USDA Organic Certified

Welcome to Whole World Botanicals®

a company dedicated to the distribution of Certified Organic, Bio-Energetic™ and Wildcrafted herbs. We work in partnership with South American native peoples who have been using these effective natural remedies for centuries.

Coming Soon: Check the Whole World Botanicals home page in the weeks to come for scientific
studies backing up what we have described today. If you don't see them on the home page,
you can go to our Blog where they get posted after appearing on the home page.

To see our product list, CLICK here.

For frequently asked questions about our products go to our, Blog.

For scientific information on our products, CLICK here.

Q: How is Royal Maca® different from maca supplements produced by other companies?

Royal Lucraco Plus,
the Prostate Gland, and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Level

A long time customer wrote recently:

Q: I started taking your product Royal Lucraco Plus about 4 years ago. At that time my PSA level was 8. It has stayed below 4 all this time. But when it was tested again last week it was up to 4.6. My doctor said I probably have a low grade infection which caused the rise and not to panic. Still, I would like to find natural ways to reduce this PSA. Do you have any other products that would help reduce my PSA level?

Freshly Harvested Camu-Camu Fruit

A: As you well know, Vitamin C is an excellent product for immune system support, so if your doctor is right and you do have a low grade infection, Royal Camu™ would be an excellent way to support your immune system. Royal Camu, made from the Camu-Camu berries which grow wild in the Amazon River Basin of Peru and Brazil, has more natural Vitamin C than any other known plant in the world. It has so many co-factors which work synergistically with ascorbic acid to provide powerful immune system support as well as superior energizing and mood balancing effects on the body. Some of these cofactors are 4-terpineol, alanine, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, camphene, delphinidin-3-glucoside, ellagic acid, and gamma-terpinene. On the days to come we will have more information on these phytochemicals.

about our Royal Lucraco Plus and Royal Camu® products in our Herbal Research section.
our Royal Lucraco Plus products. our Royal Camu® products.

At our Herbal Library, you can learn more about the traditional medicinal herbs we carry, and what they can do for your health. Among our products are:

Certified Organic (Precooked) Royal Maca® promotes hormone balance in women and men. Supports healthy menstruation. Relieves menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and the "blues" due to menopause.
Certified Organic (Precooked) Royal Maca® for Men Formula promotes libido, sexual function, healthy reproductive function, and healthy erectile function*.
Wildcrafted Royal Camu™ (Camu-Camu), is an outstanding vitamin C-rich fruit which acts as an immune system strengthener, and promotes healthy mood balance.
Wildcrafted Royal Break-Stone™ (Chanca Piedra), used traditionally by the native people of South America for kidney, gall bladder, liver, bladder, and pancreas health.
Wildcrafted Royal Cat's Claw™ (Uña de Gato), a potent immune system strengthener, and colon detoxifier.
Wildcrafted Royal Desmodium™, also known as the Strong Back herb in the Caribbean, relaxes both smooth muscles (e.g. lungs, uterus) and striated muscles (e.g. back, neck) and promotes healthy respiratory function.
Wildcrafted Royal Lucraco Plus™ for Men, traditionally used to promote prostate health.
Wildcrafted Royal Abuta Plus™ herbal formula which helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
Royal Graviola™ helps maintain healthy blood pressure in people with normal blood pressure.

*Erectile dysfunction can be a side effect of antidepressents or high blood pressure medications or can result from some other functional causes. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. As with any dietary supplement, consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or under medical supervision.

Amazon rainforest We use no additives, coloring, flavoring, excipients, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, irradiation or chemical gas in our products. Our capsules are sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) free, a rarity in the U.S. supplement market. Our high standards extend to our relationship with native and maca growers and rainforest plant collectors and growers. Whole World Botanicals' practices Fair Trade and uses part of the profits to improve the quality of life of the growers/collectors through education, agricultural loans, and technical assistance.

Royal Maca is certified organic by BIO LATINA, an organization approved by the USDA, in accordance with the National Organic Program, which established nationwide regulations for organic certification in 2002.

Our mission is to be a positive force for environmental protection of both the native habitats and the communities of native peoples extending from the rainforests to mountain communities situated at the highest altitudes on the earth. One of these extraordinary communities is featured in the painting to the right, depicting the Amazon rainforest. This artwork was done by a native Shipibo-Canaibo teenager, Roy Del Aguila, who lives in a rainforest town in the Department of Ucayali, Peru.

We invite you to learn more about these remarkable Whole World Botanicals herbal products in our Herbal Library, and take advantage of our special discounts by ordering online.

Does Maca Root have hormone stimulating properties –
or only hormone balancing properties?

Recently Whole World Botanicals received the following question from a new customer who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.

Q: Could you please clarify/elaborate more on the stimulating properties of the Royal Maca? I understand your instruction below to start small and watch...however, with MS/auto-immune, you often have no way to tell whether the condition is being stimulated. It happens silently and internally. From my study, it seems that some herbs/botanicals are innately stimulating and others are, by nature, only immune building (for example, garlic is stimulating regardless of whether you have even a tiny amount). Are there any studies that have been done with Maca and auto-immune conditions?

A: No. If you take too much for your body, you may feel anxious, have insomnia, etc. This is a sign of overstimulation. Although Maca Root acts as a tonic and helps the body recover from deficiencies of various kinds, it does not stimulate the body in the sense of making it work better for a whole and then depleting the body. In that sense, coffee is stimulating and so is alcohol (although technically considered a depressant).

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: Can my 14 year old daughter take Royal Maca?

She’s 5’ 5” and weighs 120 lbs. Her periods are very irregular -- having her period almost all the time -- but not super heavy bleeding (doctors say she's fine, say she's "just under stress" but they want her to go on birth control pills to regulate her cycle!) It seems that the whole medical establishment is in denial about the health risks of birth control pills. – Alicia M., Michigan

A: Yes, Royal Maca is safe for teenagers having hormone balance issues. She can take one capsule (1/6 tsp.) with breakfast daily, starting near or at the beginning of her menstrual cycle (first day of bleeding) and do that for a month. If that dosage doesn't give much help, the second month she can take one capsules on Monday, two on Tuesday, one again on Wednesday and two on Thursday, etc. for a month. And if things still aren't where they should be, the third month she can take two caps daily. In other words, it’s trial and error, starting from a very small amount.

Remember, she’s taking a food—not a drug!

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

The Amazing Secret – How Camu-Camu Works to Balance Mood

O.K. folks. You’ve been reading for a long time on Whole World Botanicals’ website about using Royal Camu for same day mood balance for people who feel under terrible stress, sad, blue or overly worried about every little thing. And maybe you’ve even been using Royal Camu daily and feel like you couldn’t live without it. (We have a lot of folks like that and if they forget to reorder it in time some of them end up paying for overnight shipping because they can’t imagine getting through the day without it.) But what we never understood, quite frankly, is why the Camu-Camu fruit is so effective for mood balance.

Freshly Harvested Camu-Camu Fruit

But now it’s becoming crystal clear how Camu-Camu works. It turns out that there is an amazing correlation between the level of oxidative stress in your body and the state of your mood. Furthermore, oxidative stress is caused by any number of factors, including strenuous exercise, overwork, mental worry, multi-tasking for long periods of time, emotional difficulties in relationships. The other half to this equation is that since stress –whether physical or emotional –causes oxidative stress, it can be relieved by antioxidants, especially Vitamin C. You might want to reread this last sentence because this is so simple and so true – there are more than 1,000 published research articles which back this up, and yet it is a well kept secret.

But whoever heard of taking Vitamin C to change your mood? That’s because generally speaking you have to take megadoses of it to feel the mood balancing effects and often people can’t tolerate such high dosages. So what’s the solution? It’s taking a premium quality Camu-Camu berry supplement since the Camu-Camu fruit which grows wild in the Amazon rainforest has more Vitamin C than any other plant in the world! Royal Camu – which comes in two different forms and guarantees a 10% concentration of Vitamin C complex derived from the fruit—provides that quality of supplement you are looking for.

about our Royal Camu® products. our Royal Camu® products.

I've just been taking Royal Maca for 2 days and already my hot flashes are better and the moisture situation [vaginal dryness] is better too.

