jaye
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Post by jaye on Aug 23, 2011 17:04:05 GMT -5
Anyone else taking Maca? Have you noticed any changes?
My naturopath prescribed it and I've been taking it religiously for only a month. I'm sort of looking forward to my next period (sort of!) to see if there is a difference.
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Post by redwood on Aug 24, 2011 12:33:47 GMT -5
I just looked this up and see that it's supposed to balance hormones - recommended for menopause, etc. But does it then increase estrogen levels? Or if you have high estrogen, will it increase your progesterone levels then? What did your NP say about how it works for endo? Let us know how it goes! I haven't heard of anyone taking it on here yet.
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jaye
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Post by jaye on Aug 25, 2011 8:46:32 GMT -5
My NP described it as feeding the endocrine system so it can do it's job properly. The assumption must be (? I'm no expert) that my endocrine system will order estrogen and progesterone in the right quantities.
He did have me drop coffee and alcohol (in addition to my other diet changes) to lower my estrogen amounts and he has me on fish oil and evening primrose oil to help with the good progesterones.
I'll def let you know how it goes! Unfortunately, I'm making so many changes at once, that it is going to be hard to know what is having what effect.
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Post by redwood on Aug 25, 2011 11:25:44 GMT -5
yeah, this is what happens to me too. I make too many changes at once and then don't know which (or all?) made the effect! I also don't drink coffee or alcohol and more or less follow the endo diet. I was strict about it for 2 months and actually, my pain was less those months, so maybe I need to try that again.
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jaye
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Post by jaye on Sept 22, 2011 7:58:21 GMT -5
update -
I've been taking Maca for 2 months now. I take 1 tsp per day of the raw organic maca powder.
The only other changes I have made in the 2 months is that I have stopped all dairy and gluten cheating (I was very good about the diet before but every once in a while I would sneak a little cheese or a cracker). I also have been taking magnesium, Fish oil, and evening primrose oils everyday.
So about a month ago I started waking up in the middle of the night. I'm usually a very sound sleeper. Now I'm to the point where I'm waking up a couple times a night.
And recently I experienced strong pre-menstrual mood swings and even a little depression. Both of these things are not like me. A normal period before this would have me crying at a goofy commercial or something but that was it and it was brief!
I'm thinking that only the Maca could be making these kinds of changes so am backing off of it a bit. Some of the stuff I've read online makes me think my NP should have prescribed it for half my cycle only and I should probably not be taking the raw maca.
Anyway, that's my update. I will post more as I figure it out.
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Post by Karen on Sept 22, 2011 18:16:37 GMT -5
I don't know anything about maca root, but I know we have one member who didn't do so well on evening primrose. If I recall correctly, borage oil (also called starflower oil) is similar in nature and she found it more tolerable. Might be something to look into?
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jaye
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Post by jaye on Sept 22, 2011 18:55:48 GMT -5
Interesting! Thanks Karen. I never suspected the evening primrose oil. I'll ask my NP about it.
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jaye
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Post by jaye on Sept 29, 2011 9:43:31 GMT -5
A little update... I'm staying on the Eve. Primrose oil and have dropped the maca to try to figure out which might be the culprit. I'm past the PMT stage but my insomnia seems to be going away.
I told my maya massage therapist/ acupuncturist about it yesterday. She said that Maca gives your endocrine system a boost and mine probably just didn't need it. That makes me feel like the crappy symptoms helped me figure out that my endocrine system seems to be working just fine.
So just maybe Maca would work fine in women who have a sluggish endocrine system.
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jaye
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Post by jaye on Oct 21, 2011 7:57:10 GMT -5
I'm more than a month from dropping the maca and have no more insomnia. I just started my period and I had no PMT symptoms this time. So the maca is a no-no for me.
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Post by Karen on Oct 21, 2011 17:14:24 GMT -5
Good to know! And glad you're feeling better!!
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jaye
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Post by jaye on Nov 23, 2011 15:25:01 GMT -5
I just wanted to mention that I recently read on Melissa's cure endometriosis blog about Maca and Eve. Primrose Oil not being a good combination. It sounds like some women experience more pain while taking both supplements. Wonder if that had something to do with my out-of-control estrogen dominance.
Maca is also a no-no with some Traditional Chinese medicines, too, according to her blog post.
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Post by Karen on Apr 27, 2012 16:48:09 GMT -5
She said that Maca gives your endocrine system a boost and mine probably just didn't need it. That makes me feel like the crappy symptoms helped me figure out that my endocrine system seems to be working just fine. So just maybe Maca would work fine in women who have a sluggish endocrine system. I went to the digestion lady yesterday and she's putting me on a new digestive enzyme. I just looked up the ingredients and saw that it has maca root (among many other things). I re-read this thread because I remember you didn't have a good experience, but then I ran into what you said about the endocrine system. That's specifically why she's having me try it - so I hope your practitioner was correct that it can help a sluggish system! I've been feeling a bit yucky the last few days so I won't start it for a few more days until I'm feeling a bit better. Don't want to make things worse just in case.
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jaye
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Post by jaye on Apr 28, 2012 10:50:27 GMT -5
Cool! Let us know how it works for you!
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Post by elizabell on Oct 21, 2015 19:02:43 GMT -5
I know this thread is old, but I wanted to comment on your restless nights while taking Maca. Maca should not be taken in the late afternoon as it can interfere with sleep. (I'm not sure what time of day you were taking it, but wonder if this may have been a factor.) Also, it seems to me that some women respond poorly to the raw maca powder. I would recommend a supplement like MacaHarmony instead.
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