I love Maca Root and I have promoted it heaps on this blog, so I thought I better tell you what I have discovered about it recently. A few weeks back, I had a few girls email me and describe that they had experienced worse pain after going on Maca Root. I found this incredibly hard because Maca had given me nothing but good results. I couldn’t figure it out and started to get quite concerned that I had recommended something that was perhaps not beneficial to all of us with Endometriosis and that it might actually be causing some girls harm – which is so not what this is blog is about!
So, my research began to find out why this could be or if in fact there was a side-effect to taking Maca Root, which I wasn’t aware of.
If you are not familiar with Maca Root, please read this article I did on it a while ago.
Maca Root is a vegetable plant and it essentially reduces Endometriosis symptoms by regulating all our hormones. This means all of them together – not trying to reduce one or the other, depending on what our imbalances are. It will also regulate our thyroid gland – which has to do with feeling cold all the time. If we have Oestrogen Dominance, it will work out which hormone is less and get the body to create more of the hormone we need. So, in other words, it regulates it all and lets the body determine what it needs and in what quantities.
This is where the problem steps in…..
If we then combine our treatment for Endometriosis with hormone specific treatment using phytoestrogens, it will actually makes our pain and symptoms worse. So, if we take any phytoestrogens as a supplement (Dong Quai, Soy Products, Black Cohosh, Coumestrol, Vitex/Chasteberry) they directly interfere with Maca. The Chinese herbal pharmacopeia contains many such herbs and they do not generally combine well with maca root. So, check this first before combining chinese medicine with Maca.
Why is this?
Well, phytoestrogens create more Oestrogens in the body. The Maca only regulates what is supposed to be there and gets the body to produce it’s own when there is too little of one or the other.
Basically, oestrogen and progesterone work as a partnership. If one is too dominant, then the other needs to step up. So, if we are Oestrogen dominant, it means we are more likely to be progesterone low. If one added more progesterone, it will lower the Oestrogen levels, so both are in balance again. This is what Maca does so well. It allows the body to work this out all on it’s own. The reason Phytoestrogens cause such problems is because they are in very high quantities in the body. Please read this article on more specific information on why phytoestrogens are not recommended for Endometriosis.
So, at the end of it all, we shouldn’t combine Maca with ANYTHING hormone related. This includes any phytoestrogens, progesterone creams, DIM and even Evening Primrose Oil.
The good news is, that essentially you could save yourself a whole heap of money by just sticking with Maca :) and there is no guess work with Maca – your body can work it out. I have always been hesitant with progesterone creams/ drops etc because how do we know when to stop? Surely, we can get the balance to go the wrong way – the other way around too?
The Chinese herbal pharmacopeia contains many such herbs and they do not generally combine well with maca root.
So, now we understand a little about why Maca and other stuff don’t mix well, we kinda need to decide which way to go on this one. Personally, I love my Maca and will probably stick with that. If I decide to explore any Chinese Medicine or anything else….I will make a point of stopping my Maca supplements first!
Did you have an adverse reaction from Maca? Were you taking Phytoestrogens at the time? Would love to hear your experiences :)
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND UPDATES:
I have more recently discovered that Maca is more progesterone encouraging which is great for us endo girls. This means it will encourage more progesterone in our bodies, which many of us are low on.
It is also important not to take Maca continuously, every day at the same time of the day. It is better to take it randomly. The hormones work better when we mix it up a little. It needs to be unexpected. So, take it one day, not the next or have a break for 3 weeks and then take it again. The best days of the month to take Maca are in the Luteal Phase of our cycle, when we need more progesterone. These are the days leading up to our period, after ovulation.
Hi, thanks for posting on this. I am getting conflicting info about Maca? I actually purchased some to increase the possiblity of fertility But then I read that it actually raises your estrogen levels. Is this true? I have a history of Endo and Fibroids which I know that estrogen increase fibroid growth. Is it possible that Maca can increase my estrogen levels and cause fibroids to grow? I know this is not a fibroid site, but wanted to let you know why I was so concerned about it increasing estrogen in my body.
