Maca Root Powder - My Migraine Miracle
I have been experiencing hormone migraines since I was 20 years old. They used to hit me the day before I started menstruating and would last 12-24 hours. For years I could take an exedrine migraine and that would take the edge off enough that I could continue to function. Once I reached my 40’s the migraines would strike at the beginning of my period and then again when it ended. I believe my hormones were fluctuating more as I started perimenopause. At 47 I started getting such intense migraines that I would not be able to do anything while I waited for it to go away. No over the counter or prescription medications had any effect.
About 4 months into taking herbs for perimenopause, I was feeling relief from many of my symptoms, but nothing seemed to help the migraines. I read about maca root powder as a remedy for female reproductive issues. Maca Root (Lepidium meyenii) is a member of the Brassicaceae family. I found it at a health food store and started adding one teaspoon to my morning protein drink. I took it faithfully for about 4 weeks when I suddenly realized I hadn’t had a migraine for a few weeks. After taking it for a couple months I actually started having my period again. I hadn’t had it for a few months. I wasn’t too excited about that, but it was worth it to not have the migraines.
I continued having my period for a few months. Then it stopped and some other symptoms started creaping back in. I was feeling anxiety and wasn’t sleeping well. That is when it occurred to me that our hormones are constantly fluctuating. Therefore, I would not ever be able to find a silver bullet solution and just stick to it forever. I have to constantly be listening to my body and tweaking the herbal remedies.
Once I had that realization I increased the maca to 2 teaspoons a day. I also started increasing some other herbs like stinging nettle and red clover at certain times during the month when I feel the symptoms returning. This has been working very well. I rarely have more than one or 2 bad days before I can bring things back into balance.
What I love about maca root is that it is helping to ease me toward menopause rather than crashing headfirst into it like I was before. It is very empowering to realize that as long as I am listening to my body, I can make minor changes and bring things back into balance.
I suggest trying maca root powder for anyone experiencing female reproductive issues, whatever stage you are at in life except during pregnancy. Maca root has improved my quality of life so much. I have only had one hormone migraine since starting to take it more than 6 months ago. As always, do your research, especially if you are taking pharmaceuticals or have any chronic health conditions. To read about the other herbs I am using to manage perimenopause symptoms, check out my blog at www.crowmagicbotanicals.com.
Maca Root
