MACA

Maca is the root of a Peruvian plant - Lepidium meyenii - growing in the Central Andean Region of Peru between 4000 and 4500 meters of altitude, mainly in the Peruvian regions of: "Junin" and "Cerro de Pasco". Maca has traditionally been employed to improve sexuality and fertility.

Dry maca has the following composition: 59% carbohydrates, 10.2% proteins, 8.5% fibre and 2.2% lipids among a few other compounds (Dini et al. 1994).

Maca has a large amount of essential amino acids, vitamins and high levels of iron and calcium.

History

In early times (1600 b.C), maca was appreciated not only  as a high nutritious food, but also as a gift of the Gods along with corn and potatoes. Mountain Raco in Junín was considered the god of stewed food. In its honour, the natives buried potatoes and maca there among other offerings. Maca also was used in beverages with hallucinogenic products in dances and religious ceremonies (Castro de León 1990). Today in local markets it is advertised as an aphrodisiac, stamina-builder and fertility-promoter. It is also often promoted as a cure for rheumatism, respiratory ailments and as a laxative.

Botanical description and reproductive biology

The maca plant is a rosette of frilly leaves with an enlarged fleshy underground organ formed by the taproot and the lower part of the hypocotyls (Leon 1964; Tello et al. 1992).

These parts of the plant swell during growth, forming a storage organ resembling a turnip. For simplicity, we will call this organ ‘hypocotyls’, which is the economic product of maca.. The foliage forms a mat, growing in close contact with the ground. The leaves exhibit dimorphism, being larger in the vegetative phase and reduced in the reproductive cycle (Tello et al. 1992).

The ‘hypocotyls’ display a variety of colours from purple to cream and yellow (Leon 1964). This species is an octoploid with 2n=8x=64 chromosomes (Quirós et al. 1996), considering that the basic genomic number of Lepidieae is x=8. Its meiosis is normal, with the chromosomes associating predominantly as bivalents. This type of association indicates that maca is a disomic polyploid. Polyploidy is a common event among the species in the tribe Lepidieae to which maca belongs (Darlington and Wylie 1945).

Most of the pollen collected from the flowers is fertile, as measured by pollen stainability. Consistent with other cruciferous species, pollen grains are trinucleated.

CROP: Maca is an Andean crop of narrow distribution. It is restricted today to the suni and puna ecosystems (Bonnier 1986) of the Departments of Junín and Cerro de Pasco of Peru at elevations above 3500 m and often reaching 4450 m. in the central Andes of Peru (Leon 1964; Tello et al. 1992).

The largest cultivated area is found around Lake Junín at Huayre, Carhuamayo, Uco, Ondores, Junín, Ninacana and Vicco. Apparently maca occupied wider areas of cultivation in the past (Johns 1981). In addition to Junín and Cerro de Pasco, presumably, it also was grown in Cusco and in the Lake Titicaca watershed. Some of the writers of the time mention that many natives did not have any other food but maca. It was also used as payment of taxes to the Spanish administrators (Castro de Leon 1990).

Its restricted cultivation today indicates that maca may have been in danger of being phased out as a crop.

At the present time less than 50 ha are being dedicated to the production of maca in Peru and presumably in the world (Tello et al 1992). However, the popularity of this crop is steadily increasing, not only in its area of production but also in large cities because of its putative medicinal properties.

Maca-nutrient profile

Maca has been used and venerated by native Peruvians for being an excellent natural source of vitamins and minerals. Living in the highlands is tough, oxygen is scarce and the living conditions are difficult. Maca has been their natural source of Iron needed for the blood production and oxygen transportation within the body, that’s why maca has been very useful for the adaptation of the Incas to the high altitudes.

The researches made on Maca have demonstrated its huge amounts of nutritive elements like a rich variety of minerals (iron, sodium, calcium...), vitamins (B1, B2, E ...), amino acids.

Vitamins:

Maca  has a rich variety of vitamins in its composition; that's why many people take it as a nutritive complement. Among the vitamins found in maca, we have: vitamin B1, B2, B, C, E

Thiamine - B1 this vitamin convert blood sugar to energy (co-enzyme) - very active people like sportsmen need specially this vitamin for efficient nutrient absorption from food. This vitamin will also help you feel more active and have more energy for your day to day living.