Hi Chandra,
Maca works a little differently with our hormones and goes straight to the Pituitary gland to regulate all the hormones. I would however, recommend focusing on flushing out the excess estrogens with more than just Maca. The key ones are to avoid foods which are estrogenic, which might have been pumped with hormones. Meat that is not organic is one of the highest estrogen contributors. Avoid chickens for sure.
Flaxseeds, red clovers and pomegranates are also more concentrated estrogens. They are plant estrogens but will still affect our estrogen levels. Also avoid cooking or drinking from plastics as these are estrogenic in nature.
Soy is the biggest culprit though. Hope that helps.
Hi!
Is Maca ok to take with supergreen powders, like wheatgrass, spiraling & chlorella?
Thanks so much for the great information!
It should be fine :) They work in different ways for the body.
Hello, I have a question on what to take to get a regular period. Many have been recommending cited and others maca , I’m very confused! Could I take them @ the same time? Btw I’m trying to conceive but it has been hard for me because sometimes I go 3-6 months without a menstrual cycle. Thank you! I love your website it’s very helpful!
I am not sure what “cited” is. I love Maca to regulate periods though :) It is all personal preference really – try things and see what works for you :)
Hi Melissa! I have also taken Maca Root powder for the last couple of months, alongside naturual wild yam pills and progesterone cream. I take regular blood tests since I am doing Ivf on a natural cycle. The last months my estradiol level has been too high, so the Ivf has been cancelled. I never had that high estradiol level before. I have now stoped taking maca root powder because I believe it has caused this inbalance. Hopefully my blood tests will normalize next months.
Wild yam and progesterone cream really works for me.
I love your cookbook and use your recipies quite often. Keep up your good work:)
Thank you!
Ingvild
Hi Ingvild,
Perhaps you were just taking too many things all at once? I know when I combined too many hormone specific supplements together, I developed problems. Glad you found the progesterone cream to work for you. Just make sure you don’t take it for too long :)
Glad you like the book! Hugs
Hi Melissa,
I found all this very interesting and helpful. I have endo and a fatty liver, for the fatty liver I take milk thistle capsules, and had been thinking about trying maca. Do you think the two combined would be bad?
I’ve had endo for years and when I was researching it online, there wasn’t that much info on it, doctors all tell you the same thing. Now I’m looking it up again because I feel like it’s gotten worse, and it sounds worse than before. I really hope maca can help me. :)
Hi Diana,
Milk Thistle works more on the liver and Maca would work more with your hormones, so it would definitely be helpful. Maca helped me heaps to get onto my healing journey.
Hello, Is it alright to take calcium d-glucarate along with maca? Or will it lower estrogen levels too much.
Calcium D-Glucarate, works on healing the liver, so I can’t see any harm in taking it with Maca. I wouldn’t advise taking it with any hormone specific supplements or on the contraceptive pill though.
Hi Melissa,
I was told to take Meca capsules as I have peri menopause symptoms (racing pulse, anxiety, spotting between periods to name a few) . I am on the Seasonique birth control pill, is it safe to take maca while on the pill?
Thanks,
Tammy
Hi Tammy,
I personally wouldn’t advise taking Maca with the birth control pill. I would consider going off the pill and then waiting a month and then taking it. Maca will try to regulate your hormones and the birth control pill doesn’t work with your natural hormones.
Thank you :)
I have endometriosis and am on the pill to help control it but I am low on estrogen and having severe insomnia and clammy skin. I don’t like the options that my gyn is giving me and would like to try maca. Do I need to get off the pill first?
It might clash with the pill but perhaps ask a herbalist as it depends on what pill you are on. The best is to just get off the pill completely :)
Do you know how long I should be off the pill before starting maca root?
