Seed Cycling for Hormone Balance: A Gentle, Natural Ritual to Support Your Cycle
I discovered seed cycling during a period of my life filled with uncertainty.
My cycle was irregular. I had cysts on my ovaries. And even though I deeply wished to become a mother one day, I worried my body wouldn’t know how.
Around a year before I got pregnant, I began studying fertility and hormones more seriously. I was reading every book I could find. I enrolled in my health coaching program at IIN, where I learned about nourishing the body instead of fighting it. And everywhere, in books, in courses, in conversations, seed cycling kept appearing.
At first I thought: “Really? A bunch of seeds will fix my hormones?”
But there was only one way to find out.
So I bought them all. Flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds, and I started experimenting. I added them to my morning porridge, rolled them into energy balls, sprinkled them over salads. It wasn’t difficult. Actually… it was delicious. Crunchy, grounding, and full of nutrients my body had been craving without me knowing.
Little by little, something shifted.
My cycle turned into a more regular rhythm.
My ovulation became more predictable.
My skin changed. Oke, this was also because I drank less alcohol and ate healthier food in general.
But I felt, slowly but very clearly, that my hormones were finding their way home.
Seed cycling wasn’t the only thing I tried.
I also explored herbs like shatavari and maca (read more about these herbs here), and I worked deeply on lifestyle and nourishment. But seed cycling became the ritual I could rely on daily, a simple, nourishing act of care.
The only difficult thing?
Remembering which seeds to take on which days.
That’s exactly why I created The Nourished Cycle Calendar 2026, so you have a beautiful daily reminder hanging in your kitchen, guiding you through seed cycling, your inner seasons, moon phases, and your cycle days.
But first… let’s go deeper into what seed cycling really is and how it works.
What Is Seed Cycling?
Seed cycling is a natural, gentle method to support hormone balance using four types of seeds rotated across your menstrual cycle.
Follicular Phase (On average day 1-14, menstruation → ovulation).
Flax seeds + Pumpkin seeds
→ support healthy estrogen levels and detoxification
Luteal Phase (On average day 15–28 — ovulation → menstruation)
Sesame seeds + Sunflower seeds
→ support progesterone production and reduce PMS
You take 1 tablespoon of each seed daily, ideally freshly ground. It’s simple, nourishing, and easy to integrate into real life.
Where Seed Cycling Comes From (Ancient Roots + Modern Wisdom)
Seed cycling may feel like a modern wellness ritual, but its roots are much older. Women have used seeds to support fertility, hormonal balance, and menstrual health for centuries. You see it across different cultures and healing traditions:
Ayurveda (India)
Seeds like sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, and flax have long been used to nourish reproductive health, support digestion, balance hormones, and strengthen ojas — the deep vitality that supports fertility.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Sesame and flax are used to nourish yin, support the liver (important for estrogen metabolism), and harmonize the menstrual cycle.
Folk Traditions Around the World
In Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Indigenous cultures, seeds were part of fertility rituals, postpartum nourishment, and natural cycle care. They were always seen as life-giving — tiny carriers of nutrients and renewal.
The Modern Protocol
The structured method we now call “seed cycling”, flax + pumpkin in the follicular phase, sesame + sunflower in the luteal phase — was shaped by naturopathic doctors in the late 20th century. They combined ancient nutritional wisdom with modern endocrinology and hormonal science.
Practitioners like Dr. John Lee inspired many naturopaths to search for food-based ways to support natural progesterone and estrogen, and seeds became a simple, accessible, nourishing tool.
Today, seed cycling is taught in integrative health schools (like IIN, where I learned about it), shared by midwives and nutritionists, and used by women all over the world who want to reconnect with their hormonal rhythm in a gentle, natural way.
Why Seed Cycling Works
Each phase of your cycle needs different nutrients.
Seed cycling provides exactly that.
Follicular Support
Flax & Pumpkin Seeds contain:
lignans → help balance estrogen
omega-3 fats → reduce inflammation and regulate hormones
zinc → supports healthy ovulation
fiber → helps detox excess estrogen
Luteal Support
Sesame & Sunflower Seeds contain:
vitamin E → essential for natural progesterone production
selenium → supports the thyroid
B-vitamins → calm the nervous system
healthy fats → stabilize mood and energy
Even though large clinical trials on seed cycling itself are limited, the research behind these individual nutrients is strong. Many women, including me, notice real changes after 2–3 cycles.
Who Benefits Most From Seed Cycling?
Seed cycling is especially supportive if you experience:
irregular cycles
PMS
painful ovulation
cysts
acne
mood swings
low progesterone
postpartum cycle changes
perimenopause shifts
trying to conceive
coming off hormonal birth control
Even women using Mirena, implant, or mini-pill benefit, because nourishing your liver, gut, skin, mood, and minerals is supportive no matter what.
And if your cycle is irregular or absent, you can follow the moon cycle:
New Moon = Follicular Phase
Full Moon = Luteal Phase
This creates rhythm until your body finds her own again.
How to Start Seed Cycling (Step-by-Step)
Menstruation → Ovulation
✔ 1 tbsp flax
✔ 1 tbsp pumpkin
Ovulation → Menstruation
✔ 1 tbsp sesame
✔ 1 tbsp sunflower
Add them to:
smoothies
porridge
salads
soups
yoghurt bowls
energy balls
If you’re anything like me in the beginning… you’ll forget which seeds when.
It’s normal. This is why I created The Nourished Cycle Calendar, so you always know exactly what to take, which season you’re in, and how to nourish your body accordingly.
What Results You Can Expect
Most women notice shifts after 2–3 cycles:
less PMS
softer mood dips
less bloating
more regular periods
clearer skin
more stable energy
easier ovulation
deeper sleep in luteal phase
If you’ve been on birth control for many years, or if you’re postpartum, it may take 3–6 cycles. Your body heals like nature slowly, softly, in its own timing.
My Inspiration for Creating The Nourished Cycle Calendar
When I started seed cycling, I kept forgetting:
“Was it flax today? Or sesame?”
That’s one of the reasons why I created The Nourished Cycle Calendar 2026, a piece of daily guidance you can hang in your kitchen. A reminder of your cycle, the moon, the seasons, and all the nutrients, lifestyle, movement and rest your body needs.
Inside the calendar you’ll find:
seed cycling reminders
cycle tracking
moon phases
seasonal rituals
hormone-friendly nourishment tips
QR codes linking to my online magazine with recipes and articles to deepen your journey
It’s a soft, loving companion for your hormonal health and a beautiful gift for yourself or a woman you love.