From the co-founder of Whole World Botanicals, Inc.
I received a testimonial today that just made my day. This one is from a 42 year old woman in perimenopause who was having her period “off and on” and not much blood. She has been suffering from hot flashes and vaginal dryness for the past six months. Her doctor put her on hormones, but as she tells it, “They just didn’t make me feel right, and besides I’m worried about the cancer risk.” She then tried several other products on the “Women’s Health” shelf of a health food store, but they didn’t work. Then she purchased Royal Maca at a local Whole Foods Market and before starting to take the product she called the telephone number on the product bottle to make sure of the dosage. I spoke with her last Friday (Nov. 13). This morning (Nov. 16) Whole World Botanicals received another phone call from her with good news and appreciation. Here is the message she left:

"I am calling to tell you that Royal Maca is already working great for me. I've just been taking it for two days and already my hot flashes are better and the moisture situation [vaginal dryness] is better too. I wasn't expecting results this soon. You have a wonderful product."
Wendy - Atlanta, GA

A cautionary note for all of you reading this: One reason it worked so quickly for Wendy is that she is in perimenopause and still has a period every 45 to 70 days. That means her ovaries are still very responsive. By the way, her correct dosage was 1/3 tsp. (yes, that’s all!!!) once a day with breakfast. But as you know from other blog entries I’ve written, women who haven’t had a period in 10 years and are still having hot flashes also get great results. It just takes a little longer. And women who have had a hysterectomy also get great results.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Is there an upper limit to the amount of Royal Maca I can take?

Q: What would be the maximum amount that would be safe?

A: No, there is no fixed upper limit. But your body will impose its own upper limit by how you feel when you take different amounts of Royal Maca. At a certain dosage point, your symptoms will get much better. But if you keep on increasing the amount you are taking, either you will develop a “side effect” such as anxiety, insomnia, breast tenderness or your symptoms (such as hot flashes) will start getting worse again. More is definitely not necessarily better. It’s all about BALANCE. That’s why we advise to take the dosage that makes your symptoms 80% better. Over time, that 80% better will probably become 85% or 90% since Maca has a cumulative effect.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

What Dosage of Royal Maca for Vaginal Dryness?

Q: I am in pre-menopause and I get my period off and on. What dosage of Royal Maca do I need to take for vaginal dryness? I bought the jelly but my husband doesn’t like it. Will Royal Maca bring my sex drive back too?

A: That’s a good question because different symptoms require different dosages. For instance, menopausal depression responds to Royal Maca with a minimal dosage of two capsules (or 1/3 tsp.). But usually vaginal dryness won’t disappear with this amount. You would need at least 3 capsules and possibly 4 (1/2 tsp. to 2/3 tsp.) to get your vaginal lubrication back again. Hot flashes if they are mild will probably also respond to this dosage but if they are moderate to severe you will probably need at least 6 capsules (one tsp.) or more of Royal Maca to get them well under control. Getting your libido back is also usually dose-dependent. At 6 capsules or one tsp. of the Royal Maca Powder, most women are going to feel a definite upsurge in sexual feeling within a few days.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Your Royal Camu has changed my life.

My energy has quadrupled, my foot fungus disappeared, my immune system has built up, I don't get tired after working out. And I dropped 4 pounds without even trying. And my blood sugar has regulated which I don't remember seeing in your research. I had been experiencing severe blood sugar crashes about 20 minutes into exercise and it's completely gone. Unbelievable. Is it okay to take it every day with no break? I hope so.
Janet H., Acupuncturist

Freshly Harvested Camu-Camu Fruit

about our Royal Camu® products. our Royal Camu® products.

Q: I have endometriosis. Would Royal Maca help me or hurt me?

I've read that people with endo should not take it. Please advise.

A: Endometriosis is thought to be caused by estrogen dominance. Based on the feedback Whole World Botanicals has received over 14 years from customers, including medical doctors who order Royal Maca for their practice, a premium quality maca product seems to reverse estrogen dominance in many cases. Specifically, we have had positive feedback from a handful of customers with endometriosis who have reported a reduction in pain and in the amount of bleeding when using a small amount of Royal Maca on a regular basis. In no case did these customers claim that their endometriosis was cured or “treated.” They were simply happy with the pain reduction and the reduction in bleeding. Of course, Whole World Botanicals cannot give you medical advice. But we do advise you to consult a physician who is familiar with the use of herbs who can give you help appropriate for your situation.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: Which is better for hormone balance—
Bioidentical Hormones or Maca?

I am 38 years old and have been going to a naturopathic doctor who wants to put me on bioidentical hormones since he found out that I have low progesterone. How would you compare Maca with taking bioidentical progesterone?

A: Whole World Botanicals has many customers who are medical doctors and naturopathic doctors. They prefer using Royal Maca to using bioidentical hormones for the following reasons:

Clinical experience has shown them that Royal Maca is more effective in creating a healthy estrogen-progesterone balance in the body than using a bioidentical progesterone product.
Royal Maca helps put the whole endocrine gland system into balance, including the thyroid, the adrenals, and the pancreas. They prefer using one product that helps put the whole system in balance rather than prescribing glandulars + bioidentical hormones for their patients.
Patients taking bioidentical hormones need to be periodically tested and their dosages of bioidentical hormones tinkered with as the body moves through different phases. When taking a food like Royal Maca (the maca root is a cruciferous vegetable), the body utilizes this food to create a better balance.

To read more about how Maca works and why Royal Maca is the most outstanding Maca product on the market, please go to our blog and to our Scientific Information section.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: Can I drink soy milk while I am taking Royal Maca?

Your pamphlet says you cannot mix soy with Royal Maca but I have been drinking soy milk for years.

A: Yes, you can drink soy milk, eat green steamed soy beans, veggie burgers made with soy, tempeh, etc. There will be no problem at all. The only issue comes in pills made from taking isoflavones of soy. These isoflavones are phytoestrogens extracted from the soy bean and are highly concentrated. The combination of these with Royal Maca is overstimulating for most women and cause side effects. So the rule is: Soy as Food – No Problem. Soy as Supplement – That’s a No No when you’re taking Royal Maca.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: Which is a better antioxidant – Camu-Camu or laboratory made (synthetic) Ascorbic Acid—and why?

A: Ascorbic Acid is known to be a powerful antioxidant but to unleash its full power you need megadoses – anywhere from 10 grams upward. Most people cannot tolerate these megadoses taken orally and need to take intravenous Vitamin C to get the full range of therapeutic benefits.

Camu-Camu, the berry which grows wild in the Amazon River Basin of Peru and Brazil, has more natural Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) than any other known botanical in the world. However, Camu-Camu has much greater antioxidant power than synthetic Vitamin C, milligram for milligram because it has a whole range of chemical compounds which act synergistically together to create enormous antioxidant power. In addition to its Vitamin C, Camu-Camu also has the following antioxidants: 4-terpineal; alanine; anthocyanins; beta-carotene; camphene; delphinidin-3-glucoside; ellagic acid and gamma-terpinene.

Freshly Harvested Camu-Camu Fruit

Furthermore, it contains the Antioxidant synergists, citric acid and malic acid.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) has amazing anti-inflammatory properties—an important property of antioxidants. But Camu-Camu, in addition to its food sourced ascorbic acid also has other anti-inflammatory compounds, including alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and ellagic acid.

Dr. James Duke, chief botanist for USDA for 30 years and author of The Green Pharmacy, uncovered these essential properties of Camu-Camu. We thank him for this important research.

Camu-Camu has different levels of potency based primarily on how it is handled after it is picked. Royal Camu™ is flash frozen right on a river boat with freezing facilities within several hours of being picked. This preserves its precious Vitamin C complex. So choose Royal Camu™ which guarantees at least 10% Vitamin C derived from the Camu-Camu fruit itself. It is available in two forms: spray-dried at high heat for a few seconds and slow-dried at low heat for a much longer period of time. The results are equally good.

about our Royal Camu® products. our Royal Camu® products.

I am going through menopause and want to order the Royal Maca Plus. I have been looking on the web about Maca.

Several places have said that if you are a thyroid patient, you shouldn't use maca. What info do you have on this?

If these companies sell RAW maca, then they are correct—it will not be advisable for thyroid patients to use it. The maca root is a cruciferous vegetable, like cabbage, watercress, broccoli and cauliflower. These veggies are known to encourage the growth of a goiter (swollen thyroid gland) in some people, if eaten raw or almost raw.

Fortunately for thyroid patients, Royal Maca is precooked and will never cause a problem. In fact, just the opposite. We have received so many testimonials from women with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Disease letting us know how well they feel since combining the Royal Maca with their Synthroid, Unithroid or Armour thyroid medication. Their temperature is coming back to normal, their hair is growing back, their energy and their mood is really good. The reason for this can be found in the properties of the Maca Root which help create hormonal balance in the entire endocrine gland system.

Click here to read another response to a question related to Royal Maca & Thyroid.

