Maca, or Lepidum meyennii walp, is a low-growing plant native to the very high regions of the Andes mountains in South America. Also known as Peruvian ginseng, maca was a dietary staple and a medicinal plant used by the native peoples of Peru thousands of years ago. Today, the underground stem of the maca plant is recognized to have several possible health benefits. If you are considering taking maca, consult your doctor to discuss whether this is advisable for you.
Sexual Function and Fertility
Maca contains several biologically active components, called glucosinolates, that have medicinal uses. The dried underground stem is traditionally used to increase libido and improve fertility. Although maca does not affect blood levels of sex hormones, it may nevertheless improve sperm counts in men and enhance sexual performance in both men and women. In a clinical trial of maca with men and women experiencing drug-related sexual dysfunction, published in 2008 in "CNS Neuroscience Therapies," subjects taking maca experienced significant improvement compared to the control group.
Menopause
Maca may also help relieve some symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats and sleeplessness. In a four-month clinical trial of maca extract published in 2006 in the "International Journal of Biomedical Sciences," 20 female subjects experiencing menopausal symptoms took either maca or a placebo. Consuming maca improved many menopausal symptoms in these subjects compared with those who took a placebo. Maca may also decrease bone loss and slow the increase in blood lipids that often occurs after menopause, although more research is needed to confirm this suggestion.
Energy
Although maca contains no caffeine, it may help boost energy and promote wakefulness. The herb is rich in many minerals, such as potassium and calcium. Maca is also an excellent source of B vitamins, including vitamin B-12, a vitamin that provides the body with needed energy. Maca also contains antioxidants, which are scavengers of free radicals that might harm cellular DNA. The combination of these healthy compounds may provide a natural energy boost to the body and increase your mental acuity.
Recommendations and Precautions
Maca extract is available from most health food stores, in tablets or capsules. The usual dose is 450 mg of the extract, two or three times daily. Maca is generally considered a safe supplement, although it should be taken with food to prevent gastric upset. Although it has no known toxicity, do not take maca if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Maca
- Drugs.com: Maca
- "CNS Neuroscience Therapies"; A Double-Blind, Randomized, Pilot Dose-Finding Study of Maca Root ... ; C. Dording, et al.; 2008
- "International Journal of Biomedical Science"; Therapeutic Effects of Pre-Gelatinized Maca ... ; H. Meissner, et al.; June 2006
- The Herb Companion: Get Back Your Get-Up-and-Go With Maca; J. Kellner; November-December 2005
- "Life Extension" Magazine; A New Way to Manage Menopause and Regain Hormonal Balance With a Cutting-Edge Adaptogen; J. Goepp, M.D.; June 2010
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