Maca

Peruvian Ginseng

Even before the inca indians domesticated it 2000 years ago, native peruvians used it for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. It is rich in sugars, protein, starches, and essential minerals, especially iodine and iron.

Aguila Calderon, M.D., former dean of the faculty of human medicine at the National University of Federico Villarreal in Lima, says:

"Maca has a lot of easily absorbable calcium, plus magnesium and a fair amount of silica. we are finding it very useful in treating the decalcification of bones in children and adults."

Christopher Allison states in "Powerful and Unusual Herbs from the Amazon and China":

"Maca is often referred to as the peruvian ginseng and grows in the high andes at nine-ten thousand feet. It is high in steroidal glycosides and is particularly helpful for increasing energy, stamina and mental clarity.

It can be used for libido in both men and women and is often used for impotence and menstrual issues."

Traditional Uses

According to Leslie Taylor in "The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs:

"Maca has been used medicinally for centuries to enhance fertility in humans and animals...

Its fertility enhancing properties were supported clinically as early as 1961, when researchers discovered it increased the fertility of rats. This energizing plant is also referred to as peruvian ginseng...

Other traditional uses include increasing energy, stamina and endurance in athletes, promoting mental clarity, treating male impotence, and helping with menstrual irregularities and female hormonal imbalances including menopause and chronic fatigue syndrome.

It is used as an alternative to anabolic steroids by bodybuilders due to its richness in sterols."

Certified nutritionist Phillip Steinberg wrote in "Cat's Claw News"; Vol. I, Issue 2; July / August 1995:

"...used to increase energy, stamina and endurance in athletes, promote mental clarity, as an aphrodisiac for both men & women, for male impotence, menstrual irregularities & female hormonal imbalances including menopause and chronic fatigue syndrome."

Physician Gary F. Gordon, former president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine, is also a supporter: "we all hear rumors about various products like maca," he says. "but using this peruvian root myself, i personally experienced a significant improvement in erectile tissue response. I call it nature's answer to viagra.

What I see in maca is a means of normalizing our steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen.

Therefore it has the facility to forestall the hormonal changes of aging. It acts on men to restore them to a healthy functional status in which they experience a more active libido."

Disclaimer

The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the us food and drug administration. the products referred to on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition or prescribe any treatment.