Topic: Know anything about Maca for women? (hormones, etc)
Hoosiers51
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Member # 15759
posted
I have read a lot of good things about this stuff...Maca root....it helps your thyroid, helps balance out hormones in the direction that a lot of us need (helps those with estrogen dominance, etc). I also read it ties into helping adrenal exhaustion somehow.
I'm not saying I stand behind those claims, just saying those are things I have read online, on various blogs by people who are into natural healing, real food, etc.
I am too brain-fogged lately to do a lot of solid research. I think I'm just gonna ask my LLMD about it.
But was wondering if any of you here take it, or have heard good things about it.
Some people say it helps their energy. It is also used for women with cramps, PMS, and I have heard of it used for women with cysts, etc in their uteruses.
So I was thinking of giving my mom some, because she is having problems with fibroids in her uterus, and her uterus is growing. (Doctor said there is nothing they can do but surgery) She is also going through menopause. So when I told her this helps those with estrogen dominance, she was like, "well, it seems like I need MORE estrogen." So that made me think maybe I shouldn't give it to her? I dunno, that is my question #2, if anyone wants to take a stab at it.
But mainly just wanting to see if you guys know anything about Maca, like has an ND recommended it for you, etc.
She mentions Maca in #4. She also mentions it helped her melasma (discoloration on the face, sometimes due to adrenal exhaustion), and I am starting to get that. I never knew what it was until I read her blog, and I was like, "omg, I have that too!"
But then if you scroll down and read the comments, this lady "Jessica" (towards the very end) says, "also, on the maca powder....I read it can be bad for the goiter on the thyroid...have you researched that?"
And I dunno, that is making me second guess it? So I thought I'd see what you guys know, if anything.
There are a lot of questions here...not meaning to confuse anyone...just wanting to know if you have heard this stuff is thumbs up or thumbs down.
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Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Hoosiers51
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posted
Thanks, Bea, and thanks, Carol.
Wow, Bea...I never realized Nutramedix sells it! I went online and ordered it for myself from iherb.com. The NOW brand had good reviews, but if it doesn't work, I'll try Nutramedix, since you say that brand helped.
Carol,
Do you know of anything that might help her with the fibroids? Her uterus is actually swollen from them, and it's making her uncomfortable, making her belly stick out, etc.
The doctors say the only thing they can do is surgery, but I'm sure there has got to be something natural that will help shrink them. It's not bad enough for her that surgery would be worth it right now. She already takes Cod Liver Oil, if that matters.
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Maca can be extremely stimulating. I would not think it good at all for anyone with the kind of adrenal stress that lyme patients experience.
Maca can also be too stimulating for anyone with irregular hearth rhythm, as seen often with lyme.
In a formula, it might be okay, depending upon what else is in the formula and how that is balanced.
However, I would not touch Maca with a ten-foot pole - even for someone without lyme (your mother?). It is a very strong herb and only the very best ND should be prescribing that, only after a personal evaluation of the patient.
Rhodiola is a wonderful herb. That, too, though needs respects so start very slowly, early in the day. Don't start at a full dose all at once as it can be a bit too energizing all at once. It's also best in a formula for anyone very sensitive to stimulation. Still, it is fabulous as an adaptogen. -
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Hoosiers51
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posted
Keebler,
On that blog I posted a link to, the author was insinuating it can help adrenal problems, and thyroid...and I'm pretty sure she meant "heal."
I'd have to go back and read to see her exact words. So are you pretty sure it would add to adrenal stress?
Thanks! And Happy New Year, everyone!
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Keebler
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- I think a lot of formulas use it to give a "kick" and that is far too strong for many with such weak systems. And how is someone to know that?
I would only consider this in a formula, and then only under the consultation of an experienced ND who was extremely knowledgeable about my body and my reactions.
Remember that many companies claim boosting is good. For many people, boosting is dangerous.
I'm very cautious about using any herbs for energy or stimulating any body function. Partly because I've had some bad experiences and flew to the moon from stuff that barely phased someone else who may have suggested it to me.
You will find no one here more in love with the world of herbal medicine than I. However, herbal medicine can be a very complex system and an experienced naturopathic doctor's knowledge is essential to a good match between plant and patient.
