MENOPAUSE AND MACA

What is menopause ?

Menopause happens naturally in women body when Estrogens production falls below a certain level and ovulation begins to stop – in some cases drastically and in others slowly-. Hormonal balance changes and that alteration is responsible for the different sufferings in women. Estrogens level usually declines causing weakness on blood vessels, cholesterol, bone affection, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, cardiovascular disease and memory problems among others.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a well known chemical treatment between women suffering from these symptoms, but it is also known its many side effects and risks. Actually it ages the body by diminishing the hormone-producing capacity of the glands. Taking any type of “external” hormones, and even natural phyto-hormones in foods or herbs, can cause the glands to become “lazy”, and therefore to produce less of what the body needs. Furthermore, it does not work from the root of the problem, simply it hides the symptoms under a dependence. Estrogens replacement therapy has joined the official U.S. government list of cancer-causing agents. Several estrogens compounds were already listed as likely human carcinogens by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, but as of December 2002 the list includes the entire class of steroidal estrogens. New studies showed that hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of breast and uterine cancers.

How does Maca help to treat menopause problems ?

Maca is a natural root that works directly to the menopausal problem, it does not represent any risk for body, it is not toxic and is considered an adaptive plant : raise the non-specific resistance to disease, is capable of normalizing functions in the body even in disease states, it is non-toxic and harmless to any organ of the body, and safe for ingestion for long periods as a nutritive (for prevention)

Dr. Chacón deduced that the alkaloids were acting on the hypothalamus-pituitary gland. MACA´s effects are specific to the endocrine glands, and therefore, it is equally beneficial for both sexes. It has not phytohormones such as soy products , so there is no risk of dependence and it does not hide the symptoms. MACA is a strengthener and rejuvenator for the entire endocrine system, thereby encouraging the body to produce its own natural hormones - and in the right proportion to each other.

Dr. Hugo Malaspina, one of the most important doctors in Peru working with MACA, assures that the treatment with MACA on menopausal states is successful in about 95% of cases. He has been working with maca treatments for around 12 years and even in hysterectomized women, where MACA has played a powerful role improving menopausal symptoms and restoring the absent hormonal balance in body. The effects on human are not limited only to ovaries and testes but it also works on the adrenal glands, rejuvenating and regulating other glands like thyroid.

Maca is used in Peru to alleviate Post Menopausal Symptoms like hot flashes, low libido, depression, and problems with concentration and mood swings. Works entirely different than Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, or Licorice Root.

There are two important states in menopause, initially begins the peri-menopause state, in which women suffer from hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings and other symptoms of dropping hormone levels. Maca is able to reduce this conditions. The suggested doses for this state is ca. 6-10 capsules 500 mg, but commonly this dose is reduced after a month of treatment. The benefits will be noticed after a week of treatment in most cases.

The other state involving menopause, is post-menopause. For these women the typical symptoms of menopause have globally disappeared, but begins the aging process of body. MACA could help to slow and keep youthful skin and preventing vaginal dryness. Also can benefit the bone health due to its supportive mineral content. It is also used in Peru to treat and prevent osteoporosis.