Hi Iam 45 years old and love to workout 4-5 times a week I love to drink protien shakes after a good workout or even as a meal replacement. I started to take the maca once aday and started to feela little pain here and there along with dizziness I knew right away it had tobe something in that protien shake that did not mix with the maca since then Iam really foucusing on all the ingredients in the protien shakes as they like to add alot of different kind of herbs
Listen to your body when starting maca. Maca works great for some people, I’ve read some glowing reviews online, but I’ve also found a few that are like my experience. Maca is not for everyone. I don’t typically get menstrual cramps that are anything beyond just uncomfortable, and that’s usually only one day out my cycle, day 2, my heavy day. I started a meal replacement shake that contained a very large amount of maca,1000 mg of organic gelatinized maca, and started having HORRIBLE off the charts painful cramping four days out from even beginning my period. I was doubled over, having cold sweats, trouble breathing, ready to vomit… the pain was INTENSE. I suspected the meal replacement with maca was the only thing I had changed in my diet/lifestyle. I immediately stopped taking it. Next menstrual cycle rolled around and everything went fine and normal, some very mild cramping, one day only, to remind me my uterus was still there, but nothing too out of control. A few weeks later in the middle of my cycle I decided to try this meal replacement shake again that I had laying around and that I had dropped big money on. BIG mistake. This was the middle of my cycle. I had just ovulated, and the next day after taking this shake I had absolutely excruciating uterine cramping that was just like the worst menstrual cramps ever that I had experienced when taking the maca before. This time the pain was so intense I did vomit. I was ready to go to the emergency room, had I even been well enough at the time to move or breathe or get those words out… This time the doubling over and uterine contraction like pain lasted over an hour and caused my entire abdomen to convulse and cramp up and it took me a week to recover before I could even walk upright again because all my insides were so sore. Of course stopped taking the shake with maca, and my cycles have been fine and have not experienced that horrible pain since. Seems to me to be a connection… I am only thirty and perfectly healthy, living a “clean and organic lifestyle”.
Thank you for sharing. That sounds like a nasty experience. Can I ask what else was in the meal replacement? It might be that there were other ingredients that were in there that might have contributed or caused it to be so bad? I have heard bad experiences with Maca but never to that extreme.
I’ve found much conflicting information about maca. As I’m trying to conceive, I research a variety of concerns frequently, maca root being a hot topic for me. Apparently, it’s a staple food in it’s area of origin; I’ve read mother’s introduce it into their daughters’ diets at around 3 years old. As it nourishes the related glands, their reproductive years generally extend well past US averages… A testament to its power, if that is a fact. Yet we are taking it as a supplement? Daily, as I have been taking it, creates a major problem for those of us who have know our bodies’ cycle(s) well: if you miss a day, it could affect ovulation, and thus menstruation. Falling pregnant takes timing a patience as it is. My body became so used to that daily dose that when I took the suggested maca break after 3 weeks, for the first time in over 20 years, I was two days late! It’s not a big deal overall, just a proof of its intensity. I appreciate you having pointed to making it random, just as if you were adding it as a side dish to a meal. I feel that I’ve created better health for myself in the past 3 months by taking maca (2tsp/day). But I also take whole food penatals, low dosage noni fruit powder, and chia seeds regularly, and try to eat mostly fresh fruits and veggies, good proteins, whole grains, nuts, and lots of berries. Even so, my monthly visitor is still very painful. I’m hoping that all this attention to detail will begin to kick in more over the next few months.
Hi Melissa,
Thank you so much for your wonderful blog. It is really assisting me to help my daughter Mary. Can you tell me, if we can mix Maca with Butcher’s Broom? My daughter has POT Syndrome, and the Butcher’s Broom helps her a lot with her blood circulation and pooling – but she also has endo and I was hoping Maca might help her.
Thank you so much!
Regina
Hi Regina,
I am unfortunately not familiar with Butcher’s Broom. From what you describe it shouldn’t interfere. Maca focuses mainly on strengthening the hormone functions in the body, through the pituitary gland. You are wonderful mom to look after Mary :)
Pleasure!