Riboflavin - B2 Helps body release energy from protein/carbohydrates/fat, and to cope better with stressful situations; essential to life. Lack of HCl leads to inefficient B2 absorption. Lost via perspiration/urination (water soluble). Destroyed by light. Insufficient B2 can lead to: -Sores at corner of mouth; -Eczema, conjunctivitis, baldness; -Burning feet, muscle weakness, dizziness, tremors/shaking; -Mental apathy.

Minerals:

Iron  is the responsible of blood production and oxygen transportation within the body, that’s why maca has been very useful for the adaptation of the Incas to the high altitudes where oxygen is scarce. Linked to childhood learning problems, poor concentration and short attention. Low levels can result in anaemia characterized by fatigue, cold sensitivity, and lowered immunity. When women enters menopause period they need a double quantity of iron in their diet.Potassium Important to maintain the acid/alkaline balance required for efficient cellular activity. Regulates body's electrical activity (ie. heartbeat) and carries nerve messages to muscles, releasing some hormones and neurotransmitters en route. Low levels are associated with high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias.

Calcium Maca has the higher concentration of this mineral than other vegetal of his gender. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, very important to the teeth, bones and for the normal levels of growing for children.

Maca and Menopause

Menopause happens naturally in women body when Estrogens production falls below a certain level and ovulation begins to stop – in some cases drastically and in others slowly.

Hormonal balance changes and that alteration is responsible for the different sufferings in women.

Estrogens level usually declines causing weakness on blood vessels, cholesterol, bone affection, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, cardiovascular disease and memory problems among others.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a well-known chemical treatment, but it is also known its many side effects and risks. Actually it ages the body by diminishing the hormone-producing capacity of the glands.

Furthermore, it does not work from the root of the problem, simply it hides the symptoms under a dependence. Estrogens replacement therapy has joined the official U.S. government list of cancer-causing agents.

How does Maca help to treat menopause problems ?

Maca works directly to the menopausal root problem, it does not represent any risk for body, it is not toxic and is considered an adaptive plant : raise the non-specific resistance to disease, is capable of normalizing functions in the body even in disease states, it is non-toxic and harmless to any organ of the body, and safe for ingestion for long periods as a nutritive (for prevention).

Dr. Chacón deduced that the alkaloids were acting on the hypothalamus-pituitary gland. MACA´s effects are specific to the endocrine glands, and therefore, it is equally beneficial for both sexes. MACA is a strengthener and rejuvenator for the entire endocrine system, thereby encouraging the body to produce its own natural hormones - and in the right proportion to each other.

Dr. Hugo Malaspina, one of the most important doctors in Peru treats menopausal problems with maca, he assures that the treatment with MACA on menopausal states is successful in about 95% of cases. He has been working with maca treatments for around 12 years and even in hysterectomized women, where MACA has played a powerful role improving menopausal symptoms and restoring the absent hormonal balance in body. The effects on human are not limited only to ovaries and testes but it also works on the adrenal glands, rejuvenating and regulating other glands like thyroid.

Maca is used in Peru to alleviate Post Menopausal Symptoms like hot flashes, low libido, depression, and problems with concentration and mood swings. Works entirely different than Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, or Licorice Root.

There are two important states in menopause, initially begins the peri-menopause state, in which women suffer from hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings and other symptoms of dropping hormone levels. Maca is able to alliviate these conditions. The suggested doses for this state is 6-10 capsules 500 mg, but commonly this dose is reduced after a month.

The benefits can be noticed after a week in most cases.

The other state involving menopause, is post-menopause. For these women the typical symptoms of menopause have globally disappeared, but begins the aging process of body.

MACA could help to slow and keep youthful skin and preventing vaginal dryness. Also can benefit bone health due to its supportive mineral content. It is also used in Peru to treat and prevent osteoporosis.

References and Research documents:

Infertility: http://www.asiaandro.com/1008-682X/3/301.htm

Impotence: http://ahealthya.com/j.1439-0272.2002.00519.x.pdf

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