Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a plant native to the high plateaus of the Andes Mountains in Peru. Known as "Peruvian Ginseng," maca has a rich history as a traditional food and medicinal herb. The most utilized part of the maca plant is its root, which is consumed for various potential health benefits¹²³.

Potential Benefits:

1. Energy and Stamina: Maca is traditionally used to enhance energy, stamina, and physical performance. Research supports its role in improving physical fitness, particularly in athletes³.
2. Sexual Health: Some studies suggest that maca may improve sexual desire and function, although evidence from controlled trials remains inconclusive⁴⁵.
3. Fertility: In experimental studies, maca extracts have been shown to enhance fertility and sexual function in animals².
4. Mood and Cognitive Function: There are suggestions that maca may improve mood, memory, and cognitive function, though rigorous human studies are limited².
5. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties: Maca has been found to possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may contribute to various health benefits⁶[^7].

Safety and Usage:

• Safety: Maca is generally considered safe when used as food. Short-term usage in larger medicinal amounts (up to 3 grams daily) appears to be safe for most people¹.
• Side Effects: Side effects are uncommon and typically mild, including gastrointestinal symptoms and headaches⁶.
• Hormone-sensitive Conditions: Maca may act like estrogen. People with conditions like breast cancer or endometriosis should consult healthcare providers before use¹.

Forms and Dosage:

Maca is available in various forms including powders, capsules, and extracts. The commonly recommended dosage ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 grams daily, with usage extending up to 16 weeks in some studies².

For further insights, please refer to sources like MedlinePlus and studies available on PubMed¹²³⁶.

Footnotes

1. MedlinePlus: Maca ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. NCBI Bookshelf: LiverTox - NCBI ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

3. Effect of Black Maca Supplementation on Inflammatory Markers and Physical Fitness in Male Elite Athletes ↩ ↩² ↩³

4. Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review ↩

5. Exploring the chemical and pharmacological variability of Lepidium meyenii ↩

6. Antioxidative and Energy Metabolism-Improving Effects of Maca Polysaccharide ↩ ↩² ↩³