Thank you so much for this blog. I have been dealing with hormonal imbalances for awhile now, causing awful side effects. I do not suffer from Endometriosis but found myself researching natural hormone balancers after a month of painful cysts. My body has also been regulating itself after I had to stop eating soy (because of an allergy…although it is a actually better for women to steer away from soy, especially if hormone fed breast cancer runs in the family…as it does in mine). I am also 23, so I am young for so many hormone issues. I found Maca, Vitex, and Black Cohosh and began researching their benefits and ways to take it. I tried asking my many doctors, but they only wanted to prescribe birth control and pain medication. :( I experienced full body pain when taking them. It was like my bones were on fire. I chalked it up to my cysts and ignored it for weeks. The pain was so bad, I could barely function and did not know why?! I was always cold, sweating, tired…I slept all the time. I wanted to do nothing but eat. I gained about 5 pounds. I could not go to school or make appointments. Nothing took the pain away. After a few weeks, I stopped taking everything but the birth control and my anti-anxiety med and the pain stopped. I never put two and two together though. A few days ago I decided to start taking it again and the pain was almost instant. I typed in side effects of Maca and your blog popped up! I know better than to start taking things without a doctors approval, but you can just get so desperate from the pain sometimes and so tired of taking narcotics, that you try anything. I am going to cut down to just the Maca. You are right to promote the benefits of it, it truly does help so many people! Thank you so much for your hard work to helping as many people as possible. I wish you the best of luck in life!
Hi Susan,
It is hard to self prescribe sometimes as there are many factors that cause such extreme pain. The only way to know for sure what it was is to cut out everything else and then try it. The pill and Maca probably don’t go well together as Maca stimulates progesterone production, which the pill will try and reduce. There might be a clash going on there! Also, vitex does very similar things to Maca – so I wouldn’t take both – pick one or the other.
The pill is probably contributing to things too :)
Thank you and I hope you find some answers on my blog.
I just started taking Maca (the Femenessence MacaHarmony product) yesterday, after finding it discussed on a couple of PCOS blogs. I suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa, and found the hormone balancing (i.e., fix my crazy androgens that trigger HS flareups) claims to be very intriguing. I’m also at the beginning of perimenopause, and had an endometrial ablation three years ago to deal with heavy periods. Boy, if I knew then what I know now. :) I’ve been on Yaz for three years to control the HS flareups but went off the pill yesterday. We’ll see how it goes.
Anyway, I was very happy to run across this post as for the past couple of months I’ve been taking a super-mega-women’s vitamin that includes evening primrose oil, black cohosh, etc. I’ve only been on the maca for two days so I haven’t had too much time to feel any negative backlash from the combination, but I’m going to go back to the regular multivitamins starting tomorrow.
As an aside…I went to my GYN two days ago to discuss my hormone issues and she actually recommended antidepressants and a “good therapist”. When I told her that’s what was recommended to my mom 25 years ago and I was disappointed nothing had changed in the world of gynecology since then, she was a little miffed. I came home, got in a good cry, and then got on my computer to figure out what my other options are. I’m so happy to see there ARE other options.
Thanks!
Hi Stacy! I am super impressed that you realised how much control you actually have over your health! Wow! How silly anti-depressants!
Maca is great for the depression side too! I found it helped me heaps with the moodiness and irritability side.
I am discovering that the real key to all of this is to get our hormones back in balance through the liver. If we can flush out the toxins out of our bodies, then we can heal much easier. Also, check out your thyroid.
All the best and I hope you keep reading cos there is so much on here now :)
I’d like to chime in for the guys if that’s okay.
