Botanically known as Lepidium meyeni, maca grows in the high altitudes of the Peruvian Andes. The cultivation of maca is more than 6,000 years old. The root is used medicinally to give the body endurance, and according to the website Raintree Nutrition, maca is considered to be a potent aphrodisiac, due to its high p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate content. Always consult your primary doctor before taking any herbal remedies if you are under medical treatment.
Hormone Production
The use of maca root enhances lutenizing hormone production in the body. Lutenizing hormone is responsible for promoting ovulation in women and is therefore considered a fertility drug by the website FertilityHelper.net. This also helps with cases of amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstruation.
Aphrodisiac
Maca can contains two compounds that enhance libido in both men and women. These compounds, macaenes and macamides, alongside p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, are potent sex enhancers, says Dr. Qun Yi Zheng on FoxNews.com. As a sex-enhancing herb, maca also increases overall energy in the body.
Positive Stress Response
Maca is considered a powerful adaptogen herb. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism, by Simon Mills, explains that adaptogens are remedies that help the body maintain a proper stress response, whether it is emotional, physical or psychological stress. Taking maca every day for an extended period of time will render positive effects on the body and its capability for handling challenges presented through everyday situations.
Nutrition
The nutritious constitution of maca makes it a good source of food. Dry maca contains 10.2 percent protein, 59 percent carbohydrates, 2.2 percent lipids and 8.5 percent fiber as well as vitamins, minerals and amino acids, according to the University of California, Davis Department of Plants and Sciences. This brings a full spectrum of nourishment to the body and has an effect on the immune system by providing minerals that will strengthen the body, making it less apt to contract diseases and infections.
Menopause Aid
The website La Molina states that according to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, the use of maca eliminates symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and depression. Cousens says that sometimes he starts a patient on maca treatment with half a teaspoon of powder or three capsules a day. In some cases, he has raised the dosage to a teaspoon or six capsules a day for full effectiveness. Speak with your health care provider about the right dosage for you.
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