If you’re a woman in her 30s or early 40s who has yet to enter perimenopause, you might be the outlier and not the norm. Menopause is arriving earlier than ever, and it’s not always a slow, predictable process. New research suggests that the age of menopause is trending downward; for some, ovarian function is declining before they’ve even finished paying off student loans. According to a 2025 epidemiological study published in Scientific Reports, the average age of menopause in industrialized countries has slipped by up to 30 years, “from being around 65 to 75 years old to now being between 35 and 45 years old.” [1]  Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is also rising. [2] These numbers challenge the narrative that early menopause is rare. 

What’s behind this trend? Genetics plays a role, but there’s still a lot more to the picture. Environmental toxins, chronic stress, dietary habits, and the gut microbiome are being increasingly recognized by scientific researchers and health practitioners as significant factors in ovarian aging. Your organs are talking to your ovaries in ways that mainstream medicine often fails to acknowledge. We’re here to help you face the truth with facts. Let’s explore which natural interventions, from foods and herbs to lifestyle pivots, may help you slow down the timeline.

Early Menopause 101: More Than Just Hot Flashes

In the United States, natural menopause typically occurs around age 51, when ovarian egg production ceases and estrogen levels decline, reflecting the depletion of ovarian follicles. But recently, some reports have revealed that early menopause is striking young women before age 30. Early menopause — defined as onset before age 45 — affects roughly five percent of women. In contrast, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), or premature menopause, occurs before age 40 and impacts approximately one percent of women. [3] It’s alarming to think that POI is now increasingly reported in women under 30, with estimates of one in 1,000 women in that age group experiencing this condition. [4]

Facing this reality head-on, the ripple effect health consequences of early estrogen loss cannot be ignored. Women experiencing premature or early menopause face heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive decline. [6] For instance, a 2019 large-scale, cross-country study published in Lancet Public Health demonstrated that, compared to women whose menopause occurred at ages 50–51, those with premature menopause (<40 years) had a 55 percent higher risk of non-fatal cardiovascular events. Those with early menopause (40–44 years) had a 30 percent increased risk. It’s no longer an option to remain content with mediocre symptom management options. Instead, we must demand that health researchers and practitioners help women identify and address the underlying causes that support their long-term reproductive and overall health.

The Gut-Ovary Connection: Why Your Microbiome Matters

Modern science is increasingly pointing to the gut as a central player in hormone regulation. But, many holistic health advocates wonder: Is enough attention being given to the estrobolome? That’s the collection of gut bacteria with genes capable of metabolizing estrogen. Together, they play a critical role in recycling and regulating estrogen levels. When this microbial ecosystem is disrupted, estrogen clearance accelerates, leading to imbalances that may contribute to premature ovarian decline. [7] One particular bacterium of growing interest is Akkermansia muciniphila, known for maintaining the gut lining, reducing systemic inflammation, and improving metabolic health. Lately, celebs like Halle Berry have been popularizing the term.

Research suggests that reduced abundance of Akkermansia is linked to insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation, all of which intersect with estrogen balance and ovarian function. [8, 9] Low levels of this bacterium may indirectly stress the ovaries and accelerate menopausal changes. Dietary and lifestyle choices significantly shape your inner ecosystem. High sugar intake, ultra-processed foods, antibiotic use, and low-fiber diets are now believed to have the potential to decrease Akkermansia abundance. [10] On the other hand, prebiotics and polyphenol-rich foods such as pomegranate, berries, and green tea support the growth of Akkermansia and help regulate estrogen recycling through the estrobolome.

Other Organs Involved in Hormone Vitality

Your liver is the unsung hero of estrogen metabolism. It detoxifies hormones, preventing imbalances that can stress ovarian function. Supporting liver health benefits the entire endocrine system. If you’re looking for a gentle daily detox ally, our Liver Protector combines milk thistle, dandelion root, artichoke leaf, turmeric, and other traditional botanicals to nourish the liver, optimize detoxification, and protect hormonal balance.

Furthermore, gut-brain-adrenal interactions are critical. Dysregulation of the HPA axis increases cortisol, interfering with estrogen metabolism and ovarian reserve. Dysbiosis increases inflammation, which stresses both adrenal and ovarian function. The bottom line: chronic stress isn’t just an emotional burden; it can be an unwanted ovarian accelerant, too. Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil, found in our Inner Peace and Womb Whisperer, support the modulation of the body’s stress response, nourish adrenal health, and support hormone balance. When paired with restorative movement, meditation, and sleep hygiene, these plant partners offer immediate and long-term support for your ovarian longevity.

Chronic systemic inflammation is another key driver of ovarian decline. Modern diets, which are often high in sugar, ultra-processed foods, and inflammatory fats, create oxidative stress that damages ovarian follicles and accelerates the aging process. Reducing this burden with anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrients can help protect reproductive health and overall vitality. One deeply nourishing herbal supplement is our Healing Body, a blend of turmeric, ginger, holy basil, rosemary, and fulvic acid. Together, these botanicals may decrease inflammation, support circulation, and ease everyday aches and pains, making it especially supportive during perimenopause, menstrual cycles, or whenever physical discomfort slows you down.

Your Fertility Journey: A Constellation of Changes

In Japan, menopause is referred to as kōnenki (更年期), a term that conveys a sense of transformation rather than decline. Think of a “period of renewal,” or “season of change.” Unlike the Western notion of menopause as an endpoint, kōnenki reflects a holistic life transition into maturity, wisdom, and reprioritized purpose. This cultural framing influences how Japanese women perceive and report menopausal experiences, shifting the energetics of this time from one of loss to that of progression and balance. [11] Traditional dietary patterns reinforce cultural attitudes around kōnenki. Staples such as miso, natto, tofu, and other soy-based foods are abundant dietary sources of phytoestrogens. In the early 2000s, a landmark Japanese cohort study found that women with higher soy consumption experienced significantly fewer and less severe hot flashes, so much so that women in the highest tertile of soy intake had roughly half the incidence of moderate to severe hot flashes compared to those with the lowest intake.

