Maca

©2000 Huntington College of Health Sciences Literature Education Series On Dietary Supplements

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences

contribute to its energizing properties. It is rich

Smart Supplementation™ is a free series of in sugars, protein, starches, and essential
educational literature created by Huntington minerals, especially iodine and iron.5 6 7 The
College of Health Sciences (HCHS) as a public nutritional value of dried Maca root is high,
service. Although copyrighted, it may be freely
resembling cereal grains such as maize, rice and
photocopied and distributed, but may not be
altered in any way. Smart Supplementation™
wheat. It has 59% carbohydrates, 10.2% protein,
is not intended as medical advice. For 8.5% fiber and 2.2% lipids.8 It is rich in sterols
diagnosis and treatment of any medical and has a high mineral content as well.9 In
condition, consult your physician. addition to its rich supply of essential nutrients,
Maca contains alkaloids, tannins and saponins.10
11
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian botanical Alkaloids are also present in minute quantity,
which has been used successfully to increase but have not yet been quantified.12 Perhaps of
energy levels; to improve fertility and as an greatest significance are the macamides and
aphrodisiac; for menopause and menstruation; macaenes which have been standardized at a
and for a variety of other historical uses. Now, level of 0.6% by Pure World Botanical, a raw
Maca has begun to move into the lexicon of material supplier of Maca to the dietary
herbal medicine in North America, and we can supplement industry.13 It may turn out that the
now enjoy its benefits as well. macamides and macaenes are the primary active
components in Maca.
Background
Maca is a hardy perennial plant cultivated high in In the July / August 1995 issue of his newsletter,
the Andean Mountain at altitudes from 11,000- Phil Steinberg's Cat's Claw News, Phil Steinberg
14,500 feet. Maca was domesticated about 2000 discussed Maca’s traditional use to increase
years ago by the Inca Indians. To the Andean energy, stamina and endurance. He then
Indians, Maca is a valuable commodity. Because commented on his personal experience with
so little else grows in the region, Maca is often Maca: “March of this year I attended the Natural
traded with communities at lower elevations for Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. At
other staples like rice, corn, and beans. The dried the show, I was given a sample bottle of Maca to
roots can be stored for up to seven years. Native use while I was there. I was amazed at how I was
Peruvians have traditionally utilized Maca since able to work long hours maintaining a high
before the time of the Incas for both nutritional energy level throughout the show. I took
and medicinal purposes.1 approximately 1,000 mg of Maca three times a
day along with my usual amount of Cat's
Energy Claw.”14
An adaptogen is a substance which helps the
body adapt to a variety of situations. Some Fertility & Aphrodisiac
adaptogens, like Ginseng, have an ability to Maca has been used medicinally for centuries to
promote energy. Maca is such an adaptogen. As enhance fertility in humans and animals.15 16 17 18
19
a matter of fact, due to its energizing properties Soon after the Spanish Conquest in the South
this plant is also referred to as Peruvian America, the Spanish found that their livestock
Ginseng,2 3 4 although Maca is not in the same were reproducing poorly in the highlands. The
family as ginseng. Maca’s nutritional value may local Indians recommended feeding the animals

