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Ora Organic claims that Hormonious can stabilize your hormones, providing you with stable energy levels, hormonal acne relief, and better mood, and may also alleviate some PMS or menopausal symptoms.
But can Hormonious actually deliver on these claims, or are the ingredients in this formula not efficacious enough? What is the evidence behind them and what is the feedback from those real people who have tried it?
In this article, I’ll be looking at the scientific literature and help you understand whether or not Ora Organic’s Hormonious formula is worth it.
Brief Summary
- My dive into the scientific literature tells me that Hormonious lacks substantial evidence to prove some of the claims made in its favor, although it may still particularly be effective in the context of stress relief and reproductive health.
- At the same time, a look at the customer feedback extrapolated from third-party websites shows that most are happy with results— reporting results such as clearer skin and better mood.
- Hormonious is quite expensive at $1.20 per serving, although some may find the pricing justified due to the fact that Ora Organic is a more ethical brand and uses only organic ingredients.
Ingredient Analysis
Hormonious is a very unique formula because it is claimed to tackle issues stemming from hormonal imbalances with a blend of adaptogens that are typically used in the context of mental performance.
One ingredient that’s being used is organic acerola extract, which is touted for having the highest amount of vitamin C of any fruit out there.
Vitamin C is extremely popular because it is also an antioxidant, thus acting against oxidative stress, which is associated with hormonal imbalance. [1]
Oxidative stress is also associated with a panoply of conditions, like chronic inflammation, and may even impact thyroid hormones, which play a crucial role in metabolism and energy expenditure. It’s theorized that reduced thyroid function may slow metabolism and lead to weight gain. [2, 3]
There’s also recent evidence suggesting that higher vitamin C levels correlate with increased estrogen and progesterone levels, which opens the door to the idea that antioxidants play an important role in women’s reproductive health and fertility. [4]
As I’ve mentioned, Hormonious also has an adaptogen blend with herbs and fungi, but what’s the evidence behind each one?
Among the different ingredients in the blend, there are 4 noteworthy ones, namely maca, ashwagandha, cordyceps, and holy basil.
Well, maca has been widely marketed for improving reproductive and sexual health, but there is no strong research supporting its use for these goals.
A clinical study suggests that gelatinized maca, as found in this formulation, may hormone balancing effects. However, this study was based on rats, meaning the evidence isn’t particularly robust. [5]
Ashwagandha, which is among the most studied herbs in scientific literature, is best known for its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and stress-relieving effects [6, 7, 8, 9, 10], and it also appears to reduce cortisol levels. [8, 9, 10, 11, 12]
Because it enhances the body’s ability to withstand stress, it may help stabilize or even increase the production of other hormones.
For example, a study found that women experiencing menopause saw specific benefits from using ashwagandha. The herb increased estrogen levels while reducing follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. These changes contributed to an overall improvement in the quality of life for these women, particularly in alleviating menopausal symptoms. [13]
But again, although the evidence is promising, it’s not conclusive.
Cordyceps is a mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine that although it’s been shown to temporarily raise estrogen levels in rats, the evidence is not strong enough to assert that these effects would be the same in humans. [14]
Similarly, there’s Holy basil, another herb that’s purported as having pro-vitality benefits, but there’s no significant evidence to suggest it has special hormonal balancing effects— apart from the fact it contains some antioxidants.
Bottom line
Hormonious may contain ingredients that theoretically could have hormone-balancing effects, particularly in the context of stress relief and reproductive health. However, the scientific evidence supporting these claims is not consistent across all the ingredients and, in some cases, is only backed by animal studies.
Thus, while some ingredients may show promise, a clear and definitive statement that this supplement will balance hormones is not endorsed by current research.
What Do Real People Have To Say?
Given that the evidence is mixed when it comes to my analysis of the ingredients in this formula, I would like to provide you with opinions from real users.
Here’s a compilation of opinions taken from different third-party websites:
“It is almost a month I have been taking this ORA product and my skin has improved a lot!! My acne has been reduced and it did helped me in reducing my stress. I also sleep much better because I usually used to wake up in the middle of the night and it took me a while to get back to my sleep, now I don’t get up in the middle of my dreams. I will definitely buy a second bottle of this product!” – Erika
“3 stars because even though it didn’t really do anything, it didn’t screw anything up either. I used it as directed. Nothing much changed but maybe you have to do it for several months. But at $30 a bottle I’m not ready to find out ($1/day is fine if it worked…) Don’t expect miracles.” – Dana
“I am beyond happy I tried this supplement. It’s been life changing for me. I’m 32 and in the last 2 or so years I’ve been experiencing mood changes, acne around my eyebrows and upper lip, hair lost, and the worst was constant mild-high anxiety that intensified around my period. My Dr kept wanting me to get on anxiety medication and wouldn’t listen when I expressed concerns around my hormones. Day one, after only 1 pill, I immediately felt different physically. My foggy worrisome brain was so clear and relaxed. I haven’t felt anxious in almost a month. I didn’t have a bad acne breakout during my 1st period while on this. I feel with time I will notice changes to my hair as well. I definitely recommend trying this supplement.” – Felicia
“So I’ve only been taking these a short while. Maybe 2 weeks. I take one a day.. but I also take other ora products. I have recently been having lots of strange symptoms and even went to the doctor. Im currently waiting to see if I have endometriosis. Some of my symptoms were night sweats, pain in pelvis, lack of sex drive, acne, and always TIRED.. well.. so far I’ve noticed clearer skin (could have been the beayoutiful or the good skin day from ora as well) and holy moly I’ve been horny as hell! Sorry if TMI.. but I’m so glad because I was looking for something to help with my hormones without taking actual hormones. I think this is doing the trick. I’m eager to see if this lasts or if I see changes in any of my other symptoms.” – Tia Moody
Although there are reviews where people state that the supplement hasn’t done anything, the majority of the reviewers seem to be happy with the product, reporting reduced stress and clearer skin.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
One bottle of Harmonious costs $35.99, which is equivalent to $1.20 per serving, and in my opinion, it’s quite expensive.
