14-10-2011, 17:44
Oh dear, Sabrina,
Yes, it can. Maca is said to increase dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Testosterone is made from DHEA.
From testosterone, the enzyme 5α-reductase makes dehydrotestosterone (DHT).
Also from testosterone, another enzyme, aromatase, makes estrogens.
DHT is what makes you shed hair and break out and grow facial hair. It also has positive effects: DHT increases libido and energy, and it builds the capability to cope with stress. Most of those positive effects, you can also expect from progesterone.
To block 5α-reductase, you can take an anti-androgen. The strongest is saw palmetto (SP), but spearmint tea helps too. Some phyto-estrogen herbs also have their own anti-androgens included, like hops has xanthohumol, and PM has β-sitosterol. My complete list of anti-androgens is:
Anti-androgens:
hops cones
spearmint tea (peppermint is more estrogenic)
saw palmetto berry
stinging nettle root
pumpkin seed oil
borage seed oil
Zinc < 80 mg
vitamin B6
azelaic acid (in rye, barley grass, whole grain cereals)
Secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG), the main lignan in flax (linseed)
β-Sitosterol
Sorry I didn't write this in my first answer, but the safe way to take maca is this: first you adjust the dose of anti-androgens, and make sure there are no aromatase blockers in your diet. Then, when you know your breasts are growing, add maca. It speeds up your system in the direction where it was already going. So if you were losing hair instead of growing breasts, that will go faster.
Yes, it can. Maca is said to increase dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Testosterone is made from DHEA.
From testosterone, the enzyme 5α-reductase makes dehydrotestosterone (DHT).
Also from testosterone, another enzyme, aromatase, makes estrogens.
DHT is what makes you shed hair and break out and grow facial hair. It also has positive effects: DHT increases libido and energy, and it builds the capability to cope with stress. Most of those positive effects, you can also expect from progesterone.
To block 5α-reductase, you can take an anti-androgen. The strongest is saw palmetto (SP), but spearmint tea helps too. Some phyto-estrogen herbs also have their own anti-androgens included, like hops has xanthohumol, and PM has β-sitosterol. My complete list of anti-androgens is:
Anti-androgens:
hops cones
spearmint tea (peppermint is more estrogenic)
saw palmetto berry
stinging nettle root
pumpkin seed oil
borage seed oil
Zinc < 80 mg
vitamin B6
azelaic acid (in rye, barley grass, whole grain cereals)
Secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG), the main lignan in flax (linseed)
β-Sitosterol
Sorry I didn't write this in my first answer, but the safe way to take maca is this: first you adjust the dose of anti-androgens, and make sure there are no aromatase blockers in your diet. Then, when you know your breasts are growing, add maca. It speeds up your system in the direction where it was already going. So if you were losing hair instead of growing breasts, that will go faster.