How does Seed Cycle Blend work?

I got this question recently from a customer who had been using the blends for two months and was shocked with her results. The results in her words: "Usually when I get it [my period] I'm like, ohhh yep that's why I have been such a dick to everyone - but not this month! I really had to try cast my mind back to think if I was losing my shit, but nope - I was definitely way nicer". As always, with stunning reviews like this, I was elated, but...

She said she had been telling her friends about Seed Cycle Blend after being so amazed and their first question was 'How does it work?'. She couldn't find a clear answer on our website that explains exactly how seed cycling works to naturally balanced hormones and reduce menstrual symptoms. And although we do have a page called 'How it Works' it wasn't really doing it justice. So here we are - a whole blog dedicated to EXACTLY how seed cycling works and we've updated the 'How it works' page now too, for a more visual explaination.

I'm going to break it down into 4-parts. The key nutrients, how these nutrients support hormones, why rotating the seeds matters and therapeutic dosing.

1. Hormone supportive nutrients

Seed cycling typically involves rotating four main seeds across the menstrual cycle:

• Flaxseeds (Follicular phase)

• Pumpkin seeds (Follicular phase)

• Sunflower seeds (Luteal phase)

• Sesame seeds (Luteal phase)

These seeds provide a powerful range of nutrients:

Each of these nutrients has hormone-supportive properties, as outlined below.

2. How these nutrients support hormones

Follicular Phase (Day 1–14, approx.)

Seeds: Flax + Pumpkin

• Flaxseed lignans act as phytoestrogens, helping modulate estrogen levels. Basically if estrogen is too low, they stimulate estrogen production; if estrogen is too high, they help to block estrogen production and bind to and eliminate excess estrogen.

• Pumpkin seeds provide zinc, which supports follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) production and may help promote healthy ovulation.

Luteal Phase (Day 15–28, approx.)

Seeds: Sunflower + Sesame

• Sesame lignans and vitamin E help promote progesterone production and maintain healthy levels.

• Sunflower seeds are rich in selenium and vitamin E, both of which are antioxidants that support the corpus luteum (the structure that secretes progesterone).

Together, these nutrients nourish the endocrine system and may support the natural rhythm of the menstrual cycle.

3. Why rotating seeds matters

The reason for rotating the seeds is rooted in supporting the distinct hormonal needs of each phase of the cycle:

• The follicular phase is estrogen-dominant - flax and pumpkin support healthy estrogen metabolism and ovulation.

• The luteal phase is progesterone-dominant - sesame and sunflower help sustain progesterone and reduce inflammation.

By syncing seed intake with these shifts, you're:

• Encouraging estrogen detoxification when needed

• Supporting ovulation and progesterone production

• Minimizing estrogen dominance and PMS symptoms

4. Not just a sprinkle, a therapeutic dose

A therapeutic dose is the specific amount of a nutrient or food (in this case, 2 tablespoons of either FOL or LUT blend daily) that’s needed to have a measurable effect on the body, rather than just a general health benefit.

• A sprinkle isn't enough. You need consistent, daily intake in a whole food therapeutic amount to achieve measurable support for your endocrine system.

• These nutrients only influence hormone pathways when they reach active levels in the bloodstream, which is achieved through consistent, phase-specific consumption of seeds in therapeutic amounts.

• The rotation of seeds only works when nutrients are consistently delivered in proper amounts - this is what makes seed cycling different from general healthy eating.

Summary

Seed cycling works by delivering the right hormone-supportive nutrients at the right time, leveraging natural food-based compounds to gently support menstrual harmony.

References:

• Thompson et al., 1996: Flaxseed intake associated with favorable estrogen metabolism.

• Gaskins, A. J., Mumford, S. L., Zhang, C., Wactawski-Wende, J., Perkins, N. J., Schisterman, E. F., & Rich-Edwards, J. W. (2020). Effect of dietary and supplemental zinc on semen quality and fertility in humans: A systematic review. Fertility and Sterility, 114(2), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.05.021

• Prasad, 1993: Zinc plays a role in ovulation and reproductive hormone signaling.

• Talebi, E., Nahidi, F., Alavi Majd, H., & Kariman, N. (2021). The effect of flaxseed on estrogen, progesterone, and the length of the menstrual cycle: A systematic review. Obstetrics & Gynecology Science, 64(2), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2008
  

• Al-Gubory, K. H. (2023). Roles of Selenoproteins in Female Reproduction—A Systematic Review. Antioxidants, 12(4), 907. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12040907

• Clinical support: A small clinical study (Gaskins et al., 2009) found that women consuming flaxseed had more favorable progesterone-to-estradiol ratios and longer luteal phases, suggesting better ovulatory function.
  
  

• Dhamija P, More A, Choudhary N, Wadhe T, Barai J, Shah D. Seed Cycling and Hormonal Balance: A Case Study of Successful Fertility Intervention in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2025 May;17(Suppl 1):S1030-S1033. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_164_25. Epub 2025 Apr 12. PMID: 40511049; PMCID: PMC12156535.

While large-scale, long-term randomized trials on seed cycling specifically are limited to this one, the mechanistic evidence behind the nutrients (phytoestrogens, zinc, selenium, and lignans) is well-supported in nutritional endocrinology.