However, some people may find that’s reasonably priced given that Ora Organic is a considerably more ethical brand and makes use of organic ingredients in every formulation.
Hormonious avoids any ingredients that have been proven to conflict with birth control pills.
Included in its formulation are maca and cordyceps, both known for potentially exhibiting phytoestrogenic activity within the human body, and while there are those that say that maca shouldn’t be consumed alongside birth control pills due to potential estrogenic effects being prevalent, to date, there are no specific studies indicating that maca should be avoided with oral contraceptives, and the general body of research on phytoestrogens has demonstrated that they are considered safe to use in conjunction with birth control pills.
With that being said, I would urge you to contact your healthcare provider to ensure you’re getting the most accurate information possible.
Ora Organic does not recommend taking Hormonious during pregnancy or nursing as some of the ingredients, like ashwagandha, may be harmful if taken during pregnancy.
Again, please contact your healthcare provider before you decide to take this supplement as some of the ingredients in this formula may not be safe during pregnancy, and it may also not be adequate during the lactaction phase.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
References:
1. Hormonal Imbalance-Associated Oxidative Stress and Protective Benefits of Nutritional Antioxidant, Frontiersin.org.
2. Hardbower DM, de Sablet T, Chaturvedi R, Wilson KT. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress: the smoking gun for Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric cancer? Gut Microbes. 2013 Nov-Dec;4(6):475-81. doi: 10.4161/gmic.25583. Epub 2013 Jun 28. PMID: 23811829; PMCID: PMC3928159.
3. Kochman J, Jakubczyk K, Bargiel P, Janda-Milczarek K. The Influence of Oxidative Stress on Thyroid Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Sep 10;10(9):1442. doi: 10.3390/antiox10091442. PMID: 34573074; PMCID: PMC8465820.
4. Mumford SL, Browne RW, Schliep KC, Schmelzer J, Plowden TC, Michels KA, Sjaarda LA, Zarek SM, Perkins NJ, Messer LC, Radin RG, Wactawski-Wende J, Schisterman EF. Serum Antioxidants Are Associated with Serum Reproductive Hormones and Ovulation among Healthy Women. J Nutr. 2016 Jan;146(1):98-106. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.217620. Epub 2015 Nov 18. PMID: 26581679; PMCID: PMC4700980.
5. Meissner HO, Mrozikiewicz P, Bobkiewicz-Kozlowska T, Mscisz A, Kedzia B, Lowicka A, Reich-Bilinska H, Kapczynski W, Barchia I. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (I) Biochemical and Pharmacodynamic Study on Maca using Clinical Laboratory Model on Ovariectomized Rats. Int J Biomed Sci. 2006 Sep;2(3):260-72. PMID: 23674989; PMCID: PMC3614604.
6. Pratte MA, Nanavati KB, Young V, Morley CP. An alternative treatment for anxiety: a systematic review of human trial results reported for the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Dec;20(12):901-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2014.0177. PMID: 25405876; PMCID: PMC4270108.
7. Fuladi S, Emami SA, Mohammadpour AH, Karimani A, Manteghi AA, Sahebkar A. Assessment of the Efficacy of Withania somnifera Root Extract in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo- Controlled Trial. Curr Rev Clin Exp Pharmacol. 2021;16(2):191-196. doi: 10.2174/1574884715666200413120413. PMID: 32282308.
8. Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Malvi H, Kodgule R. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Sep;98(37):e17186. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017186. PMID: 31517876; PMCID: PMC6750292.
9. Gopukumar K, Thanawala S, Somepalli V, Rao TSS, Thamatam VB, Chauhan S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract on Cognitive Functions in Healthy, Stressed Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Nov 30;2021:8254344. doi: 10.1155/2021/8254344. PMID: 34858513; PMCID: PMC8632422.
10. Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019 Dec 25;11(12):e6466. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6466. PMID: 32021735; PMCID: PMC6979308.
11. Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Joshi K. Body Weight Management in Adults Under Chronic Stress Through Treatment With Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Jan;22(1):96-106. doi: 10.1177/2156587216641830. Epub 2016 Apr 6. PMID: 27055824; PMCID: PMC5871210.
12. Remenapp A, Coyle K, Orange T, Lynch T, Hooper D, Hooper S, Conway K, Hausenblas HA. Efficacy of Withania somnifera supplementation on adult’s cognition and mood. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2022 Apr-Jun;13(2):100510. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2021.08.003. Epub 2021 Nov 25. PMID: 34838432; PMCID: PMC8728079.
13. Gopal S, Ajgaonkar A, Kanchi P, Kaundinya A, Thakare V, Chauhan S, Langade D. Effect of an ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) root extract on climacteric symptoms in women during perimenopause: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2021 Dec;47(12):4414-4425. doi: 10.1111/jog.15030. Epub 2021 Sep 22. PMID: 34553463.
14. Chang Y, Jeng KC, Huang KF, Lee YC, Hou CW, Chen KH, Cheng FY, Liao JW, Chen YS. Effect of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on sperm production, sperm motility and hormones in Sprague-Dawley rats. Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(5):849-59. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X08006296. PMID: 19051352.
