You’ve probably seen our herb of the month in your favorite health food store. Maca, or Lepidium meyeniihas been valued in South America for its rich health benefits for thousands of years before becoming popular in North America.
The plant belongs to the Mustard family and the Lepidium slaughtered, just like turnip and cabbage.
Maca farms in Peru
The history of Maca
This beautiful botanical plant is native to Peru, where it grows among the highest peaks of the Andes. The first written history was recorded by Cieza de Leon, a chronicler of the Spanish conquest. He probably saw the indigenous people of Peru using Maca roots in their daily lives to support vitality and fertility and to improve mood and well-being.¹ They used it not only for themselves, but also for their animals!
Native Peruvians have cultivated Maca for centuries. The plant thrives in the high altitude and cold conditions of the Andes. They harvest the rock-hard roots and dry them so they stay healthy all year round.
How is Maca used?
Because the carrot is so hard, it needs some love to process. The dried roots (or hypocotyls) must be boiled in water to consume Maca as juice. This is how most Peruvians prepare the plant.
Here in North America we like to supplement Maca in capsules, as a loose powder or in herbal extractions such as tinctures. You will find Maca in various sports nutrition protein powders or supplements for sexual health, because Maca supports vitality. Like the indigenous people of Peru, people in the US use Maca in fertility formulas and in formulas to support adrenal health for its adaptogenic properties.
Who doesn’t need a little extra vitality these days? We live in a fast-paced society and can use all the support we can get. In addition to your healthy smoothies, you can use herbal extractions like WishGarden’s Rise & Energize Daily Energy Boost to support healthy ATP (adenosine triphosphate) levels. ATP is the primary energy carrier in living cells. This formula is combined with other nutritious herbs like Milky Oats to keep the senses sharp while nourishing your endocrine system. But Maca is the star here, where it supports healthy cortisol levels and provides a metabolic boost all day long!
Sustainable Maca
Sustainability is more important than ever, and Maca is no exception. This botanical is steeped in Peruvian culture, but has become popular worldwide, which can devastate the plant population in a small region.
WishGarden Herbs ethically sources our Maca from a family farm in Peru. They grow Maca like their ancestors did in the Andes Mountains. The integrity and potency of cultivated Andean Maca is evident in the extractions taken from such a beautiful source.
Our Maca is sustainably grown and harvested and then dried in the sun before processing.
Maca science
As the rest of the world joins South America in reaping the health benefits of Maca, we are seeing more and more studies confirming its potential. It is important to keep in mind that there are different types of Maca, but yellow, red and black Maca are the most researched.
Published studies on reproduction have shown that plant compounds Macaenes and Macamides (both found in Maca) may support sexual health, although research is still ongoing.¹ Maca has been linked to improved sperm function and increased number of offspring in test subjects , and it is even Modern research has shown that it improves memory. No wonder this botanical has such a long history in herbal medicine!
Of course, the preparation methods are important in these studies, so please research and learn all about Maca for yourself.
References
1. Gonzales, F. Gustavo, Ethnobiology and ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a plant from the Peruvian highlands.
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in Medical Herbalism. She owns it Blue yarrow herbs also known as Herbal Vice, an herbal product company that practices bioregional herbal medicine by growing plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the purchasing and sourcing manager for WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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