For more responses relating to Royal Maca & Thyroid, click on the above link and type “thyroid” (without quotation marks) into the Search box at the top right of the screen and click Search.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Royal Maca increases stamina and energy levels

Whole World Botanicals receives many glowing testimonials from our customers who are happy with our products as well as our service. Here is one that we received recently:

A few months ago my wife and I both started using the powder form of Royal Maca (to economize). She uses 1 tsp. per day, 7 days per week, and I use a scant 1/2 tsp. Royal Maca has dramatically increased our stamina and energy levels, also our mental sharpness. My libido was always high, but it has increased hers from flat zero to workable levels while dramatically lowering the intensity and frequency of her hot flashes and night sweats.

For us, Royal Maca serves as a cheap, state of the art functional bio-identical hormone replacement. It may not be 100%, but it is very close with none of the very high costs and extensive procedures of the "real thing". To put it mildly and directly, we are thrilled with the results.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Scientific Evidence Royal Maca can help reduce blood sugar levels.

A study published in the Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Netherlands) in August 2007 noted the effects of Maca on blood sugar levels. According to the study, Maca significantly improved glucose tolerance and lowered levels of glucose in blood. The study was performed on rats genetically bred to have high blood sugar.

Maca is an adaptogenic cruciferous vegetable primarily found in the Peruvian Andean mountains and has been touted for its hormone balancing properties in both men and women. Click here to read more about this study.

about Royal Maca®

our Royal Maca® products.

Royal Maca is:

Gelatinized, click here to read the benefits of gelatinization,
Sun-dried, Whole World Botanicals is one of the few companies following this traditional way of preparing maca. The benefits of sun-drying have now been established by scientific research as well. Click here to read more.

To read all the reasons why Royal Maca is the best maca you can buy, Click here

Everytime you make a purchase from Whole World Botanicals you are helping to improve the lives of the native people who provide these botanicals and the promote sustainable use of the rainforest and the Andes. Click here

about Royal Maca® our Royal Maca® products.

Wildcrafted Royal Camu™ Capsules (70) –
NOW 50% OFF

Camu-Camu, an Amazonian rainforest fruit with the highest known
Vitamin C content on the planet!

Scientific studies on the Camu-Camu fruit have verified its amazing Vitamin C content. Royal Camu™ guarantees at least 10% Vitamin C from the fruit itself at the date of manufacture. Each milligram of the Vitamin C flavanoid complex derived from Camu-camu is 50 times more potent than the milligram of synthetic Vitamin C. Research relevant to the benefits of Camu-Camu are based on the extensive studies on synthetic Vitamin C.

These studies document the benefits for the

Immune system
Mood Support
Adrenal glands

Vitamin C is the most important vitamin for the brain, lung, heart, and liver because of its powerful antioxidant properties. Vitamin C is also known to promote ATP (cellular energy).

Click here to take advantage of this sale.

about Royal Camu® in our Herbal Research Section. our Royal Camu® products.

Royal Maca Plus with DIM and Women who have had a Hysterectomy

There are so many women in the United States who have had a hysterectomy—either complete with ovaries and uterus removed or a partial, with just the uterus removed. Even those who still have their ovaries will find their estrogen and progesterone levels decreasing, as the blood supply to the ovaries greatly decreases after a hysterectomy. Fortunately, the body has a back up system for the production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone—the adrenal glands. Although the production of these hormones by the adrenal glands is small, Royal Maca can help your body make the most of what they do produce Royal Maca® products help your body produce more DHEA and more Human Growth Hormone—both of which decrease with age and yet are so important for optimal hormonal balance. And that is why and how Royal Maca, Royal Maca for Menopause and Royal Maca Plus with DIM can help a woman who had a hysterectomy achieve excellent hormone balance without the use of hormones.

Here is a new testimonial which Whole World Botanicals received this week:

Your product has helped me immensely. I had a hysterectomy in my early 20's and am now 57 and was looking for something natural to help me feel better. I had never been on hormones. I noticed an immediate change in my energy levels and all around feeling. I am somewhat sensitive to herbs, so sometimes I skip every other day and still feel fantastic taking this product. I did alot of research on the internet before choosing your product, Royal Maca Plus I will continue to purchase this product and take throughout my lifetime. I was even more surprised when Dr. Oz mentioned the Maca product on his show the other day and knew that I had made the right choice in choosing Royal Maca to help me.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: Does Maca Root increase your appetite?

Recently Whole World Botanicals received this question from a customer:

Hello. I love Royal Maca, even after one day. However, I noticed my appetite went thru the roof. Is that normal initially? Does it usually subside? Thank you.

Maca root (Lepidium meyenii/chacon) is a cruciferous vegetable with hormone balancing properties throughout the entire body. There are two metabolic hormones, produced by the stomach, which control your appetite. One is called Leptin which tells you when you are full and need to stop eating. It’s called the satiety hormone. The other is called Grehlin, the hunger hormone, and it tells you when your body needs more nourishment—when you need to eat.

A: When you first start taking Royal Maca, even a very small amount, all of the hormonal systems in your body perk up and work better—maybe even “over the top” better. Then your body becomes accustomed to this additional support and the effects are less dramatic. Some people when they first start using Royal Maca will get extra hungry, because more Grehlin hormone is stimulated. But that soon settles down. In fact, Whole World Botanicals has numerous testimonials from customers who have found it easy to lose weight with our product. This may be a result of several factors: an improvement in energy because the adrenal glands are working better; an improvement in metabolism because the thyroid is working better; an improvement in metabolism because the pancreas is working better; an a sensitization to the effects of Leptin – the hormone that signals “I’m full. I don’t need any more food.”

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Scientific Breakthrough on Preventing
the Formation of Amyloid Plaque

Large amounts of amyloid plaque have been found in the brains of all Alzheimer’s patients when an autopsy has been performed. This plaque is called beta-amyloid protein and referred to by scientists as “Abeta.” In the current search for anti-Alzheimer’s Disease drugs, researchers have been intensively studying what they call “amyloidism,” with a focus on finding ways to modify the process of accumulation of Abeta in the brain. The scientists have uncovered four paths to prevent or stop Abeta accumulation in the brain: (i) reduction of Abeta production; promotion of the Abeta degrading catabolic pathway; (iii) immunotherapy for Abeta and (iv) inhibition of Abeta aggregation.

In investigating the fourth avenue of research – how to inhibit the accumulation or aggregation of Abeta, attention has been focused both on chemical compounds developed in the laboratory and on compounds found in botanicals which can chemically bind the plaque so that it can be excreted or eliminated out of the body through the bowel. Several studies have been performed on the binding capacity of compounds found in Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) to Abeta with promising results.

Click here to see some scientific studies relating to Cat’s Claw and Alzheimer’s Disease.

about our Royal Cat’s Claw products. our Royal Cat’s Claw products.

Why does meat consumption increase the risk for diabetes?

Meat linked to increased diabetes risk: Meta-analysis By Stephen Daniells, 28-Oct-2009

High intake of processed meat may increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by 40 per cent, according to a new meta-analysis from Norway and the US.

Data from 12 cohort studies showed that high intakes of all types of meat were associated with a 17 per cent increase in the risk of type-2 diabetes, while similar risk increases were also noted for high intakes of red meat.

The study, published in the journal Diabetologia, adds to an ever increasing list of bad news for red and processed meat, following previous studies from the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) that reported high intakes of red and processed meats may raise the risk of lung and colorectal cancer by up to 20 per cent. Click here to read more.

about our Royal Abuta Plus® products. our Royal Abuta Plus® products.

The World Cancer Research Fund published a report in 2007 that directly linked diet to cancer, with alcohol and red and processed meats posing particular risks.

Earlier this year, the same authors published similar findings from a study with half a million people, noting that that increased consumption of red and processed meat may have a modestly increased risk of death from all causes and also from cancer or heart disease (Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol 169, pp. 562-571).

The Archives study was described by Barry Popkin from the University of North Carolina as “excellent” in an accompanying editorial. Popkin added that the results “reiterate the concerns echoed in other major reviews and studies on the adverse effects of excessive meat intake”.

The new meta-analysis, led by Dagfinn Aune from the University of Oslo, sought to iron out the inconsistencies from previous studies which found both positive and negative associations between meat consumption and the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Of the 12 cohort studies pooled, the overall data suggested the high intake of total meat increased the risk of diabetes by 17 per cent, while red meat and processed meat were associated with 21 and 41 per cent increases in diabetes risk.

“These results suggest that meat consumption increases the risk of type 2 diabetes,” said the researcher. “However, the possibility that residual confounding could explain this association cannot be excluded,” they concluded.

A direct mechanistic study of how meat may affect diabetes risk has not been performed. However, an earlier study from Harvard University suggested several “possible biologically adverse effects of components in red and processed meats”, including saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. However, their study (Diabetologia, 2006, Vol. 49, pp. 2604-13) failed to find an association between these components.

