MACA:  THE ROYAL ROAD TO HORMONAL HEALTH

A step beyond hormone replacement

Twelve thousand feet above sea level, the high windswept plateaus of Peru are subjected to intense solar radiation by day and freezing temperatures at night.  There, in the rich volcanic soil native to this region, descendants of the Inca Indians grow a crop which offers a radical solution to the problem of hormone replacement.  Known as maca, this turnip-like root was prized and tended by the Incas 5,000 years ago.  It was used by the Incan royal court for its fertility enhancing and aphrodisiac qualities, and given to the army to increase their vitality and strength. Maca roots were also demanded as tribute by the conquering Spaniards.

After a period of obscurity, maca is once again assuming its rightful place as one of our planet’s most valuable adaptogenic herbs.  Its qualities are specific in that its effects are particular to the endocrine glands, and it is equally beneficial for both women and men. 

What is youth?  What is aging?  What is health?  In large part, the answers to these questions revolve around optimal and balanced amounts of hormones in the body.  Most attempts at staving off the aging process involve various types of hormone replacement.  Both men and women are discovering the benefits of boosting their levels of hormones such as testosterone, DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and human growth hormone. 

 Hormone replacement therapy works, particularly when the hormones used are as close as possible to those produced by our glands.  Maca, however, offers an entirely different approach to hormone balancing.  It is a tonic and rejuvenator for the entire endocrine system.  Maca seems to have its greatest effect on the sex hormones, with the result that the body begins to produce normal amounts of the “juices of life” again. Taking even the most natural of hormones can cause the glands to become “lazy”, thus producing even less of what we need.  In contrast, instead of promoting dependency on an outside source, maca energizes and rejuvenates the glands.  Well known holistic physician Gabriel Cousens, M.D., says, “Whenever possible, I prefer to use maca therapy rather than hormone replacement therapy because HRT actually ages the body by diminishing the hormone-producing capability of the glands.”

Unlike black cohosh, licorice root, wild yam, and other herbs containing hormone-like substances, maca contains no phyto-hormones (plant hormones).  According to the work of Dr. Gloria Chacon, a Peruvian biologist, naturally occurring alkaloids in the maca root act on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis.  These master controllers of the body then go on to stimulate the other endocrine glands, including the ovaries, testes, thyroid, pancreas, and adrenals.  This explains why maca acts in a gender-appropriate way and restores hormonal balance for both sexes.

 USE OF MACA FOR WOMEN.  Since its introduction in North America, thousands of women are turning to maca for assistance during the passages of peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause.  The peri-menopausal woman usually needs only a small amount of maca, such as 1/4 tsp. or 2 capsules daily, to help alleviate increased PMS and the other symptoms of hormonal imbalance which occur as she approaches menopause.  Many women become estrogen dominant during this period, and maca helps to correct this imbalance.  In addition, women who begin using maca during peri-menopause find that their glands are healthier, so that they have a much easier time when they enter menopause.

 Menopausal women who suffer from hot flashes, mood swings, and other effects of rapidly dropping hormone levels, will find maca to be a safe and drug free alternative to HRT. Women in this category initially need higher doses, such as 1-2 tsp. (6-12 capsules) of the powder daily. Usually this dosage can be reduced after a month or two.  While no one product works for everyone, results are usually excellent, and most women will notice a definite relief within one week, with continued improvements during the next few weeks.  In some cases, maca will work where nothing else does.  I have clients who have tried everything from prescription HRT to phyto-estrogens without success, only to find that using maca literally gives them back their life.  Women who have been using any form of HRT will need to make a gradual transition from their hormonal program to using maca, which may take a month or more.

Post-menopausal women do well on small to moderate doses of maca.  Even if they have not been experiencing overt symptoms of hormone deficiency, using maca can help to slow the aging process, keeping skin youthful and preventing vaginal dryness and atrophy. Maca can also be of benefit for bone health, as it contains large amounts of calcium and potassium, as well as iron, silica, and many trace minerals.  For this reason it is used in Peru and elsewhere to treat and prevent osteoporosis.  Stephanie Smith, a nurse practitioner in NY state who routinely uses maca in her practice, says that "One patient who has been taking maca for over a year had a series of bone density studies done that showed increased density in the spine."

