Cyperus Rotundus Oil for PCOS: The PCOS Facial Hair Solution

I’m about to make a bold claim: Cyperus Rotundus oil might be a secret weapon against PCOS facial hair and hirsutism.

I know, I know. Big words. Especially from someone who has battled those annoying, stubborn dark chin hairs and sideburn fuzz myself and who is literally known for talking about root cause solutions for facial hair that don’t typically include topical treatments.  (We cover all of those in PCOS Facial Hair Freedom and they still stand!)

But here’s the thing: I have a personal story with this plant. And there’s intriguing science, albeit early science, that suggests Cyperus Rotundus oil for PCOS could help manage the symptoms of unwanted hair growth.

Why Do We Have Facial Hair in PCOS?

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, affecting up to 10-15% globally (Teede et al., 2018). One of its most frustrating symptoms?

Hirsutism .  This is just a fancy word for excess, coarse, dark hair in places women typically don’t grow much hair, like:

• chin
• upper lip
• chest
• lower belly
• thighs

It’s deeply tied to hormonal imbalances in PCOS.

What Causes Excess Hair Growth in PCOS?

The primary culprit: elevated androgens.

Androgens are hormones like:

• Testosterone
• DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate)
• Androstenedione

Women have these hormones too, just usually at lower levels. In PCOS:

The ovaries often produce excess testosterone due to higher levels of insulin, inflammation, or stress.

Insulin resistance increases androgen production even further.

These elevated androgens stimulate hair follicles in areas more typical for male-pattern growth. And those hairs grow thicker, darker, and longer.

Here’s a couple articles I wrote about facial hair that might help you explore more on the topic of hirsutism: How to Stop Facial Hair Growth Due to PCOS Naturally

6 Best Supplements for PCOS Facial Hair |Evidence Based & Effective

Powerful Benefits of Spearmint Tea for PCOS (& how to grow your own)

 

Key Science on PCOS Facial Hair:

70-80% of hirsutism cases are linked to PCOS (Spritzer, 2022, PMID: 36010272)

Elevated androgens cause hair follicles to switch from producing fine vellus hair to thick terminal hair.

Why Do We Have Dark Hairs With PCOS?

The reason PCOS hair is dark and coarse comes down to:

• Increased hair shaft diameter
• Higher melanin production in hair follicles (dark pigment)
• Prolonged growth cycles of terminal hair

So you’re not imagining things if those chin hairs are thicker than your eyebrows. It’s all hormone driven.  And that hormone, usually is something called DHT (dihydrotestosterone).  This is the most potent form of testosterone and uniquely known for it’s role in androgenizing hair follicles, making follicles that once grew peach fuzz start growing dark coarse hairs.

I cover all of how this process happens in PCOS Facial Hair Freedom but the basics go as follows:

1. Insulin Resistance and Testosterone

Many women with PCOS have some degree of insulin resistance.

• Normally, insulin helps move glucose (sugar) into your cells for energy.

• In PCOS, your cells don’t respond properly to insulin.

• So your pancreas pumps out more insulin to compensate.

That extra insulin isn’t harmless. It acts like a growth hormone on the ovaries, stimulating them to produce more testosterone. (Goodarzi, M.O. et al., 2011, PMID: 21263450)

• High insulin = high testosterone.

This is why blood sugar balance is crucial for PCOS, not just for weight or cravings but for hormone health.

2. Testosterone Converts to DHT

Some of that testosterone is converted by an enzyme called 5α-reductase into another hormone:

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

DHT is about 3-5 times more potent than testosterone in terms of androgenic effects.

• DHT binds strongly to androgen receptors in hair follicles.

• It triggers those follicles to produce thicker, darker hair.

So in PCOS:

• insulin resistance → higher testosterone → more DHT → more hair growth.

This is why managing insulin resistance can indirectly help reduce androgen levels and slow hair growth.

Once a hair follicle has been androgenized, it doesn’t go back to how it was.

• Before androgen exposure, a follicle produces vellus hair- soft, fine, nearly invisible hair.

• After repeated androgen stimulation, that same follicle starts making terminal hair– coarse, dark, thick hair.

Once this switch happens:

• The follicle is permanently programmed to keep making terminal hair.

• Lowering androgens might slow future hair growth but it rarely reverses existing terminal hairs back to peach fuzz.

This explains why women can get healthier hormones, lower insulin, and still have a few stubborn chin hairs popping up.

How Does Laser Work for PCOS?

Laser hair removal remains the gold standard for PCOS hirsutism.

• Laser targets melanin in hair follicles.
• It damages the follicle to reduce hair growth.
• Works best on dark hair and light skin.

Many PCOS women see great results with laser, but there are caveats.

Downsides of Laser Hair Removal for PCOS

I love laser hair removal (and even did it myself)!  It can work really well when your underlying hormones are more balanced but your follicles are just androgenized.  However, it’s not perfect for PCOS.

• If your androgenic hormones are still high, new hairs keep growing.
• You often need lifelong touch-ups.
• Expensive (can cost thousands over time).
• Less effective on fine, light-colored hairs.
• Risk of hyperpigmentation in deeper skin tones.

This is why many of us keep searching for natural options to slow regrowth.  We might turn to spearmint tea for pcos facial hair (which is another great adjunct I highly recommend).  We might look at spironolactone.  Or, I have a feeling soon enough, we may look at Cyperus Rotundus oil for pcos.

