Maca root is touted as one of the "in" alternative therapies for flagging libidos. Claims associated with maca are compelling. Marketers assert that maca supplements can increase your stamina, give you an energy boost, promote fertility and make you look and feel younger. However, medical experts state that using maca supplements for increased libido in women may not give you the results you expect. Talk to your treating physician before you take dietary supplements to address your health concerns.
About Maca
Maca is a member of the brassicaceae family, which also includes broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. According to the Memorial Sloan-Ketttering Cancer Center, maca is native to Peru and grows at high altitudes of more than 4,000 feet. In Peru, maca root is consumed as a vegetable. But it also has a long history of use in traditional medicine as a way to boost energy, a fertility aid and a way to boost the libido of both men and women. According to Tufts Medical Center, maca root is primarily used to increase libido in men.
Expert Insight
There's no compelling proof to suggest that maca supplements increase the female libido, nor has it been extensively studied for this purpose. Tufts notes that the lion's share of research on maca root has been conducted on rats. In August 2010, a review was published in "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine." Scientists at Pusan National University in South Korea culled all known human trials involving maca root. They found four pertinent randomized clinical trials, two of which indicated that maca improved sexual desire in healthy menopausal woman and healthy men. The other two clinical trials didn't support maca for this purpose.
Other Information
Researchers indicated that there needs to be more comprehensive study on maca root. The paucity of trials on humans, small number of study participants and the quality of the testing have been too limited to draw any conclusions. Although there's no established dose for maca root, Tufts Medical Center indicates that typically, people take 500 to 1,000 mg maca root three times a day. The toxicity of maca root is also unknown; however, no adverse side effects have been noted in human trials.
Treating Low Libido
Maca supplements are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. An important thing to remember when you purchase dietary supplements is that you have no assurance that they're safe or effective --- manufacturers don't have to prove to the FDA that their product has the same known benefits as a prescription drug before it's sold to consumers. There's no one quick fix for a flagging female libido, according to MayoClinic.com. It's normal for your sex drive to have peaks and valleys over the years. A new relationship might inspire desire, while a poor relationship --- or the ending of one --- may tank your libido. Sexual desire may decrease during pregnancy, menopause or a major illness. Your libido can even be affected by medications you take. Sometimes hormone therapy can be helpful; however, MayoClinic.com states that a more comprehensive approach will probably give you better results.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Maca
- U.S. National LIbrary of Medicine; Dietary Supplements Labels Database: Maca
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Maca
- MayoClinic.com: Low Sex Drive in Women
- Tufts Medical Center: Maca
- "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine"; Maca ... for Improving Sexual Function; B.C. Shin, et. al; August 2010
