Maca (Ginseng Andin, Peruvian Ginseng, Lepidium meyenii, or Lepidium peruvianum) is a plant that grows exclusively on the high plateaus of the Andes mountains in Peru. Andean people have cultivated Maca for more than 2,000 years.
Similar to cacao, ancient warrior tribes would ingest Maca before a great battle or activity that would require energy to help power their earth avatars, Maca is also related to veggies such as radishes and turnips and so contain something called glucosinolates which have been found to be anti-cancer in nature. Additional benefits to Maca are:
Increased bone density
Improved circulation
Improved mood
Increase in sexual desire and libido
Hormone balancer
The last point is especially interesting because Maca is known as a hormone balancer. This is in direct contrast to something like soy, which is known to increase levels of estrogen in some folks with consumption.
MACA and Hormone Harmonizing
There was a 2015 study on 45 women who were experiencing antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction found that taking 3000mg of Maca root per day for 12 weeks significantly improved sexual function and libido. A very promising possible benefit of Maca is on women's libidos who were taking anti-depressants. SSRI's have a known side effect of negatively impacting women's sexual health in the way of lower libido and desire. Maca has found to assist with these side effects. However this causes one to wonder what would happen if they just took the Maca to begin with.
In 2002 there was a study of supplementing men with Maca which led to higher sexual desire. So the libido increasing effect is not just limited to the female population. There is also research that supports that the use of Maca can possibly also improve sperm mobility and motility. A 2010 review of 131 participants all had reports of increased sexual desire and energy overall; as well as a reduction in blood pressure and symptoms of depression.
The HPA Axis and Maca
When our body is placed under stress the master glands of the brain known as the Hypothalamus and Pituitary are given the task to help deal with the stress. They link with the adrenal glands situated above the kidneys to create a hormonal response cascade through what is called the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis or HPA.
Maca works in the endocannabinoid system of the brain and body. The main medicinal properties can be attributed to bio-active chemicals called macamides and macaenes. These metabolites are completely unique to maca and are responsible for most of its adaptogenic activity. Maca can harmonise the HPA axis of the nervous system and balance our response to stress by protecting our natural anadamide.
How to Start Supplementing with MACA?
Maca is a star ingredient in Formula 3 of our Soma Supplements.
And due to the fact that Maca is a food group, you can also purchase Maca at most health food stores. Remember that we are all unique beings, and as such, not every supplement is for everyone - so we encourage all to check in with their bodies and feel into what would personally benefit them and their earth avatars.
Sources
Lorenz T, Rullo J, Faubion S. Antidepressant-Induced Female Sexual Dysfunction. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016 Sep;91(9):1280-6. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.04.033. PMID: 27594188; PMCID: PMC6711470.
Dording CM, Schettler PJ, Dalton ED, Parkin SR, Walker RS, Fehling KB, Fava M, Mischoulon D. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in women. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:949036. doi: 10.1155/2015/949036. Epub 2015 Apr 14. PMID: 25954318; PMCID: PMC4411442.
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