What is Cyperus Rotundus Oil? Cyperus Rotundus oil for PCOS

First, the correct spelling is Cyperus rotundus oil for pcos, but many supplement sellers and oil brands list it as “Cyprus Rotundus.” Both terms refer to the same plant.

Common names:

• Nutgrass
• Purple nutsedge
• Motha

It’s a perennial herb widely used in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Persian traditional medicine.

Traditional uses for cyperus rotundus oil | Cyperus Rotundus oil for PCOS

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Hormone balancing
• Hair growth modulation (Ayurveda texts mention it for excess hair)

The essential oil is steam-distilled from the rhizomes (roots).

How Does Cyperus Rotundus Oil for PCOS Work on Hair Follicles?

Here’s where it gets fascinating.  Several lab studies have found Cyperus rotundus oil has:

5α-reductase inhibitory activity.

Why does this matter?

5α-reductase is the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) like we mentioned before.

DHT is the super potent androgen responsible for stimulating hair follicles.

Blocking 5α-reductase may reduce androgen-driven hair growth.

Key Study:

A study published in the Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology in 2012 that found Cyperus Rotundus oil to be significantly better than placebo for reducing androgenic hair growth.

A newer study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2014) found cyperus rotundus oil as effective as the Alexandrite Laser for reduction of hair growth.

A study in the International Journal of Preventative Medicine (2025) put cyperus rotundus oil with other herbs and found statistically significant reductions in hair growth.

Other benefits:

• Anti-inflammatory compounds like flavonoids and terpenoids.
• Potential estrogen-modulating effects.
• In PCOS, where androgens run high, anything that gently lowers androgen action could help slow hair growth.
• Reduces hyperpigmentation of the skin (Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2022)

Cyperus Rotundus Oil Study

Probably the most interesting study is the research that compared the Alexandrite laser, saline, and cyperus rotundus oil in a clinical trial.  They found that the cyperus rotundus oil had similar efficacy to the laser and better outcomes on hair growth by not stimulating white hairs to grow, something laser sometimes does.  This is a really fascinating finding because it says that using the oil could be a realistic alternative to laser if you can’t afford it, don’t want to do it, or aren’t a good candidate.

How Cyperus Rotundus Oil Might Help PCOS Hirsutism

Here’s how Cyperus Rotundus oil for pcos could fit into a functional PCOS plan:

Used topically, it may slow new terminal hair growth.

Cyperus Rotundus oil for pcos is not likely to remove existing coarse hairs (you’ll still need laser or tweezers for that) but it could slow growth enough that you have to take care of it much less frequently.

It might reduce irritation and inflammation from hair removal.

It could be a gentle, affordable adjunct to other treatments.

My Personal Story with Cyperus Rotundus Oil for PCOS

 

I heard about cyperus rotundus oil for PCOS on tiktok.  My algorythm knows that one of my hyperfixation topics is hirsutism and pcos facial hair so I tend to get content about hair removal.  The video was a woman sharing her experience using cyperus rotundus oil on her armpits with good results and she shared about the study I mentioned above.

I hadn’t seen anyone talking about it’s use in PCOS but the mechanism of action of cyperus rotundus oil for pcos made sense to me: if it blocks 5 alpha reductase and that’s the main reason these hair follicles are “turning on”, then it might have the potential to mitigate new hair growth at minimum.  Alongside lifestyle changes, it might also help slow hair growth.

I had laser hair removal done years ago with good success.  I had worked diligently on my health and had normal insulin responses and reduced inflammation but the hair growth continued despite those efforts.  Other things I tried didn’t do much.  When I did laser, I was very happy with the results.

However, I was warned that hair growth often returns when hormones change and when I had my son and then went through menopause, my hair did come back.

I decided to try the cyperus rotundus oil for pcos as I’m waiting for the right time to get a touch up and within a day the hair growth had significantly declined.  Literally, I shaved like I always do and then used the oil on my armpits and face and by the next morning, the hair had only slightly regrown.  Within a few more days, the hair was growing in slower and much softer.

I waited a few days to say anything because it worked so fast I thought surely it was a fluke but it’s continued working ever since and I’m genuinely surprised this stuff isn’t more viral.  I really think cyperus rotundus oil for pcos will be a common treatment solution for hirsutism in the coming years.

Best Kind of Cyperus Rotundus Oil for PCOS to Buy?

If you’re curious about trying Cyperus Rotundus oil for PCOS, here’s the exact one I used.  As time goes on I will update this if newer, better options become available but for now this one is working very well for me!

Conclusion: Is Cyperus Rotundus Oil the PCOS Facial Hair Solution?

Here’s my functional medicine answer:

• Cyperus Rotundus oil for PCOS shows genuine promise.
• The science suggests cyperus rotundus oil for pcos could help slow new hair growth by inhibiting local androgen activity.
• It’s not a magic cure but it’s a gentle, natural tool worth exploring.
• My personal experience has been very positive and I will continue using it

If you’re struggling with PCOS hirsutism and tired of:

• painful waxing
• constant plucking
• laser costs

Cyperus Rotundus oil for pcos might be your new secret weapon.

As always, treat the root causes too:

• insulin resistance
• inflammation
• chronic stress

That’s how you truly tame PCOS from the inside out and how I set you up for success in PCOS Foundations.

Have you tried Cyperus Rotundus oil for PCOS facial hair? Let me know on Instagram @FunctionalPCOS. I’d love to hear your experiences!  I hope if you try Cyperus Rotundus Oil for your PCOS facial hair that it works for you!

And if you’re ready for a comprehensive guide to tackling PCOS from all angles, check out my Facial Hair Freedom Course.