disorder and depression, it’s about a glimmer of hope — the knowledge that someone out there cares for them, is thinking of them, and wants them to feel less alone at a very hard time of year to be poorly in hospital. This is why what we do is so important. These fragments of hope and glimmers of joy can, and do, change the course of lives.’
A recipient of the charity’s kindness who was in hospital years before, told them the following and reached out to the charity.
She said: “I was in a CAMHS inpatient unit over the Christmas period when I was 17. While friends were studying for A Levels and passing their driving tests, I was really struggling to keep myself safe and needed to focus on basics like brushing my teeth and eating regularly. Staying in an inpatient unit is a really tough experience for anyone, but Christmas is particularly hard when the pressure to be with family and enjoy the festive period is much higher.”
I wasn’t safe enough to go home overnight yet, so woke up in hospital on Christmas Day. I remember feeling really low that morning, but the unit had received a care package filled with presents which were given to all of us who were there over the Christmas period. I don’t remember what l picked out, or what the other presents were, but I remember feeling like the universe wasn’t such a bad place after all.”
It felt really special that even when I couldn’t care for myself, there were people who did care for me.I hold that memory close to this day and I’m so grateful to Christmas For CAMHS for helping me through a really difficult time.”
I can relate to this person, I was lucky enough that in 2004, we did receive a small gift and I did get some cards from people in hospital with me (I was struggling with bipolar and psychosis at this time but I still remember that lovely feeling of being thought about by the ward staff).
(image: Christmas For CAMHS)
Christmas For CAMHS is a charity extremely close to my heart. This year, they hope to reach their 10,000th child this Christmas. Times are really tough for charities and they need your help to be Father Christmas and his Elves in all of the CAMHS wards in the UK again this year. You can support Christmas for CAMHS by donating online or choosing a gift from their wish list:
beurownlight.com 