Gold maca is a member of the Cruciferae or mustard family that raises energy as well as libido. It grows wild in the highlands of the Andes of South America. In some areas of Peru, maca is an important staple food. Today maca is used as an alternative therapy to manage menopausal symptoms; the root is ground and sold in drug stores. The ground root is available as capsules and as a liquid extract. Talk to your doctor before using maca.
Maca Effects
In Peruvian herbal medicine, maca is reported to improve a postmenopausal woman's hormone production. Menopause is an estrogen deficiency disease. This loss of estrogen activity leads to a wide range of symptoms. Maca can offset a drop in hormonal levels of estrogen and therefore improve the symptoms of menopause. The alkaloids found in the root have been attributed as the cause of maca's positive effects on women dealing with menopausal symptoms, according to the National College of Natural Medicine.
Precautions
Maca may cause multiple undesirable side effects. The root of maca has a wide range of active constituents, including glucosinolates, which interfere with iron metabolism and can produce goiter. People with impaired thyroid function should remove maca from their diets.
Menopausal Symptoms
Hot flashes are among the most common menopausal symptoms. About 75 percent of women suffer from hot flashes at menopause. Most women often feel hot flashes as a sudden sensation of intense heat passing through the body that can last anywhere from 30 to five minutes. Other classic menopausal symptoms include fatigue, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, poor memory and vaginal dryness.
When to See a Doctor
If you have concerns regarding your health after menopause, discuss them with your doctor. Menopause is usually obvious when a full year has passed without a period. Your doctor may order an FSH test to determine whether you have reached menopause. A high FSH, or follicle stimulating hormone, level can signal when you are close to menopause or have already gone through 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
