The complete guide to Balance
Balance is an organic, caffeine-free loose-leaf herbal tea formulated for menopause. It's a nine-herb blend built on shatavari root, red clover, sage and elderflower, with St. John's Wort, tulsi, nettle, lemon balm and dandelion leaf, and it's made for hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep and mood changes after your periods have stopped. Balance contains St. John's Wort, which interacts with many common medications, so read the safety section before you buy. $29 for a 65g pouch, about 30 cups, or $11.60 a month on subscription.
Read this first
Balance is the most active of our four blends, and that means it needs the most caution.
Do not drink Balance without speaking to your doctor or pharmacist first if you take:
Hormonal birth control. St. John's Wort reduces its effectiveness
Antidepressants, particularly SSRIs. Combining them carries a risk of serotonin syndrome
Blood thinners such as warfarin
Immunosuppressants, HIV medication, or certain cancer treatments
Diuretics, blood pressure medication, lithium, or diabetes medication. Nettle and dandelion leaf both have diuretic action
Any medication you take regularly. St. John's Wort changes how the liver processes a wide range of drugs
St. John's Wort can also increase sun sensitivity.
This isn't defensive fine print. St. John's Wort is in the blend because it has genuine evidence behind it for mood, and real activity cuts both ways. Bringing the ingredient list to your pharmacist is a two-minute conversation and it's free.
Who Balance is for
You've gone 12 consecutive months without a period
Hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your days and nights
You're waking repeatedly and not feeling rested
Mood changes and mental fog that arrived alongside the rest
Fluid retention and bloating
You're not taking any of the medications listed above
Who Balance is not for
Anyone on the medications listed above
Anyone still cycling. If you still get periods, Harmony is your blend
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Anyone with a hormone-sensitive condition, given the red clover and shatavari. Discuss with your provider first
Anyone with ragweed or daisy-family allergies, because of the dandelion
Full ingredients
Organic shatavari root, organic red clover, organic St. John's Wort, tulsi, organic nettle, organic lemon balm, organic dandelion leaf, organic elderflowers, organic sage.
What each ingredient is doing
Shatavari root. A classic herb in Ayurvedic tradition, used for women's health and through the menopausal transition. Traditional use is long, clinical evidence in menopause is limited.
Red clover. Contains isoflavones, plant compounds similar in structure to estrogen. The most studied herb in this blend for menopause, with reviews finding modest reductions in hot flash frequency in some trials and no significant effect in others.
St. John's Wort. Has meaningful research behind it for mood support. It's also the reason for the warnings above.
Tulsi (holy basil). An adaptogen in Ayurvedic tradition, used to support stress resilience.
Nettle. A traditional mineral-rich tonic with a gentle diuretic action, used for general vitality.
Lemon balm. A classic nervine, traditionally used to calm the nervous system and support sleep, with some research behind its use for stress and mood.
Dandelion leaf. Distinct from dandelion root. The leaf is used traditionally as a diuretic, which is why it's here for fluid retention and bloating.
Elderflowers. Traditionally used for their cooling and diaphoretic properties, meaning they support the body's own temperature regulation. A sensible inclusion for night sweats.
Sage. The herb with the longest traditional use for reducing hot flashes and night sweats, with some small studies behind it.
What it tastes like
Aroma: cooling and herbaceous, with soft floral notes from the elderflower.
Taste: refreshing but grounding. Green and herbal up front from the nettle and sage, softened by lemon balm and elderflower, with a warm, slightly sweet base underneath. It tastes like a functional tea rather than a dessert tea, which suits what it's for.
How to use it
Scoop 1 tablespoon of Balance into a mug of hot water
Steep 5 to 7 minutes, covered for a proper infusion
Drink 1 to 2 cups daily
Evening is the common choice, on the nights you're up or the days your system feels like it's wrestling with change
Because of the diuretic herbs, some women prefer to finish their last cup a couple of hours before bed
Honest expectations
Hot flashes are caused by declining estrogen affecting your brain's temperature regulation. No tea reverses that.
What the evidence supports most strongly for menopausal symptoms: cognitive behavioural therapy, keeping the bedroom cool, limiting alcohol, regular strength training, and hormone therapy, which remains the most effective medical treatment for vasomotor symptoms and carries a more nuanced risk profile than the headlines of the early 2000s suggested.
Herbal support sits alongside those, not instead of them. Red clover has modest and inconsistent trial support. Sage has smaller studies with some positive findings. St. John's Wort has better support for mood specifically.
We would rather tell you that than sell you a promise.
Safety and interactions
See the warnings at the top of this guide. In addition:
Red clover and shatavari contain compounds with estrogen-like activity. Check with your provider if you have a hormone-sensitive condition
Nettle and dandelion leaf both have diuretic action. If you take diuretics, blood pressure medication, lithium, or diabetes medication, speak to your pharmacist first
Lemon balm may affect thyroid function and can add to the effect of sedative medication
Sage should be avoided in high amounts during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Dandelion can cause reactions in people with ragweed or daisy-family allergies
Increased sun sensitivity is possible with St. John's Wort
Gluten-free, vegan, caffeine-free
How Balance differs from Harmony
Still getting periods? Harmony
12 months with none? Balance
Balance drops the uterine-support herbs entirely and adds mood, cooling and fluid-balance support, because the challenges shift once cycling stops.
Sizes and value
20g pouch, approx. 10 servings
65g pouch, approx. 30 servings, $29
Subscription, $11.60 per month for a 65g pouch
Shop Balance · See where every ingredient comes from
Educational information, not medical advice. Because this blend contains St. John's Wort, speak with your doctor or pharmacist before use if you take any regular medication.