1
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Maca and so remarkable were the results that this purpose.21 22 Its fertility enhancing
Spanish chroniclers gave in-depth reports.20 properties were supported clinically as early as
Even Colonial records of some 200 years ago 1961, when researchers discovered it increased
indicate that payments of roughly 9 tons of Maca the fertility of rats.23
were demanded from one Andean area alone for
Hugo Malaspina, M.D., a cardiologist practicing medical practices. In the November, 1988
complementary medicine in Lima, Peru, has been Townsend Letter for Doctors, physicians
using Maca in his practice for ten years Dr. commented on the therapeutic uses of Maca.
Malaspina first found out about Maca through a Hugo Malaspina, M.D., a cardiologist practicing
group of sexually active older men who were complementary medicine in Lima, Peru, has been
taking the herb with good results. "One man in using Maca in his practice for ten years. He
this group started taking Maca and found he was commonly recommends Maca to women
able to perform satisfactorily in a sexual experiencing premenstrual discomfort or
relationship with a lady friend. Soon everyone in menopausal symptoms. "There are different
the group began drinking the powdered Maca as medicinal plants that work on the ovaries by
a beverage and enjoying the boost that the root stimulating them," he says. "With Maca though,
was giving their hormonal functions. I have we should say that it regulates the ovarian
several of these men as patients, and their function." Dr. Malaspina further notes that
improvement prompted me to find out more "Maca regulates the organs of internal secretion,
about Maca and begin recommending it to my such as the pituitary, the adrenal glands, and the
other patients."24 pancreas. I have had perhaps two hundred female
patients whose perimenopausal and menopausal
Chicago physician Gary F. Gordon, former symptoms are alleviated by taking Maca."33
President of the American College for
Advancement in Medicine, is also a Maca Other UsesMaca is growing in world popularity
supporter. "We all hear rumors about various due to its energizing effects, fertility
products like Maca," he says. "But using this enhancement and aphrodisiac qualities. Other
Peruvian root myself, I personally experienced a traditional uses include, promoting mental
significant improvement in erectile tissue clarity, and treating chronic fatigue syndrome.34
35
response. I call it nature's answer to Viagra. It is used as an alternative to anabolic steroids
What I see in Maca is a means of normalizing by bodybuilders due to its richness in sterols.36
our steroid hormones like testosterone,
progesterone, and estrogen. Therefore it has the Aguila Calderon, M.D., is the former Dean of the
facility to forestall the hormonal changes of Faculty of Human Medicine at the National
aging. It acts on men to restore them to a healthy University of Federico Villarreal in Lima. He
functional status in which they experience a more says, "Maca has a lot of easily absorbable
active libido."25 calcium, plus magnesium and a fair amount of
silica. We are finding it very useful in treating
A chemical analysis conducted in 1981 showed the decalcification of bones in children and
the presence of biologically active aromatic adults." In his practice, Dr. Calderon uses Maca
isothiocyanates, especially p-methoxybenzyl for male impotence, erectile dysfunction,
isothiocyanate, which have reputed aphrodisiac menopausal symptoms, and general fatigue.37
properties.26 Initial analysis of Maca indicate
that the effects on fertility are a result of the In Peruvian herbal medicine, Maca is also used
glucosinolates. 27 28 29 Today, dried Maca roots as an immunostimulant, for anemia, tuberculosis,
are ground to powder and sold in drug stores in menstrual disorders, menopause symptoms,
capsules as a medicine and food supplement to stomach cancer, sterility and other reproductive
increase stamina and fertility.30 31 and sexual disorders as well as to enhance
memory.38
Menopause & Menstruation
Traditionally Maca has been used menstrual References
irregularities & female hormonal imbalances
including menopause.32 As Maca has become 1. Rea, J., 1992. Raices andinas: Maca. in Bermejo, H. and
Leon, J.E., eds., Cultivos marginados, otra perspectiva
increasingly popular, its use has spread to
2
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 de 1492.
2. Rea, J., 1992.
3. King, Steven, 1986. "Ancient Buried Treasure of the
Andes," Garden, November/December.
4. Johns, T., 1981. The anu and the Maca. Journal of
Ethnobiology, 1:208-212
5. Report of an Ad Hoc Panel of the Advisory Committee
on Technical Innovation, Board on Science and
Technology for International Development, National
Research Council, 1989. Lost Crops of the Incas: Little
Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide
Cultivation.
6. Johns, T., 1981.
7. Quiros, C. et al., "Physiological Studies and
Determination of Chromosome Number in Maca,
Lepidium Meyenii." Economic Botany 50(2) pp. 216-
223. 1996
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Report of an Ad Hoc Panel..., 1989.
11. Dini, A., et al, 1994, “Chemical composition of
Lepidium meyenii,” Food Chemistry 49: 347-349.
12. Ibid.
13. MacaPure specifications information, Pure World
Botanicals, South Hackensack, NJ.
www.pureworld.com
14. Steinberg, P., 1995. Phil Steinberg's Cat's Claw News,
Vol. 1, Issue 2, July/August.
15. King, Steven, 1986.
16. Johns, T., 1981.
17. Quiros, C. et al., 1996.
18. Leon, J. 1964. The "Maca" (Lepidium Meyenii) a little
known food plant of Peru. Economic Botany. 18:122-
127
19. "Plant Medicine's Importance Stressed by CSU
Professor," HerbalGram Magazine, Spring 1989, p. 12.
20. Report of an Ad Hoc Panel of the Advisory Committee
on Technical Innovation, Board on Science and
Technology for International Development, National
Research Council, 1989. Lost Crops of the Incas: Little
Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide
Cultivation. For more than two decades, Huntington College
21. Johns, T., 1981. of Health Sciences (HCHS) has offered more than
22. Quiros, C. et al., 1996. a conventional undergraduate or graduate
23. Chacon, R.C., 1961. Estudio fitoquimico de Lepidium education. Our accredited*, distance learning
meyenii. Dissertation, Univ., Nac.Mayo de San marcos, degrees and diploma programs also include the
Peru. breadth of responsible complementary and
24. Kilham, C., Doctor’s Comments on Maca, www.rain-
alternative medicine viewpoints, providing our
tree.com/maca.htm
25. Ibid.
students with a well-rounded and comprehensive
26. Johns, T., 1981. approach to nutrition and the health sciences:
27. Report of an Ad Hoc Panel..., 1989.
28. Johns, T., 1981. • Master of Science in Nutrition
29. Dini, A., et al, 1994. • Bachelor of Health Science in Nutrition
30. Johns, T., 1981. • Associate of Science in Applied Nutrition
31. Gomez, A., "Maca, Es alternativa Nutricional para el
• Diploma in Comprehensive Nutrition
ano 2000." Informe Ojo con su Salud No. 58 August 15,
1997, Lima Peru • Diploma in Dietary Supplement Science
32. Steinberg, P., 1995. • Diploma in Sports Nutrition
33. Kilham, C. • Diploma in Women’s Nutrition
34. Rea, J., 1992 • Diploma in Natural Sciences
35. Steinberg, P., 1995. • Diploma in Small Business Management
36. Ibid.
37. Kilham, C.
1204D Kenesaw
38. Gomez, A., 1997
Knoxville, TN 37919
865-524-8079 • 800-290-4226
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.hchs.edu.com

*Accredited member Distance Education &

Training Council.

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