Popular Male Enhancement Ingredients: All You Should Know About Maca Root

Looking for natural ways to boost your libido and improve your sexual performance? Maca root is included in the composition of numerous male enhancement products. What is it and how exactly does maca work?

The following article will help you find out.

What Is Maca Root?

Lepidium meyenii or maca (also known as Peruvian ginseng) is a plant predominantly grown in the Andes. It’s related to both the radish and the turnip. The plant has very thin and short leaves and small seeds that are the plant’s main means of reproduction.

The wild maca of Peru has been domesticated and today, it’s grown in many parts of the world.

The maca root has a high nutritional value. In Peru, the fresh maca root is used for the preparation of various kinds of meals. When the dried root is ground, it can later on be used for bread making.

Over the past few years, the maca root has been marketed as a powerful aphrodisiac and male enhancer. Though just a few clinical studies have been carried out so far, maca seems to be a promising natural possibility for the treatment of various sexual dysfunctions in men.

How Does It Work?

The first manner in which maca delivers its benefits is by giving a boost of energy. More energy is essential for feelings of wellbeing and improved sexual performance. In addition, the root powder has beneficial effects on the libido, the erectile response and the sperm quality.

Maca-based supplements can be used for the treatment or as a support therapy by men suffering from erectile dysfunction or infertility.

Apart from essential polysaccharides and fatty acids, the maca root contains several unique compounds. Macaenes and macamides are the ones that seem to be having a stimulating effect on the sexual response.

These alkaloids are solely found in the maca root and they seem to have unique properties. Research is still in the early phases and scientists are currently trying to find out how these compounds stimulate the male reproductive system.

Clinical Studies And Evidence

Several clinical studies have tested the male enhancement results of taking maca root extract. Most of these experiments prove the effectiveness of the natural product.

A systemic overview of maca root clinical trials was published in 2010. The researchers went over the results of four separate clinical experiments. The results of taking maca root for male enhancement were compared to the results of taking a placebo.

The participants in the experiments that were given maca root extract experienced a bigger improvement in sexual health and an increase in libido than the individuals that took a placebo.

A Peruvian study provides some additional information about maca root’s effectiveness. Researchers from Unversidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia worked with nine male volunteers. The men were aged 24 to 44 and they were either given maca extract or a placebo for a period of four months.

The researchers assessed sperm quality in the beginning and in the end of the experiment. The men who took maca root extract experienced improvement in both semen quality and volume.

A few studies also suggest that maca root may have a beneficial impact on female sexuality, as well. The root can be used as a supplementation option by menopausal women who want to overcome the adverse side effects of menopause.

Possible Side Effects

Since maca is consumed as a food and it has a natural origin, giving maca root extract a try is considered generally safe. Taking up to three grams per day for a period of up to four months is recommended by most of the supplement manufacturers.

Maca root extract may have estrogen-like effects. Women that suffer from hormone-sensitive conditions should avoid maca supplementation.