Maca Capsules

Ancient Herb for Vitality and Wellbeing
 

Maca was an integral part of the diet and commerce of residents of Andes region for centuries. The Incas found maca root so potent that they restricted Maca use to their Royalty. Colonial Spaniards became aware of Maca’s value and collected tribute in peruvian maca for export and as food by the Spanish Royalty as well. Eventually knowledge of maca’s special qualities died out, and maca was preserved only in remote Peruvian communities.

In the 1960s and 80s, a Peruvian named Gloria Chacon researched herbal medicines in Peru and rekindled interest in Peruvian Maca through nutritional analysis of what was designated as ‘the lost crops of the Andes.’ The publication of a book by that name introduced maca root to the world. Peruvian maca was one of the first plants to be domesticated by the Andean people. Maca cultivation continued during the colonial times right up until the sixteenth century, and Maca’s importance gradually varied throughout the years. Maca is known to have been used as nutrient and medicine for over 2000 years.

Archeologist Ramiro Matos, who studies pre-Hispanic agriculture in the Junin puna region, claims that maca L. meyenii might have been domesticated as early as 700 BC. Javier Vidal describes Peruvian maca as a crop having a very important function in the feeding of the region. Maca crop is currently found in the Bombom plateau; and in Jarpa. We only stock the "Primal Nature" brand, as it is one of the very few bona-fide unadulterated sources of Maca which is pure and untainted by mixtures of other herbs.

Uses: Maca is what we call an adaptogenic plant - that is, it works on the body, according to the needs, age, gender of the person taking it. Adaptogenic herbs like the ginsengs allow the person's body to adapt to the stress of their life. Take a look at the Russians for example, Rhodiola, otherwise known as "Russian Ginseng" is a herb used by the Russians for their astronauts during their intitial space programs. Almost every continent has it's ginseng, and one of the most potent is Maca root from South America.  Maca is also called "Peruvian Ginseng", and is a balancer of the adrenal glands of the body and is used for energy & stamina.

Maca supports fertility & sexual function in both males & females. Maca is widely marketed for supporting male sexual function , female sexual function and both male fertility and female fertility.

Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable used both as food and medicine. It is called "Peruvian ginseng," not because the plants have any botanical relationship, but because their traditional uses are somewhat similar. Traditionally, maca has been said to increase energy and stamina, and to support both fertility and sex drive in men and women.

 
Ingredients: 100% pure Maca (Lepidium peruvianum). Product from Peruvian Andes. Cleaned, capsulated in gel caps & packed in Australia. Maca, an ancient traditional food crop, is native to the Andes mountains in Peru. Surprisingly, Maca is able to survive heights of 3,800 to 4,500 metres, in a barren country, despite the intense cold, strong winds, frost and hailstorms. Maca is highly energising and nutritional. It contains protein, carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B2, C and E, iron, calcium, zinc and phosphorus. It suits sports people and anyone with a busy lifestyle.

What is Maca Used for Today?  

There are two published human trials on maca, performed by a single research group. In one study involving rats, use of maca enhanced male sexual function.  In one double-blind , placebo-controlled study, use of maca at 1,500 mg or 3,000 mg increased male libido. While this was an interesting finding, the study did not report benefits in male sexual function, just desire. Another small study found that 4 months of maca use increased sperm count and sperm function. Contrary to widespread reporting, maca does not appear to increase testosterone levels, or, in fact, affect any male hormones. Other studies hint that maca might offer support for prostate enlargement , stress , diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Dosage: 1 to 3 capsules once or twice daily. Take 3 - 6 caps a day with foods.

Each container contains 100 capsules which are 500 mg each.

References

• Cicero AF, Piacente S, Plaza A, et al. Hexanic Maca extract improves rat sexual performance more effectively than methanolic and chloroformic Maca extracts. Andrologia . 2002;34:177-179.
• Ruiz-Luna AC, Salazar S, Aspajo NJ, et al. Lepidium meyenii (Maca) increases litter size in normal adult female mice. Reprod Biol Endocrinol . 2005;3:16.
• Oshima M, Gu Y, Tsukada S, et al. Effects of Lepidium meyenii Walp and Jatropha macrantha on blood levels of estradiol-17 beta, progesterone, testosterone and the rate of embryo implantation in mice. J Vet Med Sci . 2003;65:1145-1146.
• Chung F, Rubio J, Gonzales C, et al. Dose-response effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) aqueous extract on testicular function and weight of different organs in adult rats. J Ethnopharmacol . 2005;98:143-147.
• Gonzales GF, Rubio J, Chung A, et al. Effect of alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on testicular function in male rats. Asian J Androl . 2003;5:349-352.
• Bustos-Obregon E, Yucra S, Gonzales GF, et al. Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reduces spermatogenic damage induced by a single dose of malathion in mice. Asian J Androl . 2005;7:71-76.
• Gonzales GF, Gasco M, Cordova A, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on spermatogenesis in male rats acutely exposed to high altitude (4340 m). J Endocrinol . 2004;180:87-95.
• Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia . 2002;34:367.
• Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, et al. Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian J Androl . 2002;3:301-303.
• Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men. J Endocrinol . 2003;176:163-168.
• Gonzales GF, Miranda S, Nieto J, et al. Red maca ( Lepidium meyenii ) reduced prostate size in rats. ReprodBiol Endocrinol . 2005;3:5.
• Martinez Caballero S, Carricajo Fernandez C, Perez-Fernandez R, et al. Effect of an integral suspension of Lepidium latifolium on prostate hyperplasia in rats. Fitoterapia . 2004;75:187-191.
• Lopez-Fando A, Gomez-Serranillos MP, Iglesias I, et al. Lepidium peruvianum chacon restores homeostasis impaired by restraint stress. Phytother Res . 2004;18:471-474.
• Eddouks M, Maghrani M, Zeggwagh NA, et al. Study of the hypoglycaemic activity of Lepidium sativum L. aqueous extract in normal and diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol . 2005;97:391-395.
• Maghrani M, Zeggwagh NA, Michel JB, et al. Antihypertensive effect of Lepidium sativum L. in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Ethnopharmacol . 2005 Jun 11. [Epub ahead of print]
• Mehta K, Gala J, Bhasale S, et al. Comparison of glucosamine sulfate and a polyherbal supplement for the relief of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN25438351]. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007 Oct 31. [Epub ahead of print]