AOR Maca - 180 V-Caps

Maca (Lepidium peruvium chacon):

A plant native to Peru, is a cruciferous plant whose roots are eaten as a vegetable by the native peoples. Along with a rich mineral content, Maca contains four alkaloids the so-called macainas which clinical and anecdotal experience suggests may nourish the endocrine glands in an adaptogenic fashion. That is, by balancing the effects of major steroid hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, Maca may create effects that are specific to the age and neuroendocrine condition of the individual, elevating low levels of some hormones while lowering levels of hormones present in excess

It is thus reported by some clinicians - including such MDs as cardiologist Dr. Hugo Malaspina, internist Dr. Aguila Calderon, complementary medical practitioner Dr. Henry Campanile, and chelation therapist Dr. Harold Clark that Maca assists in the maintenance of male sexual function, can be helpful in normalizing menopausal and premenstrual symptoms, including helping to maintain bone structure, fights stress and increases energy, and helps maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

One patient of Dr. Carlos Roe had serum estradiol levels varying from 145 to 109pg/mL while on conventional HRT. When taken off of premarin, her levels plunged down to 23. Yet when supplemented with Maca, her levels climbed to 148 again, via endogenous production only. If anything, one would probably wish to lower Dr. Roe's patient's dose, if levels remained this high consistently. Also of interest is the case history of a patient of Dr. Anthony Pueck. Dr. Pueck's patient saw her follicle-stimulating hormone levels plunge from 76.3 to 28.2ng/dL, while her serum estradiol levels were brought to 13ng/dL levels more typical of young women. Another patient had her hormone levels tested by saliva assay at Body Balance Laboratory. Over the course of three weeks of supplementation, her estradiol levels climbed from 7.44picmol/L to 14.2picmol/L by this assay method again, levels typical of a healthy woman of young middle age.

Animal experiments performed by Dr. Gloria Chacon de Popvici for her PhD thesis (1) give some insight into these remarkable reports. Dr. Chacon found that, compared to control animals, rodents fed either maca root powder or isolated macainas showed greater follicle maturation (females) and higher sperm production (males) within three days of testing. Her belief is that macainas mechanism of action involves the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, resulting in gender-specific increases in sex hormone secretion and also adrenal stimulation, because of the normal actions of stimulating and releasing hormones from these glands. If correct, this hypothesis would mean that persons taking Maca are actually increasing endogenous production of their natural sex hormones a significant improvement over supplying such hormones externally through HRT or even phytoestrogens. Indeed, this might conceivably result from increased hypothalamic sensitivity, the loss of which is believed by some to be a major proximate cause of aging.

Maca is the only maca supplement available which is grown in an environment free of pesticides and fertilizers. The harvesting process is socially as well as ecologically responsible: the root is purchased directly from traditional cattle herders in the Andes. The decision-making process on land use is communitarian/consensus-based, with the communal council having final say on crop planting and harvesting. This allows these peoples to retain aspects of their traditional culture while integrating to a necessary degree into the prevailing cash economy.

Cautions:
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have high blood pressure, are taking blood thinners or antidepressants, suffer from any psychological disorder or condition such as frequent anxiety or depression. Consult a health care practitioner for use beyond three months, or beyond six weeks for menopausal & postmenopausal women.