Maca is a food plant of Peru. It has been consumed by Andean people for centuries for its ability to improve energy and stamina. Maca has a significant positive effect in women with anxiety disorder due to menopause. The dried maca roots are ground to powder and are sold to herbal dispensaries. Maca is also used as a highly nutritional food source. The nutritional value of maca approaches the quality of cereal grains such as maize, rice and wheat. However, you should not take maca without consulting your doctor.
Maca for Menopause
Maca is used for the management of menopausal symptoms. Being an adaptogenic herb, maca helps women overcome estrogen deficiency. Menopause causes an abrupt estrogen deficiency, thereby giving rise to symptoms of menopause. The therapeutic value of maca for improving menopausal symptoms is attributed to the alkaloids found in the root.
Safety Issues
Maca can have undesirable side effects. The root of maca has relatively high levels of aromatic glucosinolates. Therefore, maca, combined with low intakes of iodine, could cause goiter. Patients with thyroid conditions should not consume maca without medical supervision.
Common Menopausal Symptoms
Hot flashes are common during menopause -- about 75 percent of women experience a sudden wave of heat passing through their bodies. Hot flashes typically begin as an intense build up of body heat, followed by flushing and sweating that can occur with high frequency and negatively impact quality of life. Women in menopause may also experience fatigue, depression, irritability, forgetfulness, tearfulness and vaginal dryness.
When to See A Doctor
The symptoms of menopause may resemble other medical conditions. Ask your doctor for a diagnosis. Normally, a woman is considered to have reached menopause when she has stopped having menstrual periods for at least one year. This usually occurs after the age of 50. Your doctor can run an FSH test to confirm menopause. High levels of FSH may indicate menopause.
References
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Maca
- National College of Natural Medicine: Are You Using the Right Type of Maca?; Peter Bablis
- Drugs.com: Maca
- College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences: Menopause and Soy Review; 2001
- Creighton University Medical Center: Scientific Evidence
- Mayo Clinic: Menopause Symptoms