I started having really low energy levels and feeling lethargic on a daily basis, mentally and physically. The worst part is what the Taoists call monkey brain. This is where your mind just won’t shut up as if it were another entity outside of your own control. I had been taking hormone shots for low testosterone in the past but stopped because it did not seem to help. More and more over the last 5 years this got worse, and I resisted to do anything, it was a struggle to leave the house and I used to be a real go getter. So three days ago a sales man at the local health food store talked me into buying some Maca Root, specifically a brand called Revolution for men. I’m a real cynic (another side effect of my mood) so I expected it not to work, but I was getting desperate and considering asking for some ADD drugs. In 20 minutes I turned 180 degrees. Moodiness gone, Monkey brain gone and a relaxed feeling of wellbeing. Next morning I went running. It’s day 4 now I have not felt this good in 10 years. I hope it continues. I take 2250mg a day and in 45 days I am supposed to stop for one week then restart. I’m sure not everyone will have such a dramatic effect, but for me (so far) this is a miracle drug.
Hi Mark! That is truly amazing! I can’t believe it worked that quickly! Mine took months to show effects and it only elevated my mood slightly. Are you sure it was Maca? ha ha!
Another great one for “over chatting brain syndrome” is meditation and Yoga. I find the balance poses in Yoga are fabulous for those days when I am overthinking :)
I took maca without taking any type of hormone-altering supplement or medication, no phytoestrogens, no adaptogens, and I was even eating closer to a vegetarian diet (ie. doing everything “right”). It made things get a lot worse as far as endo was concerned. I didn’t realize it could have been the maca until I came across information in a book called ‘Sexy Hormones’ by Lorna Vanderhaeghe and Dr. Alvin Pettle that the maca could be causing the increased symptoms. I stay away from that stuff now :\
Thanks for sharing Amanda. Maybe we should know that it doesn’t work for everyone and if we experience worse symptoms, to just not use it, rather than keep hoping it will improve :)
oh my Gosh! I have been taking maca as well as vitex for a long time! which do i let go of? i need to talk to my herbalist!!!! uhhh oh!!!!
I would drop the Vitex. It has Phytoestrogenic effects, where as Maca seems to be okay on that front. Definitely check with your herbalist though :)
I read your article on Maca root about 8 months ago. I tried it along with DIM. The DIM caused me to have severe migraines. So I only took it twice. But the Maca root has done wonders. So much so, that I can tell a difference when I don’t take it. The lady who helped me at the health food store suffers from Endo too and also recommended Red Raspberry Leaves for when I am experiencing the occasional symptoms. I don’t take it very often but it does seem to help. Thanks for writing your blog! It is so helpful.
Wow! Really! I am glad you listened to your body. It is my pleasure Jessica :)
Hi Melissa,
Could you please tell me what is the advised daily amount of Maca I should take?
Thank you,
T
Hi Tim,
It really depends on what sort you bought. If you bought capsules, it varies again as they each have different dosages. It usually tells you on the bottle though :) I use about a tablespoon a day in my smoothy.
Hi Melissa!
Thank you for the quick reply. I have the powder form of Maca, and it says: 1-3 teaspoons a day.
I take 1-2 teaspoons a day and has not seen any result yet.
Anyway, I should be have more patience. :-)
Have a nice day!
T
Hi Timi,
It does take a while to build up in the body – they say up to 6months. I notice it more instantly than that :)
hello girls and melissa,
that is very interesting. I have recently been getting more sharp pain and soreness with moving, it has been a few years now since my laparoscopy and i do not wish to have another one at all. i have been taking maca for a few months and was doing fine, maybe just felt a bit more sexual at the time. then i ran out and stopped, after a while i started to get more achey, i recently just started chinese herbs and another herb medicine (with chasteberry in it) and am experiencing the pain almost daily now. havent mixed it too much with maca (as i restocked and i was excited to be back on maca) but will probably try to stop until i stop the chinese herbs.