I'll see if I can find some links but most of what I've read about Maca has been in books - or I remember what some NDs told me about it. So I'm not sure I have any handy notes from my file. ,
If you consider this, I would read from at least six authors with degrees, not connected to a site that sells it, or if their site sells it, be sure the research they offer is from 3rd party sources, backed with citations.
I'll see if I did save any computer notes on this and come back if I find those. -
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Keebler
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- Plenty of 3rd party research can be found at these links at Rain-Tree Nutrition:
On this page, the link to PubMed leads to 52 abstracts on MACA.
=================
An excerpt from the first link above:
" . . . The main amino acids that these neurotransmitters require include phenylalanine, tyrosine, and histidine (all three of which are found in good supply in maca). . . ."
-------
The reason for an ND to say this would not be good for me may be the phenylalanine as anyone (like I) with a seizure disorder has to be careful of how much phenylalanine they consume.
Also, since Maca is immuno-stimulating and, as we know with lyme, that can be dangerous for an immune system that is partly exhausted and partly just confused and sluggish due to lyme being able to hide so well.
Rhodiola was felt to be a better choice and, even that, only in a balanced formula.
Maca does sound like a good herb in the right hands for the right person with a good amount of respect for it. I'm not saying it's bad, just be aware of the stimulating properties and that many herbs are marketed to take advantage of that.
Rain-Tree is an excellent site, all the way around. It's just not written for those with particular health diagnoses so that is why I'm such a fan of individualized care with a degreed professional. -
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Keebler
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- This author is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in women's issues. She is a professor at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon.
Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness
By Tori Hudson, ND
You can look inside the book and read customer reviews.
--------------
I did not search the index for "fibroids" but it's easy to use the search feature at the link.
I searched the book for ``Maca'' - there are eight mentions of it (other than in the index).
You can read the brief description on Page 22-23 but I was not able to connect to the rest.
The book is just $17. And some libraries also carry it. It's a great reference book for any woman. Those with lyme + co. would need more specific instruction but this is a wonderful book of basics.
-
[ 01-02-2010, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
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posted
Also note the amino acid profile of maca, which has an arginine-lysine ratio of almost 2-1. For those with herpes viruses (which is said to be the case with most patients), it could stir up some of the latent viruses. Just a thought about a possibility; nothing more.
-------------------- My biofilm film: www.whyamistillsick.com 2004 Mycoplasma Pneumonia 2006 Positive after 2 years of hell 2006-08 Marshall Protocol. Killed many bug species 2009 - Beating candida, doing better Lahey Clinic in Mass: what a racquet! Posts: 830 | From Mass. | Registered: Aug 2006
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Carol in PA
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quote:Originally posted by Hoosiers51: Do you know of anything that might help her with the fibroids?
Possibly systemic enzyme therapy.
You can google to find information. Carol
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Hoosiers51
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posted
Thanks for the info.
This post keeps getting bumped to the top, yet Carol's post is always the last one.
Does anyone know why that's happening? It is freaking me out! It has happened like 4 times!
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Keebler
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posted
- The computer gnomes must like MACA. -
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Hoosiers51
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posted
Haha.
Hmmm...I wonder if Carol is doing it?
Carol, are you erasing your post and then pasting it back here??? Playing a trick on me?
Because her post says 1-14-2010, but it has been there for awhile.
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2roads
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I don't know anything about it, but it seems like what I need.
Awesome!
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Carol in PA
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quote:Originally posted by Hoosiers51: This post keeps getting bumped to the top, yet Carol's post is always the last one.
Does anyone know why that's happening? It is freaking me out! It has happened like 4 times!
Yes, and you never acknowledge that you've seen my information.
Carol
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Hoosiers51
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Oh, sorry! Yes, saw it!
My computer has been finicky, so I don't always respond....it takes a long time for the pages to load and I get impatient.
I also assumed you knew I saw it, since I've been on almost everyday.
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posted
I had a strong allergic reaction to it, probably due to the fact, that this plant belongs to the "Brassicaceae". German wikipedia says, it does not have an endocrinological effect, meaning hormonal changes were not observed.
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