Another possibility is the effect of nitrites, frequently used as preservatives in processed meats. “Nitrosamines can be formed by the interaction of amino compounds with nitrites present either in the stomach or within the food product,” they explained. “They have been linked to beta cell toxicity. In addition, low doses of the nitrosamine streptozotocin were found to induce type 2 diabetes in animal models,” they added.

The possible effects of “residual confounding” and uncertainty over the possible mechanism show that more research is clearly needed in this area.

Source: Diabetologia
November 2009, Volume 52, Issue 11, Pages 2277-2287
"Meat consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies"
Authors: D. Aune, G. Ursin, M.B. Veierod

For information on ways to promote a healthy blood sugar level naturally, click here.

The most common form of liver damage is caused by sugar.
How herbs can help.

Do you drink soft drinks 4 or more times a week? Do you find it hard to get through the day without having either ice cream, candy, a piece of cake or some cookies? Do you find that you just don’t have enough energy to exercise? Do you sometimes have pain on your right side or a feeling of pressure just below the rib cage? Do you find that fatigue is your biggest health problem?

If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you probably have a damaged liver. New research shows a strong linkage between the consumption of fructose – the cheap corn syrup found in almost all commercial baked goods and all soft drinks—and the development of fatty liver disease. In an animal study presented at this year’s annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease most of the rats fed a sugar-water diet developed liver disease called “fatty liver.” The researchers went so far as to suggest that high sugar consumption may be directly toxic to the liver.

To prevent a fatty liver you need to make a radical change to your diet, if you eat like the average American. Start making water your main beverage of choice. Find ways to cut down on your sugar consumption—especially fructose. Read labels carefully and if you are going to buy cookies, or pies, for example, find out what kind of sugar was used in their preparation.

How Herbs Can Help

Chanca Piedra, sold by Whole World Botanicals as Royal Break-Stone (chanca means “break” or “smash” in Spanish and the Indian language Quechua, and piedra means “stone” in Spanish). It is very good at promoting liver health and is different from milk thistle a popular herb for the liver in several very significant ways. Not only do studies suggest that it supports healthy liver enzyme levels, but it also is very useful in helping the liver digest fats. Royal Break-Stone, available as a Liquid Extract, a Tea, or in capsules, helps increase the amount of bile produced by your liver. Bile is essential to fat digestion. It also helps your body produce more lecithin. One of the main properties of lecithin is helping to emulsify, or break down, fats, which enables excess fat to be eliminated from the body through the bowel.

about our Royal Break-Stone® products. our Royal Break-Stone® products.

Camu-Camu and Support for Swollen Lymph Glands

Recently Whole World Botanicals received the following testimonial.

“I am taking your Royal Camu three times a day away from food. I am doing this to strengthen my immune system and right away I noticed that the pain in my swollen lymph glands in the groin area went away. Have you heard of this happening before?”
- Cynthia O. – Texas

I answered her as follows:
Dear Cynthia: Yes, we have heard many times that it supports the lymph glands. This is not surprising since the lymph glands make a special kind of white blood cells called lymphocytes which help the body fight infection. Vitamin C is essential to the production of all white blood cells and Camu-Camu, in nature, when flash frozen, has more natural Vitamin C than any other known botanical. The problem is that most companies do not flash freeze their Camu-Camu berries and by the time they are processed most of the Vitamin C content has disappeared. Royal Camu, our brand of this powerful Amazon fruit, is flash frozen and is offered either as a spray dried product (the light Royal Camu) or slowly dried at a low temperature for 3 days, (the dark Royal Camu). You will notice a difference in how you feel with 30 minutes or less if you take ½ tsp. to one tsp. at a time.
Sincerely,
Viana Muller, Ph.D.
Co-founder of Whole World Botanicals about our Royal Camu® products.

our Royal Camu® in capsule or powder form. our Royal Camu® in powder in bulk.

Q: How to do a gall bladder stone flush?

A: I am trying to dissolve gallstones (marble size per ultra-sound). I plan to order the Royal Break Stone Liquid Extract (liver flush double strength). For my purpose, is it best to take with food or away from food... or should I do both?? Currently taking cucurmin, drinking lemon juice and some apple juice - OK to do that along with Chanca Piedra?
Thank you for your assistance.

Dear Jackie,
Best to take your Break-Stone away from food. One serving three times a day 15 minutes before eating or two hours after eating. It's O.K. to take those other things you are taking as well but is not necessary. Hopefully all will be resolved in 3 or 4 weeks.
To your health,
Viana Muller, Ph.D.
Whole World Botanicals

about our Royal Break-Stone® products. our Royal Break-Stone® products.

Q: Can Royal Maca help acne?

A: It often can, but of course it depends on the cause of the acne. If an underlying hormone imbalance is the primary cause of the acne, usually Royal Maca will help. Usually teenage acne responds well to a small amount of Royal Maca --one capsule daily at breakfast for people 120 pounds or less or highly sensitive people and two capsules for everyone else. Women in their 20’s and beyond often will have an outbreak of a pimple or two around their period, indicating a great drop in their hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and maca can also help prevent this if taken on a daily basis throughout the month (one or two capsules daily as described above). Severe cases of acne may involve the stress hormone cortisol. In these cases it is wise to consult a physician. However, Royal Maca sometimes can help improve this type of condition as well.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Can Maca Root be Combined with Viagra®?

Here is a question received by Whole World Botanicals within the last week.

Q: I am a 63 year old man and have been using Viagra for the past year. Although it does the job and I am happy to please my partner, I don’t have the level of excitement I used to have during sex. Can I combine Royal Maca® with Viagra?

A: This is a great question and there must be many men who are having the same experience that you have and would like to have something that would enhance their own pleasure. You may be aware of the fact that several studies, both with human males and with animals, have suggested that Maca Root increases libido. And animal studies have shown that Maca Root increases the number of times of copulation in a dramatic fashion. So my question back to you is, have you ever thought of trying Royal Maca by itself instead of Viagra? Of course, it’s not something that you can take and 20 minutes later have an erection. But it is possible to find a dose that taken in the morning or once in the morning and once with dinner will make a dramatic difference in bed that same evening.

The amount of Royal Maca that it takes to get a same day response varies from man to man. For one man it could be 4 capsules (2/3 of one tsp.) and for another man it could be 6 capsules (a whole teaspoon). For a third man, it might be 9 capsules or 1 ½ tsp. It’s a matter of trying it out. It’s also important to remember that the dose that “works” might not work so well if it is taken every day. That might prove to be too much for your body. When a system in the body is overwhelmed, it will often shut down. It’s all about achieving hormonal balance.

So to get back to your question, we’ve never come across a man who was using both and so we really don’t know. And since we don’t know, we can only advise you to consult your physician.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Free Radicals linked to Depression, Camu-Camu is effective in destroying free radicals, Increased xanthine oxidase in the thalamus and putamen in depression.

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Jun 12:1-7. Michel TM, et. Al.; Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany

A growing body of literature suggests persistent and selective structural changes in the cortico-limbic-thalamic-striatal system [of the brain] in patients with recurrent depressive disorder. Oxidative stress is thought to play a key role in these processes. So far, the main scientific focus has been on antioxidant enzymes in this context. For the first time, …this study examines the activity of the free radicals producing the enzyme, xanthine oxidase, directly in the cortico-limbic-thalamic-striatal system [of the brain] of patients with recurrent depression.		*Freshly Harvested Camu-Camu Fruit*

There are multiple studies in the published medical literature demonstrating the effectiveness of synthetic Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in destroying free radicals. Camu-Camu a food source of Vitamin C plus many other phytochemicals with mood balancing effects is far more effective mg. per mg. in destroying free radicals. Royal Camu, sold by Whole World Botanicals, is guaranteed to contain 10% Vitamin C derived from the Camu-Camu fruit itself, and is an excellent buy.

about our Royal Camu® products. our Royal Camu® products.

SIDE EFFECTS OF COMBINING OTHER BOTANICALS WITH MACA ROOT

Frequently Whole World Botanicals get emails like the following one from a woman who would like to know if it’s safe for her to combine Royal Maca with a number of different botanicals and prescription drugs.

I am concerned about interaction between Maca Root and Valerian. Is this O.K.?

The only way Whole World Botanicals would know about bad reactions from combining other herbs with maca root such as Valerian is if someone taking Royal Maca and Valerian were to report a bad reaction. So all we can say is that we have no reports of negative side effects involving the combination of these two botanicals. That, however, doesn’t mean that it IS a good idea to combine them or that an individual would not experience a negative side effect. It could be fine for one person and another person could have an unpleasant reaction. Everyone is so physiologically different. And then again, there is the question of dosage. A person can have a bad reaction to an herb because he or she is taking too much for the body to handle. Yet another person would have no problem with it.

