Is Maca Root Effective?

Maca, otherwise known as Lepidium meyenii, is a Peruvian root that grows at extremely high altitudes in the central Peruvian Andes. Traditional Peruvian medicine has used the maca root for generations to enhance fertility. According to the book "Hot Plants: Nature's Proven Sex Boosters for Men and Women," maca root has the ability to deliver energy and mental clarity, enhance your sex drive and restore your hormone imbalances. As with any health supplement, you should speak to a medical professional prior to taking maca root supplements.

Maca Uses

This root has several traditional uses, both as a medicine and as a food. According to the book "Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future," maca root can help treat conditions such as anemia and chronic fatigue syndrome while enhancing fertility, athletic performance, energy, stamina and memory. Additionally, maca root can treat hormone imbalances in women and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome and menopause. Further, maca root also can help to treat osteoporosis, stomach cancer, depression, tuberculosis, erectile dysfunction and leukemia.

Evidence Supporting the Effectiveness

A small study that appeared in the December 2002 "First International Journal of Andrologia" did find that maca root may increase semen quality and heighten libido in some men. Another small study that appeared in the December 2001 "Asian Journal of Andrology" also supports this conclusion. Further, Hyla Cass, MD, psychiatrist and functional medicine physician, states in her book "Natural Highs: Supplements, Nutrition, and Mind-Body Techniques to Help you Feel Good All the Time," that she has seen results from maca root in her practice related to hormonal imbalances, sexual desire and fertility in both men and women.

Sexual Dysfunction

A study published in the April 2009 "Andrologia" describes a clinical trial where test subjects with mild erectile dysfunction received 2,400 mg of dry maca extract or a placebo. The study concluded that maca root had a small but significant positive effect on test subject's sexual well-being. On the other hand, a systematic review carried out of the effectiveness of maca root published in the 2010 "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine" reported that limited evidence exists supporting the effectiveness of maca root in improving sexual function.

Conclusion

It is hard gauge the effectiveness of maca root supplements because the root's effects may vary from person to person. While several studies and authors show that maca root clearly has health benefits and shows effectiveness, clinical research has not established the medical benefits of this drug through large clinical trials. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved maca root to treat any specific medical condition. As with any supplement, you should speak with a medical professional prior to consuming any maca root supplement.