Side effects of Maca?

[Green Diva]

Has anyone had negative side effects using Maca?

I think it's causing me to have irregular bleeding. I had my regular period at the end of June and started using the Maca - powder form from Whole Foods - in my smoothies along with hemp seeds. I got my period again 2 days after the end of my regular cycle, about a day or 2 after starting the maca. I hadn't made the association yet and kept using it for about a week and a half. I stopped using it (only because it was in the cabinet and not on the counter) and stopped bleeding. A few days later I started using it again and started spotting and then heavily bleeding again. I made some truffles and added it to them and continued bleeding then thought about it. I haven't used any in almost a week and I have stopped bleeding again.

I searched the internet for answers but haven't found anything. I know there are many knowledgable ladies here and thought I'd ask here on this forum. I did go to the DR. but they didnt have an answer other than I'm 42 and perimenopausal.

[Zella Juice]

It gives me headaches.

[Seabie]

I used Maca and was late for my period by a week or so. I am NEVER late! I had craping but no period. I haven't used the Maca since and my period went back to normal. I might try it again just to see make sure it was the Maca. Really bothers me because Maca ain't cheap! Now I don't know what to do with the stuff.

I wouldn't imagine that the doctor would not know anything about Maca. It just bothers me when anything unsual happens to a women in her 40's that the standard reply is "oh its just that you are-perimenopausal" :rolleyes: My mother had a normal period right up to almost her 60th birthday. Of course most doctors are also the ones that want to push the estrogen pills our way and don't believe anything natural can help or would be better for us in the long run.

My guess would be that it's the Maca that caused the problem. IF you want to experiment just to make sure you could wait a couple of months then try it again. If the same thing happens then you know it's the Maca.

[Raene]

But you guys, maca is SUPPOSED to regulate! That just doesn't make sense to me if it's worked for thousands of years at balancing hormones and making women regular...

[Raw Yogini]

Well, I just bought some and am going to use it in a GS for the first time today. Hmm........I guess I'll see.

[Eva]

Maca is not a natural food product -- we buy it in the store or online, and it only comes from exotic faraway places (for most of us). I love the taste, but for me it took my always perfectly perfect menstrual cycle to being a little off balance. We really don't know the way this has been really used for thousands of years or whatever. The information available on the internet is primarily sourced by people who are making $$$ off of it.

I've heard horror stories about maca screwing with the cycle. I've heard of using it to cure problems.

But it's not, say, an apple or blueberries. There are always question marks when it comes to something that we can't grow and/or process ourselves. And there should be question marks when we read the benefits of something online -- when there is someone who could be pushing positive benefits/info out and making money on the results.

It sounds clear that there is a good chance that the maca did not agree with you. I would not use it frequently if I were in your shoes. Heck, I guess I am almost in your shoes since it played with my period too!

But I DO Looove the taste. It reminds me of the malt milkshakes I used to love. So for me, the pros outweigh the cons for the rare treat.

Just my thoughts.

[Raene]

Okay...now you all have me worried! I've been taking it daily to become more fertile so that I can try conceiving soon...and I'll be really upset if it messes up my cycle :(

[Eva]

Okay...now you all have me worried! I've been taking it daily to become more fertile so that I can try conceiving soon...and I'll be really upset if it messes up my cycle :(

Don't let your mind play tricks on you -- has it messed with your cycle at all? Are you overcoming fertility issues? I think I read that you get panic attacks when you have cacao -- so sheesh, cacao doesn't work well for you. But maca? It could be great (better than not having it), or it might not be.

I don't have perfect trust in information I find on the internet. This is mostly because I work in marketing. Lucky for me, the marketing I do is completely honest (well very lucky, I wouldn't keep the job if it weren't honest!) -- but I see things differently as a result. I think there are some really tricky but smart people out there marketing different products -- I just don't know every person putting the information out there personally, so I have no idea which ones are the tricky ones and even where the honest ones are getting their information. Or which people are on the line -- not lying, but possibly misrepresenting the products.

But don't let my thoughts override your personal experience!