Valerian is often used to promote better sleep. Women in menopause and older men often have a problem getting a good night’s sleep because their bodies are an inadequate amount of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. Royal Maca promotes hormone balance and there might not be a need to take Valerian if you were taking Maca. So there are many different factors to consider in combining different herbs.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

How to Boost your Libido during Perimenopause, Menopause,
and for the rest of your life!

So much attention is spent on boosting men’s libido and their performance but few seem to worry about a very common problem related to Menopause—the loss of libido. So many women have written to me to ask me if Royal Maca will help raise their libido. During menopause, it’s not only estrogen and progesterone levels which drop but testosterone levels as well. Most women relate this loss to the effect it’s having on their relationship with their husband or significant other. It’s not good!

Fortunately, most women experience a significant increase in sexual desire once they start taking Royal Maca. So in Maca Root an aphrodisiac – or what? Whole World Botanicals constantly emphasizes that Maca is not primarily an aphrodisiac—it’s a hormone balancer. Therefore it tends to raise testosterone levels in most women as well as progesterone and estrogen levels (if low). However, scientific research has made an interesting discovery: one of the isothiocyanates found in Maca – and in some other plants of the Lepidium genus. The name of this phytocompound is isothiocyanate p-methyl benzyl. It has been shown to increase fertility and researchers suggest that it has at least mild aphrodisiac properties.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

A Natural Way to Deal with Yeast Infections during Menopause:

Have you noticed that you seem to be getting more Yeast Infections now that your hormones are shifting and you are entering Menopause? This is a very common problem and women are often struggling with taking repeated doses of Micostatin® an anti-fungal over-the-counter drug.

One of the many positive “side effects” of taking Royal Maca® for perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms is that low grade vaginal discharges or infections tend to clear up in a couple of weeks after women start taking Royal Maca.® This is something, quite frankly, that we did not expect but we knew it was true when a number of our women customers emailed or called Whole World Botanicals to tell us about this unexpected bonus. It actually makes sense when you realize that a low estrogen level in a woman’s body can cause tissue changes in the vagina which makes it more susceptible to these low grade infections. Since Royal Maca® helps a woman’s body produce more of its own estrogen, the vaginal changes get reversed and the infections stop. Of course, it also helps reverse vaginal atrophy and dryness.

about our Royal Maca.
our Royal Maca® products.

Herbal Options to Improve Sleep

Q: I am 46 years old and have had insomnia for the last 6 months. I started using Whole World Botanicals’ Graviola Liquid Extract to help me sleep and it works really well, but I notice that there is a warning on the bottle not to use it for more than a few months. Why is that? Do you sell another product that could help me sleep?

A: Doctors in Martinique and Guyana, both places where daily use of Graviola Tea is very popular as an antidepressant and to help people relax, warn that it has caused a tremor that doesn’t go away in a small number of people who have been using this herb for decades every day and sometimes several times a day. That is why Whole World Botanicals suggests that this product be used for no more than 3 months continuously.

We have several other products that might help you with sleep. One is the Royal Camu. Camu-Camu, a rainforest fruit from the Amazon, has more natural Vitamin C than any other known botanical. It is a free radical quencher and mood balancer that can induce relaxation and a deep sense of well being the first day you use it. It can be taken with anti-depressants. There are no side effects. Another herb that helps some people sleep is our Royal Desmodium Strong Back Herb. It relaxes the muscles in the neck and back and is calming. Some people use it every night to help them sleep.

Perimenopausal women and postmenopausal women often have sleep issues because of the drop in their estrogen levels. A dramatic drop in estrogen also causes a drop in serotonin and melatonin levels. Serotonin helps give a feeling of well being and an adequate level of melatonin is necessary for drowsiness. Royal Maca® is an unsurpassed botanical for creating hormone balance and helping with sleep issues.

about the herbs listed above.

our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Camu® products.
our Royal Desmodium® products. our Royal Graviola liquid extract ® products.

Women’s libido and Menopause: How to regain a healthy Sex Drive

Q: Since I started getting hot flashes, my libido has just disappeared. Will Royal Maca® help improve my sex drive? The loss of libido bothers me more than the hot flashes.

A: Yes, most but not all women experience a distinct upsurge of libido when taking Royal Maca.
Maca root is believed to help the body achieve hormone balance through a number of different pathways, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, supporting the production of the precursor hormones which are used to make estrogen and testosterone. An adequate testosterone level is indispensable for a healthy sex drive.
The precursor hormone gonadotropin-releasing hormone, made by the hypothalamus gland stimulates the production of FSH which stimulate the production of both estrogen and testosterone.
The precursor hormone, DHEA, made by the adrenal glands, is used to produce both estrogen
And testosterone.

If the body is NOT making enough estrogen, the level of testosterone, which acts as an aphrodisiac as well as performing other important functions in the body, will dramatically drop. The result will be a loss of interest or desire for sex.

What is exciting about taking a premium quality Maca Root product—Royal Maca® is the best maca root product on the market—is that, unlike the phytoestrogenic herbs taken by menopausal women for hormone balance, you are not taking a plant form of hormone replacement. You are actually taking a supplement that will help your body make its own better balance of hormones. That’s why the effect of Royal Maca is systemic and broad spectrum. And it works—if you are taking the right dosage for you—in five to seven days! Of these, one has been identified as having at least mild aphrodisiac properties: p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate. The relatively high concentration of arginine may be significant due to its role in male fertility. The relatively high concentration of histidine may also be important, in both positive and negative ways. Histidine is used in the body to produce histamine, a compound important in the process of ejaculation. The presence of histidine may be beneficial to women having trouble achieving orgasms, but may be detrimental to men who suffer from premature ejaculation.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Maca Root is Hormone Balancing Only When Taken at the Right Dosage. If Taken at the Wrong Dosage, it is Unbalancing!

Our American psychology says that “more is better.” This totally goes against the way our bodies work! If our estrogen is too low, we women will get hot flashes, will be depressed or anxious or rageful, begin to notice vaginal dryness and atrophy, etc. But if our estrogen is too high and balanced by adequate progesterone, we will have flooding periods, be more prone to endometriosis, uterine fibroids and other maladies. Royal Maca® is superb at creating hormone balance ONLY if taken at the right dosage and there is no “one size fits all” dosage.

Recently a customer wrote with the following question:

Q: I am 42 years old, still have a period and have been taking 2 capsules of Royal Maca in the AM for about 2 weeks. I have become very moody since I started taking it, and it has not helped my dryness. Nor has it improved my desire for sex. How much Royal Maca should I be taking?

A: Ordinarily, this dosage would have been correct and in most women would not create moodiness. In fact, it would make the moodiness much better AND would also help with the dryness and probably with the libido issue. So why wasn’t she getting good results?

I called her and confirmed after a short conversation that she is HIGHLY SENSITIVE to all drugs and herbs. As she puts it: “ I am a redhead with very pale skin and everything affects me a lot.” For highly sensitive people, Whole World Botanicals recommends cutting the dosage in half – in other words one capsule daily instead of two capsules daily.

P.S. Within a week of changing her dosage she was feeling really good.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Yeast Infections and Menopause

Q: Since I started menopause I seem to constantly have a yeast infection. I have been buying an anti-fungal cream—Monostat®--to help with this. But the itchiness and discharge keeps returning. Is there an herbal remedy which could help with this?

A: Royal Maca, a cruciferous root vegetable product which grows in the high Andes mountains of Peru can eliminate this common symptom of menopause. The most common medical complaint of women is vaginal infection and the most common type of vaginal infection is a yeast infection. Hormone imbalances are the most common cause, making yeast infections very common during menopause. If your yeast infection is a result of changing hormone levels during peri-menopause or menopause, Royal Maca will probably be your answer.

Why is Royal Maca® superior to other maca products on the market? Click here to find out.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Burning & Pain with Intercourse – Vaginal Atrophy and Natural Cures

Google: I have burning and pain with intercourse. My doctor says it’s vaginal atrophy and is normal in menopausal and post-menopausal women. He suggests taking an estrogen suppository. Is there any herb that could help this? I’d prefer not to take estrogen.

At least half of all post-menopausal women in the U.S. suffer from vaginal atrophy. This is a condition which involves a thinning and drying of the vaginal walls, causing pain during intercourse. Many take estrogen as their “cure” but increasingly women are avoiding taking estrogen because of the health risks involved. Even the estrogen from vaginal suppositories does enter the blood stream and circulates throughout the body. Other women rely on lubricants which help but are messy and less than satisfactory.