Women who have had complete or partial hysterectomies may have a more difficult time using maca, or they may do very well.  I have clients in both categories.  In the case of a complete hysterectomy, it is the adrenals which can sometimes be stimulated enough to produce adequate amounts of hormones.  Hugo Malaspina, MD, is a respected cardiologist in Lima, Peru, who has used maca in his practice for over a decade.  Dr. Malaspina describes the case of a patient who had undergone a complete hysterectomy and was on HRT.  She did not respond well to HRT, so she stopped treatment.  Subsequent blood tests showed very low estrogen levels.  After two months of using maca, however, her estrogen levels had reached “an adequate postmenopausal level.  Maca enabled the adrenals to make sufficient hormones to avoid symptoms,” commented Dr. Malaspina.

 Dr. Chacon, mentioned above, also demonstrated that maca has very observable effects on fertility. In studies with rats, she found that animals given either maca powder, or alkaloids isolated from maca root, showed multiple egg follicle maturation in females, while males had significantly higher sperm production and motility rates than in control groups.  “These effects are measurable within 72 hours of dosing the animals,” stated Dr. Chacon.  A number of couples who were trying to conceive a child have been able to do so when one or both partners used maca.

 MACA HELPS TO RESTORE LIBIDO FOR MEN AND WOMEN.  Maca is also appropriate for men.  It is sometimes described as an aphrodisiac for both sexes, undoubtedly because of its effect on testosterone levels. Several prominent medical doctors, including Dr. Burton Goldberg, have publicly stated that it greatly improved their sexual functioning.  Dr. Goldberg, who is president of Future Medicine Publishing in Tiburon, CA, says, “I’m a 72 year old man and this maca has taken 25 years off my aging sex life. That’s pretty important to me!”

Dr. Malaspina, also referenced above, uses maca for both male and female patients.  He first heard about this herb through a group of elderly gentlemen who, though advanced in years, still maintained a lively interest in sexual activities.  “One of this group (they were all over 70) started taking maca and found he was able to perform satisfactorily in a sexual relationship with a lady friend.  Soon everyone in the group began drinking the powdered maca as a beverage and enjoying the boost that the root was giving their hormonal functions.”

 Garry F. Gordon, MD, is founder and president of the International College of Advanced Longevity Medicine, located in Chicago, IL.  Dr. Gordon says, “We all hear rumors about various products like maca. But using this Peruvian root myself, I personally experienced a significant improvement in erectile tissue response.  I call it ‘nature’s answer to Viagra tm.’” He goes on to say:

“What I see in maca is a means of normalizing our steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen.  Therefore it has 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.  Lots of men and women who previously believed their sexual problems were psychological are now clearly going to look for something physiological to improve quality of life in the area of sexuality.” 

Maca can also help with chronic fatigue syndrome and general fatigue brought on by aging.  It is being prescribed for people with CFS and in many cases it does help, because it raises DHEA and cortisol levels.  Most people with CFS have adrenal fatigue, and maca can assist in rebuilding exhausted adrenal glands.  This will take time if the adrenals are exhausted by long-term stress; although in some cases noticeable increases in energy can occur within a couple of weeks.  Maca is also prescribed by doctors to increase vigor in the elderly. 

 POSSIBLE CONTRA-INDICATIONS.  While maca is a tremendously beneficial herb with a wide spectrum of application, no one herb or product is a panacea or works for every person.  There are always cases of allergic responses to any herb.  In addition, maca is considered to be a “warming herb” according to Chinese medicine, and therefore should be used with caution by those with high blood pressure. In addition, people who have liver disease or damage may not convert hormones effectively and therefore may not derive enough benefit from maca. 

An impressive article about maca, by Dr. Morton Walker, appeared in the Townsend Letter for Doctors in November 1998.  Dr. Walker interviewed Dr. Viana Muller (an anthropologist who has studied the use of maca extensively) as well as several Peruvian doctors and scientists, to produce a fascinating and well-researched document on maca and its uses.  Copies of Dr. Walker’s article may be obtained by sending an LSASE to Tides of Life, 91-A Deer Run Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711. 

Please see http://www.naturalhormones.com/ for further information, or to obtain maca powder and/or capsules. We highly recommend Royal Maca tm, an organically grown brand which tests very high for percentages of active ingredients.  Maca that is not organically grown has often produced disappointing results due to its lower potency and effectiveness.

 The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

 Elora Gabriel is a writer and researcher who has published many articles on natural hormones, both in the US and internationally.  She currently resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and can be reached at elora77@earthlink.net or 828-669-2515. 

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