Maca is a plant that grows in central Peru. Its root is used to make medicine.
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Uses
- Erectile dysfunction (ED), to arouse sexual desire, and to boost the immune system.
- Maca is used for “tired blood” (anemia); chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); and enhancing energy, stamina, athletic performance, memory, and fertility.
- Women use maca for female hormone imbalance, menstrual problems, and symptoms of menopause.
- Maca is also used for weak bones (osteoporosis), depression, stomachcancer, leukemia, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis.
- In foods, maca is eaten baked or roasted, prepared as a soup, and used for making a fermented drink called maca chicha.
- In agriculture, it is used to increase fertility in livestock.
Benefits
- Maca root contains many chemicals, including fatty acids and amino acids.
Cautions
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of maca during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
- ‘Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Extracts from maca might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, do not use these extracts.
Other Names
Ayak Chichira, Ayuk Willku, Ginseng Andin, Ginseng Péruvien, Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum, Maca Maca, Maca Péruvien, Maino, Maka, Peruvian Ginseng, Peruvian Maca.
Refences
Source: WebMD, “Maca”, www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/