Black Cohosh and Red Clover: Your Estrogen’s Badass Backup Plan

TransGirls listen up……

Let’s face it: dealing with hormones is a shitstorm. Whether you’re navigating menopause, trying to ease wicked PMS symptoms, or just looking for a way to stop feeling like an emotional dumpster fire because you are gender transitioning like me, finding balance is an uphill battle. And if you’re wary of synthetic hormones—or if you’ve already tried them and they’ve turned you into a raging lunatic—black cohosh and red clover might just be the natural miracle you didn’t know you needed.

But let’s be real here: are these plants as effective as estradiol (aka the big guns of hormone replacement)? The answer is a mixed bag. So grab a cup of tea (or a shot of whiskey, I’m not judging), and let’s break it down in plain-ass English.

WTF Is Estradiol, and Why Is It the Gold Standard?