Estrogen Dominance Explained: Symptoms, Causes, and Natural Treatment
Have you been told your painful periods, insomnia, and mood swings are because of estrogen dominance?
Has your doctor (or Instagram) told you the fix is birth control, Vitex, or hormone-balancing supplements?
Friend, you're not crazy. You're just being handed half-truths.
And when you're stuck treating "fake root causes" like "high estrogen," you waste time, money, and sanity chasing symptoms.
Today, I'm breaking down the real deal on estrogen dominance. Why it’s not a root cause. What’s really behind your hormone chaos. And exactly what tests + tools you need to actually get better.
Let’s go.
Estrogen Dominance Symptoms: What You Might Feel (But Doesn’t Explain Why)
Estrogen dominance can feel like:
- PMS, PMDD, or painful periods
- Tender breasts
- Anxiety, moodiness, or irrational rage (yep — the kind that comes out of nowhere)
- Insomnia
- Heavy bleeding or irregular cycles
- Low libido or vaginal dryness
- Skin issues (especially breakouts or dryness)
If a practitioner stops here and says, "Let's balance your hormones," you’re missing the bigger picture.
High estrogen is not random.
It’s the top of the weed, not the root. If you don't address the actual root causes underneath it, your symptoms come back. Or worse, new ones pop up.
Root Cause #1: Liver Congestion (Your Detox Highway Is Jammed)
Your liver does a lot. But one of its key roles? Clearing out excess estrogen.
If your liver is congested, estrogen piles up. That’s when symptoms start.
There are TWO detox phases in the liver:
- Phase 1: Packages estrogen into water-soluble metabolites.
- Phase 2: Ships it out of the body (with the help of cofactors like SAMe).
Clogged either phase? Your body recirculates estrogen.
This is why blood work often fails you. It only shows your "top-line" estrogens — not whether you’re detoxing it. The Dutch Test, on the other hand, shows both phases.
If your high estrogen is liver-only? A solid liver protocol may be all you need.
Root Cause #2: Histamine Overload (The Anxiety-Hormone Feedback Loop)
Histamine is pro-estrogenic — meaning it increases estrogen.
But estrogen also increases histamine.
See the problem?
If you're stuck in this loop, you might deal with:
- Anxiety
- Allergies or food sensitivities
- Itchy skin, rashes, or hives
- Sleep issues
- Cyclical mood swings
What causes high histamine?
- Leaky gut (damages DAO production)
- Mold exposure
- Gut pathogens (C. diff, H. pylori)
- Copper toxicity (more on that below)
- Low stomach acid
- Poor methylation (you NEED it to clear histamine)
The worst part? Even "healthy" habits like taking antihistamines or eating fermented foods can make it worse if you don't address the gut + liver first.
Root Cause #3: Copper Toxicity (The Hidden Hormone Saboteur)
Copper is a sneaky one. You need it — but most women have WAY too much.
Why?
- Birth control (especially copper IUDs)
- Estrogen dominance itself
- Low adrenal function (you need adrenal output to detox copper)
Symptoms of copper overload look like:
- Hormone imbalance (especially estrogen)
- Anxiety or rage
- PMS/PMDD
- Histamine issues
It's a perfect storm.
To clear copper safely, you need to test (like HTMA), support your adrenals, and rebuild mineral balance (think: zinc + stomach acid).
Not a one-size-fits-all protocol. Do not DIY this.
Root Cause #4: Gut Microbiome Imbalance (A.K.A. The Estrobolome Problem)
There’s an entire subset of gut bacteria that clears estrogen. It’s called the estrobolome.
If it's out of whack? Your body reabsorbs estrogen instead of eliminating it.
Even worse? Some gut bugs produce beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme that increases estrogen recirculation.
To fix it, you need to:
- Identify what pathogens or imbalances you have (GI Map is best for this)
- Possibly support with calcium d-glucarate (short-term, not forever!)
- Rebuild healthy gut flora over time
This isn’t fixed with a probiotic. It’s a root cause problem, not a "gut health" trend.
