Guayusa & Menopause: A Conversation We Rarely Have (Until Now)

When I sat down with the Kichwa midwives in the Ecuadorian Amazon, I expected to hear the usual stories of hot-flashes, mood swings, hair loss. Instead they looked at me and said: “We don’t get those symptoms.”

Their menopause was simply the end of their cycle, and very little else.

They told me their secret: daily guayusa.

So today I want to share: what science is saying about guayusa, how it has been used traditionally, and how it can play into your menopause journey, because yes, this topic deserves our full attention.

1. Why Menopause Symptoms Aren’t “Normal”

Menopause and perimenopause are often brushed off as “just part of getting older.” But so many of the symptoms we experience : hot flashes, fatigue, hair thinning, anxiety, and sleep disruptions are actually signs of imbalance, not inevitability.

My journey took me into midwifery and natural gynecology: I wanted to see how traditional cultures manage transitions like menopause.

I asked the Kichwa midwives of Amupakin what they do when a woman reaches menopause. They told me, “We don’t experience those symptoms.”

So I followed up with the question: “What do you do when a woman comes to you complaining of hot flashes, hair loss, those crazy symptoms?”

They replied: “That’s a hormonal imbalance.” And their first step? Guayusa.

This perspective shifts the story from “inevitable decline” to “we can support this body transition with wisdom and plants.”

Their wisdom reminded me: the body is not meant to suffer through this stage, it’s meant to transition gracefully when nourished and supported.

2. What Is Guayusa?

Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is a sacred Amazonian leaf native to Ecuador. Traditionally consumed every morning by the Kichwa people, it’s used for focus, energy, and overall wellbeing.

Modern studies show Guayusa is rich in:

Polyphenols and catechins, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits
Natural caffeine, providing smooth, sustained energy without the crash
Amino acids like L-theanine, which support calm focus
And most importantly, compounds that may support estrogen balance

Modern reviews note that guayusa:

is a stimulant/energizing drink (it contains caffeine) combined with other alkaloids and phytochemicals. Healthline+1
is rich in antioxidants and possible anti-inflammatory compounds such as catechins, chlorogenic acids and phenolics. Verywell Health+1
has a documented history of safe use, with studies indicating no greater risk than other teas like green tea. PubMed

So when the Kichwa midwives told me Guayusa helps women transition through menopause with ease, the science was there to back it up.

3. The Science of Guayusa & Hormonal Balance

Here is where things get interesting for menopause.

Estrogenic Activity

A key study from 2015 looked at ethanolic extracts of guayusa (and alfalfa) in female rats.

The results: serum estradiol (an estrogen) levels significantly increased in the guayusa-extract groups compared to control. Uterine and ovarian weights also increased with dose.

The authors concluded: “guayusa and alfalfa extracts … have a significant activity on the production of endogenous estrogen … could be used as a treatment … or hormone replacement after menopause.”

Now: this is an animal study, not yet a large human clinical trial, but it does open the possibility that guayusa has estrogen-modulating / “phyto-estrogenic” effects.
For women in menopause, when estrogen is dropping, this suggests a meaningful angle.

Antioxidant & Anti-Inflammatory Support

Menopause is not just hormonal: it often triggers inflammation, oxidative stress, changes in metabolism, shifts in mood, energy and more.

Guayusa shows promise here. According to VeryWellHealth: guayusa “is rich in antioxidants … in vitro studies suggest guayusa may reduce nitric oxide production … possibly offering anti-inflammatory benefits.”

And the review by Wise et al. (2020) highlighted guayusa’s antioxidant and stimulant properties, along with its safe use history.
So if you are navigating hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood swings or simply feeling your system is out of balance, supporting oxidative stress and inflammation is a great complement to hormone support.

Having taken part in a natural birth with the Kichwa midwives, they use Guayusa postpartum for inflammation as well as to manage postpartum bleeding. So these studies further solidified the ancestral knowledge that has been passed down.

Other Supporting Benefits

Here are additional features of guayusa that may matter in menopause:

Mood, cognition & energy: Some recent acute-dosing research found guayusa leaf extract improved perceived energy, mood, concentration and psychomotor speed compared to placebo in healthy adults.
Safe stimulant alternative: Because of its caffeine + other compounds, guayusa may offer a gentler, more balanced pick-me-up than coffee, helpful when fatigue or brain-fog show up.
Support for metabolic / blood sugar balance: Though not yet menopause-specific, guayusa has been studied for helping stabilize blood sugar and reduce appetite in animal models.

All of these features are helpful when we consider the multi-layered nature of menopause (hormones, mood, metabolism, energy, inflammation).

4. How to integrate Guayusa in My Menopause Support

Coming back to my personal journey: After witnessing the Amazonian approach, I adopted daily guayusa into my routine. Here is how I do it, and how you might adapt it.

Morning ritual: I brew 2 teaspoons of loose-leaf guayusa in a mug of hot water (about 8 oz) for 5–7 minutes. For the strongest brew (I personally recommend) I boil the leaves for 5-7 minutes, be sure to add a little extra water.
Mindful awareness: Make checking in weekly a necessity: Hot flashes? Sleep quality? Mood? Hair shedding? Energy?
One treatment at a time: As the midwives taught me, we don’t flood the system with a dozen interventions at once. Let your body respond to guayusa for 2-4 weeks and observe.
Then blend / escalate mindfully: If symptoms persist, look into combining other botanicals (for instance: alfalfa, adaptogens, herbs that support liver, adrenal and hormone clearance) after I see how guayusa alone impacts.
Sourcing matters: I only use Se Luz guayusa that is sourced from trusted indigenous / agro-forest systems in the Ecuadorian Amazon (just as the tradition holds). Se Luz suppliers are all FDA approved as well as adhere to local sanitisation laws.
Listen to your body & record: Keep a simple log: date, beverage what I took, symptoms score (1-10) for hot flashes, mood, sleep, hair, energy. Over time you’ll see patterns.

5. What You Should Know: Safety

As with any botanical or hormone-support strategy, some caution is warranted.

The key estrogenic study was in rats, not yet robust human menopause-specific trials. So we speak in high possibility.
Because guayusa contains caffeine, if you are sensitive to stimulants (anxiety, insomnia, arrhythmia) start with small amounts.
If you are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or have a history of hormone-sensitive cancers, you should consult your physician before using phyto-estrogenic botanicals like guayusa. (The rat study authors themselves noted that risks for breast or endometrial cancer must be evaluated.
Always source high-quality product
Use it as part of a holistic approach: hormone balance, nutrition, sleep, movement, stress management, all matter in menopause.

6. Why This Matters for You

If you’re reading this because you’re in perimenopause or menopause (or approaching it) and you’re tired of hearing “that’s just normal”, then guayusa offers something different:

A plant-based, tradition-rooted support system that has been part of women’s lives in the Amazon for generations.
Preliminary science that aligns with what those midwives told me: less hormonal chaos, more graceful transition.
A ritual you can integrate daily, simple, meaningful, gentle.
A deeper message: your body can be listened to; your experience can change; you don’t have to accept all the symptoms as “just how it is”.

7. Conclusion

Menopause is not the end, it’s a transition. And in the sacred Amazonian tradition I witnessed, it is not filled with suffering as so many cultures have made it out to be.
Guayusa doesn’t promise a miracle overnight, but it offers a gateway: a plant, a daily nod to your body’s intelligence.

If you’re ready to walk into menopause with support rather than depletion, then consider adding guayusa into your routine. Start steady. Observe patiently. And honour the voice of your body.

I source mine directly from over 700 indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, including the Kichwa women I studied with and you can find it Here.

Because healing cannot be given, it must be shared.