Studies:
Researchers at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, in Lima, Peru, performed a 12-week double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in which active treatment with different doses of maca was compared with placebo. The 2015 study was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Men aged 21-56 years received 3 g of maca. An improvement in sexual desire was observed with maca at 8 weeks of treatment. Serum testosterone and estradiol levels were not different in men treated with maca than in those treated with placebo.
Another study was designed to determine the benefit of a 4-month oral treatment with tablets of maca on seminal analysis in adult normal men aged 24-44 years old.
Nine men received tablets of maca (1500 or 3000 mg/day) for 4 months. Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol levels were measured before and after treatment.
Treatment with maca resulted in increased seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculation, and sperm motility. Serum hormone levels were not altered.
Comments:
Maca has become a popular fertility herb and for good reason. Studies have shown repeat success in improving sperm health, increasing sperm count and promoting stronger motility. Maca also increases libido and sex drive.
What is maca?
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a root-like vegetable shaped like a turnip that grows at 12,000 feet and is only found in the high Andes of Peru and Ecuador. For more than two millennia, native Peruvians have used maca root as food and medicine, to promote endurance and improve energy, vitality, sexual virility, and fertility.
How does the Maca work?
It is not known exactly why maca does what it does, but that is the case for most herbs. Maca has the ability to effect key hormones and functions of reproduction without containing hormones. It has a type of wisdom as to what hormones need balancing and which to increase/decrease. Men who use maca have been shown to have an increase in libido and healthy sperm.
How do you use Maca?
Maca comes in powder, capsule, tincture or pills. You can use the powder in a fertility smoothie or with juice.
Dosage: Recommended dosage is 1000-3000 mg a day. To obtain desired results maca needs to be taken regularly. There are no side effects from taking maca; remember, it is a food.
- Melnikovova, I., Fait, T., Kolarova, M., Fernandez, E. C., & Milella, L. (2015). Effect of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone Levels in Healthy Adult Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015, 1-6. doi:10.1155/2015/324369 Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4569766/