I thought chinese medicine was great for endometriosis? how come i feel terrible? other factors to consider would be that i have been under work related pressures/stress and physical exhaustion as well as relationship stresses. so i dont blame maca, theres many things to consider i guess. Just feel out of balance and anxious about the pain. its hard to deal with this alone, and havent had to for a few months now. im also on the pill, as i said last time, however plan to stop that in a few days at the end of the period. Yay. hope so much i will feel better. it is really good to know not to mix them. Thanks
Hi lana. I would probably wait until you go off the pill before taking anything else. You need to get the balance back inside first :) Work stress can play a role but worrying about pain is never fun either. You will feel better in a few months – just wait for the pill to work its way out of your body and then try the chinese herbs and other stuff. I also don’t really recommend Chasteberry – http://www.cureendometriosis.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-taking-red-clover-for-endometriosis/
Hello Melissa,
I just happened to come across your website while searching for help for a cousin. Take a look at the Weston A. Price Foundation’s website. They have a lot of information about nutrition, nutrient dense foods, healing. There are many foundation chapters all over the world where people help people to regain their health. Our chapter has a lot of members, who cured themselves from various illnesses by changing their diet and following the wisdom of ancient cultures. The website allows you to search for a local chapter. And maybe you will find just a little tiny bit, which could be useful to you.
Sincerely,
Elke from California
Thanks Elke. I will look into that one for us :) I hope you were able to help your cousin :)
I can’t take it either… I have horrible pain from Maca almost like something crazy is happening in my stomach. I had bad pain and i stopped taking Maca and the pain stopped. So girls please be careful with Maca… I would listen to your body… I am currently taking Vitalyzm and I feel good I am taking 1 pill a day i use to take 3 a day and I started getting pimples and feeling lousy. So 1 a day for me right now…
Stay safe
I have been taking maca for about 4 months and my pain has really reduced. This could be due to any number of things I have been doing, but it certainly hasn’t given me any problems :) I do take evening primrose oil daily, and although that hasn’t appeared to be a problem maybe I should reconsider combining maca with anything hormone-related. Tricky! But regardless, maca is a great superfood (I actually love the taste if it)!
What about red raspberry leaf…would that interfere with Maca? I also love Maca and take the Evening Prim.
I don’t think it would. It is not a phytoestrogen, so that should be fine :) I found Evening Primrose Oil does have phytoestrogens in it – maybe use a fish oil high in Omega 3 Instead :)
Hi Melissa,
I googled Macca Root (in Hebrew) and found some Macca products for women.
In one of them there is a clear warning NOT to take it in cases of hormonal cancer and Endometriosis!
It seems to me that Macca is a bit controversial…
Hi Mel.
I started taking it about 5-6 months ago. First I heard about maca here and bought some, only taking it when I remembered. My Naturopath recommended I take it everyday. I was not taking any other supplements except fish oil and magnesium and I experienced the worst estrogen dominance ever after 2 months on it. I had terrible insomnia and PMS, and lost my sex drive. Scary stuff! I dropped it. My acupuncturist said that maca boosts the endocrine system and mine was probably doing just fine, without it.
Hi Jaye, That is really interesting. I haven’t heard of this reaction. Were you taking chinese medicine at the time? They also say those don’t combine well with Maca.
No chinese medicine at the time – just maca, fish oil, and magnesium. I still take fish oil and Mg without those side effects.
well as I told you, when I started taking Maca, I took it and DIM at the same time which maybe that was wrong. Got major pain like I hadn’t had in months and that scared me so much!! I took Maca again by itself for a short time, but just didn’t feel like it was time for me to take it for some reason so I stopped again. I was thinking about trying it again and see what happens this time. :)
Hi Annabelle! So cool that you are commenting again :) You were part of the reason I figured out there was something I needed to explore more about Maca. I only ever took Maca on it’s own. I did try Maca with DIM for a short time and did notice it also made me sore – good to know and I guess we have to all be Guinea Pigs at some point. Sorry you had to be one for us and that it wasn’t just me :)
Definitely try it on it’s own! It is fabulous!