Like any substance, there are risks with the use of Pueraria Mirifica. Dangers and side effects are a reality with its use.
This is why it is important to use it responsibly. Furthermore, you should know its side effects so you can determine if you are using too much.
If you are using a Pueraria Mirifica serum or supplement, any changes with your menstrual cycle should be brought up to your doctor. This often indicates that you are using too much or have a greater sensitivity to the plant’s compounds.
Side Effects of Pueraria Mirifica
1. Discomforts with the Digestive System
Taking high doses of Pueraria Mirifica causes a hormonal imbalance in your body. One of the immediate signs of this imbalance is an irritation of your digestive system. This can manifest in the form of irritable bowel, nausea, and gas.
2. Loss of Libido
Women lose their libido over time as the production of estrogens decrease. Pueraria Mirifica is used as a traditional remedy in traditional cultures to boost sexual appetite.
There are no studies backing up this claim. But, with how it serves as an alternative for estrogen replacement therapy, there is a possibility that it can actually return one’s lost sexual appetite.
However, using too much can actually decrease your libido. This is due to the body responding to the increased levels of estrogen with fatigue.
3. Tenderness of the Breast
You will feel prolonged tenderness of your breast if you overdose with Prueraria Mirifica as a breast enhancer. This tenderness can even come with sudden painful sensations.
4. Abnormal Increase in Appetite
High levels of estrogen make you more sensitive to the hormone ghrelin, which triggers your sensation of hunger. Your greater sensitivity to it causes you to feel hungrier than you actually are.
This increased ghrelin sensitivity comes with a decreased production of the hormone leptin. This hormone is the one triggering your sensation of fullness from food.
Studies suggest that this herb contain compounds that have antioxidant properties. It has been observed in one study that it can help to increase the concentration of antioxidants in the uterus and liver.
Dangers of Pueraria Mirifica Overdose
It is easy to discount these side effects since these are often experience in the short term. But, there are possible consequences that you will only experience after months or years of taking more than the safe daily dose of 1 to 2 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight. Here are some of them:
1. Disruption of Your Menstrual Cycle
Pueraria Mirifica contains plant compounds known as phytoestrogens. These compounds trigger particular cellular activities when they bind on the estrogen receptors of your cells.
Those found in the plant influence the activity of various enzymes that lead to an unnatural increase in the gonadotropins and ovarian hormones in the blood.
The increased production of these hormones can increase the length of your menstrual cycle. The longer cycles is attributed to the longer follicular phase caused by a higher than normal dose of Pueraria Mirifica.
If you are using a Pueraria Mirifica serum or supplement, any changes with your menstrual cycle should be brought up to your doctor. This often indicates that you are using too much or have a greater sensitivity to the plant’s compounds.
Due to this risk, breastfeeding or pregnant women should never use extracts, serums, or herbal supplements of the tropical plant. This also applies to children under 18 since disrupting the reproductive cycle might lead complications with their development and long-term health.
2. Increased Risk of Cancer
All phytoestrogens have a possibility of increasing your risk for cancer. This includes the phytoestrogens found in the root of the Pueraria Mirifica.
According to one study observing Donryu rats, exposure to Pueraria Mirifica doses of 200 mg per kilogram of bodyweight increased cancer formation in their mammary and endometrial (vaginal) glands. The organs with present cancer formation experienced increased cancer growth.
Although there are no existing studies confirming the same effect on humans, it is still best to be cautious with the use of Pueraria Mirifica and stick to its recommended dose. The absence of studies confirming it does not indicate that it does not increase your risk of cancer.
This is why it is best to avoid using it if you currently or previously had breast, ovarian, or endometrial cancer. Furthermore, it is best to consult your doctor if your family has a history of any of these diseases.
3. Negative Effects on Brain Health
In moderate doses, the phytoestrogens present in Prueraria Mirifica can provide protection on the nerve cells. This prevents the damage caused by toxins and free radicals on these cells, which can lead to neurological disorders like dementia.
Unfortunately, like other negative effects stated in this article, excessive doses of phytoestrogens from supplements or food can increase the risk of damage on brain function. This risk increase as you get older while consuming high amounts of phytoestrogens.
4. Increased Risk of Heart Disease
Women have an increased risk for coronary heart disease and arterial disease after menopause. It was widely believed that this risk can be alleviated with hormone replacement therapy and its alternatives.
But, new evidence has shown that not all responds the same with the treatment. Only those who have no existing cardiovascular conditions experienced the decreased risk for coronary heart disease. Those who had a history or existing heart or cardiovascular condition, unfortunately, increased their risk for the disease.
It also depends on when you will undergo the treatment. Those who went through it during early menopause have a lower risk of heart disease. Others are discouraged from undergoing the hormone replacement therapy since the benefits they will experience are unlikely to outweigh the risks for heart disease.
The Pueraria Mirifica dangers and side effects explained in this article are not any different from the effects of misusing other supplements. As long as you use it responsibly, you can avoid possible complications from its use.
The Key is Moderation and Medical Advice
The side effects mentioned arise from using doses higher than the recommended amount. This is why the key here is to use any Pueraria Mirifica product responsibly and moderately.
Furthermore, it is best to seek the advice of a medical professional if you have concerns about your medical history. If you are even in doubt if you can use it, it is best to consult your doctor first.
The Pueraria Mirifica dangers and side effects explained in this article are not any different from the effects of misusing other supplements. As long as you use it responsibly, you can avoid possible complications from its use.