Root Cause #5: Xenoestrogens (Estrogen-Like Toxins in Your Products)
Let’s talk xenoestrogens — fake estrogens found in:
- Fragrances (yes, your Bath & Body Works soap)
- Perfumes
- Candles
- Lotions, hair products, deodorants
Even IVF clinics ban fragrances. Why? Because these disrupt hormones so badly, they can prevent embryo implantation.
If you're serious about healing estrogen dominance, it's time to detox your products.
Go scent-free. Use real essential oils. Choose brands that are paraben and phthalate free.
It matters. A lot.
The Exact Tests You Need (And What They Reveal)
Here are the KEY tests to identify your root causes:
- Dutch Test: Checks estrogen detox pathways (Phase 1 + Phase 2)
- OAT (Organic Acids Test): Reveals mold, candida, mitochondrial issues
- GI Map: Shows beta-glucuronidase, parasites, bacteria, and digestive enzymes
- HTMA: Assesses copper levels + mineral imbalances
- Food Zoomer: Detects hidden food sensitivities
- Baking Soda Test: At-home test for low stomach acid (grab the instructions here)
These give you answers. No more guessing. No more random protocols.
Quick Recap: The 5 REAL Root Causes of Estrogen Dominance
- Liver congestion (especially Phase 1 + 2 detox blocks)
- Histamine overload (and its gut, mold, or enzyme roots)
- Copper toxicity (often hidden, often missed)
- Microbiome imbalance (hello estrobolome + beta-glucuronidase)
- Xenoestrogens (daily product exposure sabotaging your hormones)
FAQ: Estrogen Dominance + Root Cause Healing
Q: Can I fix estrogen dominance without birth control?
Yes! Birth control masks symptoms. It doesn't fix the cause. Addressing the real root causes is what brings true balance.
Q: Should I take DIM or Vitex for estrogen dominance?
Only if you know your detox pathways and enzyme needs. Otherwise, you could make things worse.
Q: Is estrogen dominance a real diagnosis?
It’s a pattern, not a root cause. It shows something is off — but it’s not why you’re off.
Q: How long does it take to fix estrogen dominance?
It depends on your root causes and your consistency. Some clients feel better in weeks. Others take 6–12 months.
Q: Do I need all these labs?
Not always! But running the right labs the first time saves time and money in the long run.
Ready to Get to the REAL Root?
You don’t have to keep cycling through supplements, diets, or doctors that don’t work.
Inside the Better Belly Blueprint, I show you exactly how to:
- Know your root causes with the right labs
- Read + interpret those labs
- Get proven protocols that work for YOU
It’s everything I used in private practice — now available at your pace, on your schedule.
Because healing shouldn’t be confusing.
Let’s fix this — for good.
Written by Allison Jordan, FDN-P — gut health specialist and founder of Better Belly Therapies
EPISODES MENTIONED:
- 98// 3 Things Adrenal Fatigue Is Telling You About Your Body
- 283// Stop Wasting Money on the DUTCH Test (Here’s Why)
- 233// H. Pylori: Symptoms of H. Pylori, How to Interpret H. Pylori Test Results, and Why H. Pylori Treatments Fail
- 234// Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth, How to Test for Candida, and Why the Candida Diet and Candida Cleanses Don't Work 😱(+ What to Do Instead!)
- 235// SIBO Symptoms, SIBO Testing, and Why SIBO Treatments Fail
- 236// Parasite Symptoms, Parasite Tests, and Why Parasite Cleanses Fail
- 237// C. Diff. Infection Symptoms, How C. Diff. is Spread, and Why Chronic C. Diff. is Missed
- 298// Low Stomach Acid Explained: A Real Root Cause of Acid Reflux, Candida, Constipation, and SIBO
- 159// Copper Toxicity: A Hidden Cause Behind Constipation & PMS
- 244// Is Copper Toxicity Behind Your Histamine Intolerance?
- 243// Histamine Intolerance: Symptoms, Treatment, and Diets to Avoid
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