Let's Seed Cycle

A couple of months ago, I taught a class for a lovely company called Two Moons. Through CorePower, companies can partner with instructors to lead a private class within our studios! Two Moons hosted a meditation session and vinyasa flow for their MIT employees. Of course, the flow I put together for class incorporated Half Moon and Hot Half Moon poses!

What is Two Moons?

Two Moons Health is a women-founded (a doctor and a lawyer!) company based in New York City that offers a modern approach to seed cycling through their Seed Cycle Capsules. Their product line includes two formulations: ZEST for the follicular phase and ZEN for the luteal phase. ZEST contains flax and pumpkin seeds, while ZEN includes sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, psyllium, and chaste-berry. These capsules are designed to simplify the seed cycling process and support hormonal health to potentially alleviate symptoms associated with PMS, PMDD, and perime

nopause. Two Moons emphasizes quality and sustainability. They produce their capsules in FDA-registered, GMP-certified facilities in the United States. Their vegan, organic, sugar-free, and gluten-free products reflect their commitment to natural and accessible hormone health solutions.

The company was generous enough to give me some of their products! I had never heard of seed cycling before this class, but I have come to find out this has become a trend. Most notably, for the past few years my friends and I have been talking about the effects of hormonal birth control and the uncertainty of the proper health for our bodies regarding hormones.

What is seed cycling?

Seed cycling is a holistic wellness practice designed to support hormonal balance throughout the menstrual cycle using nutrient-dense seeds to support hormonal balance. In the follicular phase, flax and pumpkin seeds are consumed to support estrogen levels, while in the luteal phase, sesame and sunflower seeds are taken to boost progesterone.

Proponents of seed cycling claim it can help regulate periods, reduce acne, treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and infertility, and ease symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and mood swings.

Follicular Phase (Days 1–14)

This phase begins with the first day of menstruation. During this time, estrogen levels gradually rise as eggs in the ovaries ripen. This increase helps build the uterine lining. Just before ovulation, the body releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), peaking around mid-cycle. After ovulation, the estrogen levels dip.

During this phase, flax and pumpkin seeds are consumed to support healthy estrogen levels and assist in estrogen metabolism. These seeds contain phytoestrogens and omega-3s, which may help modulate estrogen production.

Luteal Phase (Days 15–28)

Following ovulation, the luteal phase begins. Here, progesterone becomes the dominant hormone, working in tandem with estrogen to prepare the uterus for potential implantation. If no pregnancy occurs, both hormone levels fall, triggering menstruation.

This is when sesame and sunflower seeds come in. They provide zinc, selenium, and vitamin E, all nutrients thought to support progesterone production and reduce PMS symptoms like bloating, mood swings, and fatigue.

Two Moons provided me with a two-month supply of their ZEST and ZEN capsules, so of course, I had to give them a try! I’m now finishing up the last of the ZEN capsules, and while I haven’t noticed any drastic shifts in my mood, energy levels, or menstrual symptoms, I’ve been thinking a lot about why that might be.

One possible reason is that I’ve never experienced intense PMS symptoms prior to seed cycling.  Cramping, fatigue, and emotional swings have never really impacted me in a significant way, which I feel incredibly grateful for. Another factor could be how early I started using hormonal birth control. It’s something my friends and I talk about often; how little we actually remember about our natural hormonal rhythms and emotional patterns before going on birth control. For many of us, we were so young when we began taking it that it’s hard to tell what’s truly us and what’s a result of the medication.

In that sense, what am I comparing the results to? Still, it’s been interesting to tune in more intentionally to my body’s rhythms, even if the changes are subtle. It’s also opened my mind a bit more to the importance our health, hormones, and the often-unspoken impacts of long-term contraceptive use. Focusing on our hormone levels is so crucial because hormones act as the body’s internal communication system and influence nearly every aspect of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

 With gratitude,

Olivia