More on Radiance Maca...

Radiance Maca, Lepidium peruvianum Chacón, is a tuber that is native to South America where it grows in the unique ecosystems of the high Andean mountains.

Here is the Earth Healers team with Dr. Gloria Chacón. The Peruvian botanist who discovered our potent cultivar of Maca.

Largely considered an Andean miracle food of sorts, our our Maca roots are traditionally harvest in ceremony; they are then dried naturally in the sun at altitude, and can be stored well for years. When prepared, it takes on a sweet, almost butterscotch-like flavor, and is consumed by local cultures in various ways: among them are roasting, as tea, as sweet gruel with milk, or it is made into a flour mixture and used in making breads, cakes, and cookies. It is also prepared as a beverage by blending boiled roots with fruits or spices and water or milk. The miracle of Maca is not, however, in its versatility of preparation, but in its wellness conferring attributes—however consumed. 

Maca has traditionally been used by indigenous peoples as a healing herb and a foodstuff which has an important role in the dynamic interactions of physical, mental, and sexual energies. It has been used as such since before the era of the Inca Empire. Less well-known than its aphrodisiac properties, perhaps, is that it also promotes mental clarity and boosts both endurance and stamina—it can help you get through your day in this increasingly busy world. It is essential to note that this may be because Maca is an excellent adaptogen, tailoring its utility to the individual who consumes the root and helping to balance the body’s systems under physical and emotional stress. Researchers have demonstrated that Maca “refurbished the impairment caused by restraint stress, restoring to its normal state” (Lopez-Fando, 2004) hormones and bodily processes that may react to stressful situations. “Fight or flight” responses can lead to a range of problems, including difficulty concentrating and stress induced illness. Reducing the effects of stress has a positive outcome on systems and hormonal balance, blood sugar fluctuations, and mental clarity. This is nearly immediate and so effective that “Maca is…given to Andean schoolchildren during exams to assure good test scores” (Smith, 2004). Imagine what it can do for you in daily tasks!

Maca has been used for millennia in the Andes region as a natural way to boost both male and female fertility. In study after study, it has shown a remarkable ability to work with your body's unique chemistry to help improve sexual function and fecundity. “Results from experiments…indicate that Maca helps to improve sexual performance” (Sandoval, 2002) in both genders. Studies have shown an increase in both sperm quantity and motility with treatment. “Maca administered orally in tablets during 12 weeks [also] had a beneficial effect on subjective sexual desire in healthy adult men…[the] results demonstrate the effect of Maca on healthy men is noticeable since 60 days of treatment” (Gonzales, 2002). Many women also note the pleasant effect of increased desire following treatment with Maca.

In addition, “Maca is often eaten by Peruvian women who want to get pregnant” (Smith, 2004). Anecdotal evidence as well as research to support these claims is promising. Remember, this herb is an adaptogen with systems balancing properties, so it can serve as a regulator for women with irregular cycles who wish to conceive—by helping reduce the effects of stress on conception efforts and bringing regularity to menstrual cycles, it may become more likely to achieve pregnancy.

Maca’s nutritional profile includes phytoestrogens (Ruiz-Luna, 2005), which perhaps allows the herb to stimulate the hormonal balance we mentioned earlier. This would not only help regulate cycles, but also decrease cramping and mood changes associated with the western phenomenon of PMS. Maca has also shown significant promise in helping relieve the difficult symptoms of menopause.

Perhaps one of the reasons Maca is so valued by the traditions of the area is its remarkable nutritional makeup—it is an extremely healthful root. Maca contains nearly all of the essential amino acids, as well as high concentrations of the same anticancer compounds found in vegetables like cabbage and broccoli. It plays a role in immune support, as it contains compounds similar to those found in Echinacea sp. (Smith, 2004). The principle antioxidant present in green tea is found in significant concentrations in Maca as well. One specific study “demonstrated that Maca degraded free radicals…results indicate that Maca has the ability to scavenge free radicals, and provides cytoprotection during oxidative stress conditions” (Sandoval, 2002). What this means to you is that perhaps the degenerative effects of environment and age—such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and joint dysfunction—can be reduced with Maca consumption.

The balancing effect of this herb not only helps the individual in the short term, but also long term by helping to assist the body to recover more quickly, getting it back to a healthy state. As you are dealing with both mental and physiological stress better, you are more prone to be at harmony with the environment—both the people and the earth around you. By supporting your immune system, you are less likely to suffer setbacks due to illness. More energy is available to reconnect to your spiritual side. You can actually feel the rejuvenating effects of Maca on your body. Consider it a cornerstone to a healthy lifestyle, and an important part of an overall routine for your Journey to Wellness.

Maca Resources:

Gonzales, G., Cordova, A., Vega, K., Chung, A., Villena, A., Gonez, C., & Castillo, S. (2002). Effect of lepidium meyenii (maca) on sexual desire and absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andologia. 34: 367-372.

Lopez-Fando, A., Gomez, Serranillos, M., Iglesias, I., Lock, O., Upamayta, U., & Carretero, M. (2004). Lepidium peruvianum Chacon restores homeostasis impaired by resistant stress. Phytotherapy Research. 18: 471-474.

Sandoval, M., Okuhama, N., Angeles, F., Melchor, V., Condezo, L., Lao, J., & Miller, M. (2002). Antioxidant activity of the cruciferous vegetable Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Food Chemistry. 79: 207-213.

Smith, E. (2004). Maca root: modern rediscovery of an ancient Andean fertility food. Journal of the American Herbalists Guild. January 2004.

Ruiz-Luna, A., Salazar, S., Aspajo, N., Rubio, J., Gasco, M., & Gonzales, G. (2005). Lepidium meyenii (Maca) increases litter size in normal adult female mice. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. 3:16.