But the word is getting out: Royal Maca, a natural product made from a Peruvian vegetable which grows at 14,000 feet above sea level, is highly effective and creating hormone balance and relieving vaginal dryness naturally. Royal Maca is very different from other maca products on the market. It is a certified organic, sun-dried, highly concentrated (gelatinized) form of Maca Root, which comes in capsules and powder. Whole World Botanicals provides individual help for dosing questions through emailed questions and answers and also offers a Hot Line for you to call with your questions. Your phone call is usually returned with 48 hours – or less.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

How does maca help promote healthy sex drive (libido) in both men and women? What accounts for its aphrodisiac properties?

This question is still not well understood by scientists, but what stands out in maca root (which carries two scientific names – both Lepidium Meyenni and Lepidium Peruvianum—is its isothiocyanates. These are the chemical actives which slowly develop in the maca roots (technically speaking, actually they are hypocotyls) once they have been harvested and are allowed to dry slowly in the sun over a period of 6 to 8 weeks. The isothiocyantes are break down products from the glucosinolates found in cruciferous vegetables. However, some of these isothiocyantes are unique to the Lepidium genus and some are unique to the Maca Roots. Whatever chemical constituents which are unique to a plant can be turned to as a source of the unique or outstanding characteristics of that plant in terms of its therapeutic properties.

An isothiocyanate unique to the Lepidium genus, Of these, p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate has been identified as having at least mild aphrodisiac properties and is probably partially responsible for the aphrodisiac properties of maca. However, since these isothiocyanates only develop by slow drying of the Maca Roots in the sun, it is important to buy a brand that is guaranteed to be sun-dried. Royal Maca carries that guarantee, in addition to its USDA approved third party certification for being organic. The potency of Royal Maca is at least 5 - 10 times greater than most maca available commercially in the U.S. For this reason, it is highly effective and requires only a tiny dosage, making it very cost effective.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Maca Root helps maintain a healthy vaginal ecology.
Non-specific vaginal discharge clears up.

Over the years women customers have from time to time mentioned to me that since they started taking Royal Maca their vaginal discharge had cleared up. I thought this was wonderful and interesting but had no way of understanding this scientifically, as there was nothing in the scientific literature to suggest this kind of effect.

But that’s all changed now that plant scientists have begun to study the isothiocynates in the Maca Root. Maca roots, like other plants in the Lepidum genus, have a significant amount of glucosinolates which slowly – and partially – convert to isothiocyanates when the roots are slowly dried in the sun over a period of six to eight weeks, in the traditional way.

Now it’s been discovered that another plant in the Lepidium genus, Lepidium bonariense, contains one of the same isothiocyanates as the Maca Root. Research on this isothiocyanate, called p-Methoxybenzylisothiocyanate, derived from the Lepidium bonariense plant, was isolated and found to be responsible for the plant’s antimicrobial and STD (sexually transmitted disease) activity. The p-methoxybenzylisothiocyanate derived from Lepidum bonariense was tested against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus ducreyi, and other micro-organisms. So, ladies, Royal Maca® which has a high percentage of isothiocyanates, since it is always sun-dried, might become your favorite food for helping to maintain a healthy vaginal ecology.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: Is it normal to have heartburn or stomach irritation when a person first starts taking Royal Maca?

A: This is an infrequent side effect – perhaps 5 – 10% of the population may experience this in the beginning. Of course, since Royal Maca is “pre-cooked” by a special process of heating under pressure for a few seconds—called “gelatinization”—it happens much less frequently than if you were taking raw maca. Raw maca contains a slightly toxic enzyme which causes stomach cramping and is a frequent side effect of this type of maca. That’s why the native people of Peru in the highlands where the maca plant grows never eat it raw. The good news is that if you do get some heartburn or stomach upset, you can cut your dosage in half for a few days and divide it up between two or three meals a day, rather than taking it all at once, and this problem should disappear in most people.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: Which herbs or botanical supplements can help maintain a healthy liver? What causes poor liver function?

A huge number of Americans—estimated at more than 10% of the population-- have less than optimal liver function. Their high consumption of dairy and meat products have produced a condition known as “fatty liver.” Surgeons doing any kind of abdominal surgery are often shocked by the appearance of these livers. Fatty livers can lead to fibrosis, reduced liver function, and in some cases, even cirrhosis. Reduced liver function causes cascades into other serious health problems – including faulty estrogen regulation – which can even contribute to the development of breast cancer.

A: Dietary Suggestions to Help You Keep a Healthy Liver To help keep your liver in good shape, you want to cut back on your number of weekly servings of meat and dairy products. Get used to eating vegetarian chili at least once a week, rice and beans with fish on another day, spaghetti with tomato eggplant sauce or lentil-marinara sauce. Don’t forget about the wonderful tasting substitute meats made out of soybeans (but be sure it’s organic):try a tofu-vegetable burger one day and tofu hot dogs (some you can’t tell from the real thing) on another day of the week. You can also try your hand at making and enjoying such dishes as spinach soufflé.

About 10 percent of Americans have fatty livers from being overwhelmed with fat sent from the intestines and omentum (our abdominal fat depot) for processing.

For those of you who find it virtually impossible to stick to these dietary changes, we suggest you try our Royal Maca Plus DIM for Women or Super Royal Maca for Men products. Maca, taken on a regular basis helps modulate cholesterol levels and DIM is a breakdown product I3c (indole-3-carbinol) found in cruciferous vegetables, of course it is always preferable to get these directly from the vegetables.

about our Royal Break-Stone® products. our Royal Break-Stone® products.

Your Need for Dietary Changes as well as Royal Maca products

Hello women of America out there!

I talk to you every day through email and on the phone. You KNOW that taking hormones is NOT GOOD FOR YOU. That’s why you’ve come to Whole World Botanicals’ website—because you want the very best certified organic and COOKED (like the natives eat) Maca Root on the market. Most of you don’t know how important it is to SUN DRY the Maca Roots, but it is. And again this is the traditional way, native Peruvian people prepare their Maca Roots. Modern scientific investigation has confirmed the wisdom of this native custom.

But I am writing to you now, dear Sisters and Daughters to let you know that eating the best Maca in the world – Royal Maca – is NOT ENOUGH to optimize your hormonal health. You also need to include at least ONE CUP OF RAW (or steamed for 5 minutes or less) servings of these cruciferous vegetables THREE TIMES A WEEK: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage(think Cole Slaw), or Water Cress (delicious mixed with lettuce and tomatoes for salad) Don’t eat this for fun. Eat this for Health. Your chances of ever getting cancer – including breast cancer – are very, very slim if you eat this way. And, did you know that Maca Root is also a cruciferous Vegetable? Yes, it is! Isn’t that exciting.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: What are the possible allergic reactions to taking Maca Root?

A: In my experience, there are perhaps 5 - 10% of the population that have allergic reactions to maca. Sometimes a person will think he or she is having an allergic reaction when in fact it is either an initial cleansing reaction or the side effects the person is experiencing is due to taking the wrong dosage (too much). In that case, it is helpful to stop taking the product for a day or two and then to resume taking but at half the previous dosage. If after a week, there are no allergic type reactions or side effects, you can try increasing the dose a little to see what happens.

Allergic reactions can take many forms, but here are some of the most common ones: itchiness, nausea, diarrhea, feelings of anxiety or lightheadedness, swelling in the legs, heart palpitations.

Some reactions which may happen initially to a few people but go away after dosage is reduced and when the body acclimates are: itchiness, diarrhea.

Stomach cramping most often happens when people are taking raw maca root powder. Maca is not meant to be taken raw and has been scientifically shown to inhibit digestion and assimilation.

A few people are so sensitive to Maca Root do well on such a tiny dose of Royal Maca that you wouldn’t think they would derive any benefit. I’m talking about one capsule every other day or in one extreme case, one capsule a week. So before you give up on Royal Maca, try very small amounts and not every day to see how your body responds.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Is it a good idea to take Royal Maca and Wild Yam Cream at the same time?

What affect would Maca Root would have on the natural compound cream (yams derivative) progesterone? Can you tell me if they will conflict with each other or cause side effects (adverse reactions) taking them both at the same time? Thank you, E.M. - Colorado

Click here to read more - Royal Maca Q&A

about our Royal Maca® products.
our Royal Maca® products.

How Cat’s Claw (Uña de Gato) offers powerful immune system support:
It helps the body increase the production of lymphocytes, white blood cells, and increase its repair of DNA.

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a highly researched botanical. In the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, February, 2000, author Y. Sheng and his research team published the results of their studies on the immune system of rats and human males in which they were given a water-soluble extract of Cat’s Claw (in other words, a strong tea), some for 4 weeks, some for 6 weeks.