Other traditional medical systems have similarly acknowledged that ovarian decline is not simply a matter of dwindling egg reserves but part of a broader constellation of changes in organ systems, energy circulation, and life rhythms. In Chinese Medicine, reproductive aging is framed through the lens of Kidney yin and yang deficiency, often coupled with Liver qi stagnation. The kidneys are regarded as the root of reproductive vitality, storing the Jing, or essence, that governs fertility and longevity. [12] As this essence becomes depleted, menstrual cycles shorten, and vitality wanes. Herbs such as Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) are prescribed for their direct effects on menstrual regularity, and for their ability to enrich blood, replenish yin, and anchor the yang, ensuring that the foundation of reproductive health remains stable.

Ayurveda, in contrast, situates reproductive aging within the broader framework of the doshas, emphasizing Vata as the principal force of decline. When Vata becomes excessive, it accelerates depletion, manifesting as dryness, irregular cycles, nervous system fragility, and premature aging. [13] Classical Ayurvedic rasayanas such as shatavari and ashwagandha are revered for their ability to nourish ojas (vital essence), restore hormonal harmony, and buffer the nervous system against the effects of stress and overexertion. These herbs are considered deeply rejuvenative tonics that may slow the unraveling of reproductive and systemic vitality.

Persian Medicine offers yet another vantage point, one that highlights the necessity of maintaining healthy blood and balanced digestion as the basis for reproductive resilience. Reproductive health is viewed as an extension of the body’s overall humoral balance, in which warmth and adequate nourishment of the blood are critical. Herbal strategies include blood-building and warming plants, alongside those that protect digestive fire, ensuring that nutrients are assimilated and converted into reproductive strength.

→ Keep reading here about the most sacred remedies from the Persian apothecary.

Plant Paths to Support Mind, Body & Soul

When we examine all of these traditions side by side, it’s evident how closely their frameworks parallel emerging biomedical insights into the gut-hormone axis, endocrine regulation, and systemic aging. Herbs long used in traditional healing systems to strengthen digestion, cleanse the liver, and nourish blood now appear to have concrete proof: for modulating pathways involving estrogen metabolism, gut lining integrity, and stress-related endocrine cascades. Our Womb Whisperer, which combines chaste tree berry, shatavari, and key adaptogens like cordyceps, synergetically supports the essence of your feminine vitality. Each herb plays a distinct role supporting pituitary-ovarian signaling, buffering stress, nourishing tissues, and optimizing energy metabolism, forming a comprehensive natural approach.

The common symptoms of early or premature menopause are deeply physiological, linked to inflammation, cortisol dysregulation, and estrogen decline. They include irregular or absent periods, hot flashes and night sweats, mood disturbances such as anxiety and irritability, sleep disruption, cognitive fog or memory lapses, joint discomfort, and decreased bone density. [5] Brain fog, irritability, and emotional shifts also often accompany early menopause. Wild Wholistic blends may help bring your mind, body, and soul into balance again. The Elevated Mind, with saffron, ginkgo biloba, and turmeric, supports mental clarity, mood regulation, and neuroprotection. Our new Serene Soul tea with saffron, Damask rose, and cardamom offers a calming daily ritual that supports digestion, gut-brain communication, and emotional balance.

Because estrogen plays a critical role in protecting bone density, its natural decline accelerates the risk of osteoporosis. Alongside hormonal changes, ensuring consistent intake of calcium, magnesium, and trace minerals is essential for long-term skeletal strength. Pearl of the Sea provides highly bioavailable forms of calcium, magnesium, and zinc — nutrients that bridge skin vitality, hormonal resilience, mineral nourishment, and endocrine health. Yet minerals alone are not enough. Our botanical formulations are designed to complement lifestyle interventions, providing targeted, non-synthetic support where the body needs it most: 

✔  Gut support → The Earth Drops, The Nourished Body
✔  Liver support → The Liver Protector
✔  Hormonal & reproductive support → Womb Whisperer, Ethereal Essence, Karkum
✔  Nervous system & mood support → Inner Peace, The Elevated Mind, Serene Soul
✔  Inflammation & pain support → The Healing Body
✔  Bone, mineral & sleep support → Pearl of the Sea

Your ovaries communicate constantly with your gut, liver, adrenals, and brain. When these systems are nurtured, ovarian health thrives; when they are stressed, ovarian aging accelerates. Healing is never passive. The body responds to what we give it, moment by moment. For instance, The Earth Drops supports the microbiome with fulvic and humic acids and trace minerals, nourishing “good bacteria” like Akkermansia. The Nourished Body, our best-loved superfood blend, provides fiber and micronutrients to support a thriving gut and healthy estrogen metabolism. Repeat after me: early menopause is not inevitable. 

Early menopause is real, and it is rising. However, it is also often preventable. Paying attention to the body’s whispers — subtle shifts in energy, mood, or cycles — can reveal where care is needed most. Cultivating resilience, honoring natural rhythms, and leaning into the profound partnership between plants, lifestyle, and the body is not “alternative medicine,” it is the original path to supporting the body’s innate intelligence. When we tune in, nourish deeply, and act with intention, we’re not merely reclaiming our hormones, but our ancestral feminine power.

---

*Disclaimer: While herbal medicine has been used for centuries, they are complementary wellness practices and should not replace professional medical advice or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before introducing new herbal supplements to your wellness routine or changing your herbal protocol.