Their findings were as follows:

Lymphocyte proliferation was significantly increased in the spleenocytes of rats.
In a 4 week study of white blood cells in Cat’s Claw treated rats and in another 6 week study with human males, white blood cells were significantly elevated compared with controls.
Repair of DNA single strand breaks and double strand breaks after whole body irradiation of rats were also significantly improved in Cat’s Claw extract treated animals.

No acute or chronic toxicity was reported in any of these studies.

about our Royal Cat’s Claw products. our Royal Cat’s Claw products.

Whole World Botanicals offers a Maca Root-DIM product which significantly reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.

Diet plays a critical role in the incidence of cancer in humans, and understanding this relationship may lead to new strategies for reducing risk. Diets high in cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli and cabbage) have been found to reduce the development of breast cancer and other estrogen-dependant cancers. Both indole-3-carbinoI (I3C) and a patent breakdown product of I3C called diindolylmethane (DIM) have been demonstrated to reduce tumors in animals, including mammary tumors in rats and mice.

Our bodies can make healthy estrogen metabolites or unhealthy estrogen metabolites depending on the action of few key enzymes on our body enzymes – p450 is a powerful anticancer enzyme which helps prevent all cancers and estrogen dependent cancers in particular.

I3C, obtained from cruciferous vegetables (e.g., cabbage, broccoli, etc.), and DIM are known to increase oxidative P-450 metabolism in both animals and human beings. Maca root is also a cruciferous vegetable and as such as has potent anticancer activity. Whole World Botanicals has combined maca root with DIM to produce a product that may help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer and other estrogen-dependent cancers.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Hormone Balance Improved by Royal Break-Stone Liver Flush

Practitioners of alternative medicine have long known the importance of doing periodic liver flushes to detoxify the liver -- or to put it in plain English -- to make the liver work better.

The liver helps convert your cholesterol into hormones. It also regulates how much of different hormones are circulating in your blood stream. If your liver is working at less than optimum function, if your bile flow is insufficient, if your liver enzyme levels are elevated, if your liver is clogged by stones -- all of these factors will impact on the hormone balance in your body.

Alternative practitioners who specialize in adjuvant therapy for cancer patients also place great emphasis on cleansing the liver. And people who are dedicated to preventive medicine are known to flush out their livers both fall and spring.

The olive oil - lemon flush or some variant is the most popular liver flush. It works fast, in 24 - 36 hours but not everyone can tolerate the drastic quick action involved in this flush. For those who want a gentler flush-- one that takes 3 to 4 weeks but does not make you sick in the process and allows you to eat normally, Royal Break-Stone, whose active ingredient is Phyllanthus niruri, may be your answer. Its actions on the liver are backed up by impressive scientific research and it is pleasant and easy. This product, also known as Chanca Piedra, comes as a Tea, a Liquid Extract (water-based - no alcohol) or in Capsules.

about our Royal Break-Stone® products. our Royal Break-Stone® products.

Q: The Whole World Botanicals brochure says that you can't combine Royal Maca with estrogen or with other adaptogenic botanicals, like ginseng. I take other adaptogenic herbs sometimes, like ashwaganda and ginseng, and want to know why I can't combine them with maca.

A: In the U.S. so many of us seem to have the feeling that "more is better," sort of like "more for your money." When it comes to taking herbal supplements, it's just not true. The body teaches us over and over again that what it needs is balance. Like the porridge in the children's fairy tale, it has to be "just right" -- it can't be "too hot" or "too cold." Therapeutic botanicals can be enormously helpful to our bodies, but especially when they are helping our hormone balance, they have to be "just right." Too much or too many is overstimulating to the body and will, in most people, produce side effects.

Now the good news for people who are already taking, say, a green juice dry concentrate, that has 10 herbs added to it, is that usually the amounts of the adaptogenic herbs the manufacturer is adding to your green supplement is so tiny that, truly, in most cases it will not make any difference.

But if you start developing side effects while combining Royal Maca, as the company recommends that you take it, with products that contain tribulus terrestis, ginseng, etc., you might try stopping both Royal Maca and the supplement that has the other adaptogenic botanicals for 3 or 4 weeks and then try reintroducing Royal Maca and see what happens. You might discover that you then have no side effects. If you do, then usually that means that you will need to reduce your dosage of Royal Maca. In a few cases, it could mean that your body does not react well to maca root.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: What effect does Maca Root have on male fertility?

A: Traditionally Maca Root (cooked and organically grown) has been used to increase male fertility as well as female fertility. When a young couple failed to get pregnant, both the husband the wife were put on a daily regimen of cooked maca root. The first scientific confirmation of this traditional usage came in 1960 when a young Peruvian biology student named Gloria Chacon did a study involving male and female rats. The experimental group of rats (there was a control group as well for comparison) were fed cooked organically grown maca root powder for 72 hours and then sacrificed. The male rats’ sperm was counted and its motility (ability to travel) was measured. Both were found to be significantly higher than the sperm count and sperm motility of the control group. Since that first important experiment, a number of confirming animal studies have been published by Peruvian scientists. The results are summarized as follows:

In male animals fed cooked organic maca or maca extract, as compared with the control groups, the following results were obtained: the volume of seminal fluid is increased by 20%, sperm motility by 40% and the number of spermatazoids by 33%. Click here to read more.

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Baby at Age 46 with Royal Maca?

I’m 46 and haven’t had a period in six months. Will Royal Maca bring back my period? I’m hoping so because I want to have a baby. Can Royal Maca help me get pregnant?

Some women who had not had their period in months or even a year or longer in their 40’s and 50’s do get their period back after starting to take Royal Maca. Some of these women have experimented with taking somewhat larger amounts of maca than Whole World Botanicals recommends because they wanted their period to return. Other women had their periods return and this was not particularly welcome.

For fertility questions, it’s important to work with a health care practitioner who can test your hormone levels and advise you. There have been numerous animal fertility studies which demonstrate the usefulness of maca root in supporting healthy reproductive function. But treating infertility is considered a medical issue which needs medical supervision and support.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Royal Maca and Hormone Balance

The concept of “hormone balance” has a great deal of validity. Hormone balance can mean a good balance between estrogen and progesterone and estrogen and testosterone. It can also mean a good balance between the anti-inflammatory type of estrogen and the pro-inflammatory (carcinogenic) type of estrogen produced by your body. As long as your body is producing twice as much of the anti-inflammatory type of estrogen as the carcinogenic type, your risk for developing an estrogen-dependent cancer is greatly reduced.

Another critical factor in good hormone balance is a healthy level of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and is needed for the “fight or flight” response and general vitality. However, when the body is subject to chronic low level stress, typically it well develop a chronically high level of cortisol. This imbalance in the body has serious and negative consequences for health.

Viana Muller Ph.D. Co-founder, Whole World Botanicals, Inc.

Maca root is what herbalists called an adaptogenic botanical, helping your body’s hormone balance which in turn helps support all of the structures and functions of your body. Typically, adaptogens work primarily through the adrenal glands: if you have good adrenal gland function, you are likely to have good hormonal balance throughout your body.

Royal Maca, because it is bio-energetically grown, because it is certified organic, because its roots are sundried and cooked –native Peruvians never eat raw maca—and because it is produced in a way to concentrate its properties is a particularly potent and reliable hormone balancer. As such you only need a very small amount to produce remarkable changes in your body.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

A Testimonial and a Question from a Peri-menopausal Woman

Q: I do see many benefits of taking Royal Maca -- more energy, less moodiness, less water retention, increased libido, fewer cravings. But I have one concern. Is it common for my period to be more frequent? The last two months, I had my period for about 4-5 days, and then about 12-13 days from the first day of my period I had another one, again lasting about 4-5 days. Any help greatly appreciated

A: Having a short menstrual cycle after starting Royal Maca is a sign that you are taking too much for you. You wrote to me that you are taking 2 capsules a day, which is the average correct amount to take. But for you, evidently, this is too much. I suggest that you try taking Royal Maca 5 days a week only. For example, you could take it every day except Wednesday and Sunday.

Viana Muller Ph.D. Co-founder, Whole World Botanicals, Inc.

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Q: I am in peri-menopause and am having very long menstrual periods. I am assuming that I am estrogen-dominant and am wondering which product would be more effective for me: regular Royal Maca or Royal Maca Plus with DIM?

A: It is simpler to try the regular Royal Maca first. Once in a while a woman may have trouble assimilating maca and the same thing can happen with DIM. If you start by taking both together, you won’t know which one might be the one you’re having trouble with.

You can start with two capsules daily (unless you weigh 115 lbs. or less – in that case, start with one capsule) for the first month. It’s best to begin taking Royal Maca in the first week of your cycle--even the first day of your period is fine. Evaluate your results with this dosage at the end (approximately four weeks later) of your menstrual cycle. If your cycle is normal, then you have the right dosage for you. If your period is better but not as good as you would like, increase dosage during the second menstrual cycle as follows: alternate every day between one and two capsules (e.g. Mon. - 1, Tues. - 2, Wed. - 1 etc.)

If this is not totally satisfactory either, then the third month you can increase to 2 caps every day. If you don’t end up with satisfactory results, then you could start with Royal Maca Plus with DIM. Even if you get satisfactory results with the regular Royal Maca, you might want to consider trying the Plus product in order to get the benefits of a reduction in the risk of developing an estrogen-dependent cancer.

Viana Muller Ph.D. Co-founder, Whole World Botanicals, Inc.

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Questions received by Dr. Viana Muller, Ph.D.,
co-founder of Whole World Botanicals

Q: I have several large gall stones and my doctor wants me to have surgery to have my gall bladder removed. I would like to try the Royal Break-Stone but I’m afraid the gall stones might get caught in my bile duct. What is your opinion?

A: It is true that Phyllanthus niruri (Chanca Piedra) which Whole World Botanicals sells as Royal Break-Stone in Tea, Capsules and Liquid Extract has been used traditionally for removing gall stones. Most of the published scientific literature on stones concerns kidney stones – describing how Chanca Piedra dissolves the stones and helps prevent the formation of new stones. There is not much published information on gall stones.

Chanca piedra (Break-Stone)

Whole World Botanicals has numerous customer reports and health care practitioner reports on the effectiveness of Royal Break-Stone for doing a liver flush. This Flush is an alternative to the olive oil – lemon flush and in the process of this flush many stones are released from the gall bladder. This is part of a detoxification process. Usually people take 3 or 4 servings a day for 3 or 4 weeks to complete this detox process. One woman who had several large stones in her gall bladder reported to us that she was afraid to undergo this detox process because of the risk of one or more gall stone getting caught in her bile duct. So she decided to take a tiny amount – one capsule a day. After 3 months she had another ultrasound and discovered that she had 100 tiny stones in her gall bladder. In other words, one serving a day had the result of breaking up the stones but did not remove the stones. Chanca Piedra means literally “break stone” and is the popular name of the Phyllanthus niruri herb. In Brazil, it is called “Quebra Pedra” – which means exactly the same thing. Whole World Botanicals does NOT recommend that you follow this procedure without your doctor’s knowledge or consent. Our product is not sold to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. The above information is presented for educational purposes only.

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Q: I have read some great information about MACA
and adrenal fatigue.

I am wondering what you recommend for amount per day. Also, more importantly, does it have any stimulant affect? I do not want that.
D.R., San Diego

A: It is true: Maca Root does support the adrenal glands, helping to raise DHEA level when it is low and also helping to raise cortisol level when it is low. Adrenal fatigue can involve only a low DHEA level or low levels of both DHEA and cortisol. Maca is called an adaptogenic botanical, a term first used to describe some Chinese herbs. Adaptogenic botanicals help correct imbalances in endocrine gland function and work primarily and first through the adrenal glands.

The effect of Maca Root on the adrenal glands is nourishing, not stimulating or depleting if it is taken at the correct dosage. If you overdo it, the effect can be stimulating. Royal Maca is a premium quality, certified organic, pre-cooked concentrate and only a tiny amount is used to produce profound effects on the body. It is important to start with ¼ tsp. or two capsules only per day. If you are chronically ill and/or petite or very sensitive, you will start with one-half of the normal dosage. You can increase your dosage after trying that starting dosage for one week, if you feel some improvement in energy but are looking for even greater improvement.

Some people who have suffered from chronic fatigue for months or years may end up taking more—and needing more—Royal Maca than people with basic good health. As their health improves they find that they need less.

Note: A few people are highly sensitive to Maca Root. Their bodies seem to have a “cortisol type” reaction. These people are unable to take Maca.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Q: What can a diabetic do that’s natural other than
eating a highly restricted diet?

A: So many people just shake their head with disapproval when they see people with diabetes eating foods that are known to raise blood sugar. The problem is, it’s very difficult to eat a totally medicinal diet and especially hard in our society where people are eating more and more prepared foods and fewer and fewer at home meals. It’s almost impossible to avoid a high-carb diet under these circumstances. Royal Abuta Plus, a formula developed from Peruvian rain-forest plants traditionally known to modulate blood sugar levels may be a welcome addition to your struggle for a healthy life style. Royal Abuta Plus helps your body digest blood carbohydrates in a healthier way by supporting the healthy functioning of your pancreas.* People notice a tremendous difference within a month or less. To read more about the study conducted by a Peruvian traditional medicine institute on this formula, click here.

* These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

Please note that this product is NOT a medicine and therefore does not prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any disease, including diabetes. If you have diabetes you should be under the care of a doctor you trust.

about our Royal Abuta® Plus products. our Royal Abuta® Plus products.

Q: Why does menopause make my brain so foggy?

A: Menopause is characterized by a sharply dropping level of circulating estrogen in the body. The brain, like many other organs in the body, has estrogen receptors attached to it which must be properly filled with estrogen for the brain to function in an optimal fashion. Low estrogen level is associated with a lower cognitive level in women.

Fortunately, there is a natural solution to brain fog in the form of Royal Maca, the only certified organic, bioenergetically grown, sun-dried, pre-cooked, fair traded maca root on the market. Maca grows at the top of the world, at 14,000 feet above sea level where it is so cold that it takes a full nine months for the root to mature. It has been used by Andean women for thousands of years for hormonal balance, as well as energy and vitality, from the teen years through the elder years. Whole World Botanicals offers a variety of premium quality Royal Maca products, for men as well as women, and top customer service.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Taking Royal Maca with DIM while trying to get pregnant?

Q: Hi! How was your summer? Mine was good, especially since all of my female problems have finally disappeared after taking Royal Maca for the last two months. (I had very painful periods.) I was wondering if you can take it (even with the DIM) while trying to get pregnant or if I can take it while pregnant.

A: Traditionally maca root has been used while trying to get pregnant. Maca root has been shown to increase the tissue level of Igf (Insulin growth factor) while helps with hormone balance, and this may be the reason that the Peruvian Andean people have supported their reproductive function for thousands of years with the use of this root. DIM is not such a known factor. The manufacturers of DIM,which is a breakdown product from Indole-3-carbinol found in cruciferous vegetables, advise against its use during pregnancy. This may be just a general precaution against taking anything but the regular diet unless prescribed by a physician. However, Whole World Botanicals also recommends that you ask your physician about taking maca once you are pregnant. Since DIM is mainly used to reduce your risk for getting breast cancer and other estrogen-dependent cancers, there would seem to be no advantage to taking Royal Maca Plus with DIM as a way to support your reproductive function.

about our Royal Maca® products. our Royal Maca® products.

Whole World Botanicals' Vision includes the Promotion of Sustainability

Founded in 1996 by a Peruvian midwife, Elena Rojas, and an American anthropologist, Viana Muller, the Company strives to produce premium quality certified organic and wildcrafted botanicals in the most ethical and harmonious way and bring maca and other therapeutic botanicals to the U.S. market.

Sustainability is a key element of the founders' vision. But as social entrepreneurs, we take our mission to foster social justice seriously and have started programs to make a real difference in the lives of our Peruvian partners. In an effort to alleviate the hardships of these indigenous people while promoting Green Living simultaneously, Whole World Botanicals initiated the pilot Solar Energy Project.

Whole World Botanicals Social Mission

Let us tell you more about the Social Mission of Whole World Botanicals. We know it's a tough world. There's global warming and climate change. Workers are exploited in a globalized economy that does not respect labor rights or environmental concerns. But the founders of Whole World Botanicals, as social entrepreneurs, are concerned not only with providing effective products and excellent support information, but we are also concerned with how our products are produced and the living conditions of the people who produce them. Please read on to discover how we "do business" as committed social entrepreneurs.
about our Social Mission. about our Social Mission (Brochure).

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Dr. Viana Muller, anthropologist and co-founder of Whole World Botanicals receiving just harvested organic maca roots from a Quechua-speaking maca grower living at 14,000 feet above sea level in the Andes mountains of Peru. Whole World Botanicals is bringing to market little known medicinal plants from this area, and returning part of the profits back to the native people who have shared their remarkable plants and knowledge with us.

Whole World Botanicals, Inc.
PO Box 322074 Ft. Wash. Station
New York NY 10032
Toll-free phone 877-885-5517
Phone 212-781-6026 · Fax 212-781-0440