Are You Using the Right Type of Maca?
As a college lecturer, integrative functional doctor and herbalist, I have used, as well as keenly followed, the research of maca (Lepidium peruvianum) over the past 20 years. In my practice, and in keeping with the research of the 90s and early 2000s, my focus has always been maca’s use for men in relation to fertility and energy. I used a standard maca powder for this application with fair success, but had never really seen strong or consistent results in women, except for improved energy. However, over the last 10 years, the focus of my lectures and use of particular products has shifted as I have become aware that not all maca is the same.
What is Maca?
Maca is an adaptogenic herb cultivated in the central Peruvian Andes at 12-14,000 feet elevation under harsh growing and weather conditions. It has been used by native people in Peru for over 2,000 years, predominantly in the same way. However, research over the last 15 years has demonstrated that there is much more to the herb than what it has been traditionally used for.
Recent research has demonstrated that there are in fact 13 different types (scientifically called phenotypes) of maca that can be different colors, have different DNA, different analytical profiles and most importantly different physiological effects on the body. Interestingly, the differences don’t stop there: the environment and altitude that the product is cultivated in also plays a part in the efficacy and expression of its active ingredients.
The Importance of Maca Phenotypes The leading researcher on maca and men’s health, Dr. G.F. Gonzales, has published more medical journal articles on maca than any other researcher in the world, and over the last 12 years has shifted all of his focus to research on individual maca phenotypes. This has resulted in some profound discoveries, such as that while the red maca phenotype will reduce the size of an enlarged prostate, other phenotypes won’t, possibly even increasing the size. Red maca also proved to be the most effective in improving mood, while black maca is considered the strongest in energy-promoting properties, as well as the ability to reduce blood glucose levels. In other studies, black maca alone was also shown to improve sperm motility and count, while yellow or red maca did not. Further discoveries showed in two different studies how black and red maca improve libido and bone health, but yellow did not and that black maca is best for influencing memory and learning. This combined with a landmark study in 2005 demonstrated that yellow maca increased uterine weight and litter size while not impacting fetal weight when compared to other phenotypes, indicating that there are potentially different types of maca that are better suited to supporting fertility for men and others for women.
Dr. H. Meissner, Director of R&D at Symphony Natural Health and the leading researcher on maca and women’s health, has had similar findings in his research using specific maca phenotypes. Maca-GO® (commercially known as Femmenessence), used specific concentrated combinations to affect hormone levels in perimenopausal and post-menopausal women and are to date the only clinical trials on any maca product to demonstrate statistically significant effects on hormones. These studies also resulted in the highest success rate of any natural product in reducing menopausal symptoms - 84%. To put that in context, the highest success rate of any other single herb is black cohosh, which only works in 60% of women. In fact, all other studies on normal raw maca powders or gelatinized maca have shown no statistically significant effect on hormones in perimenopausal or post-menopausal women, demonstrating how critical using the right types of maca is.
Meissner’s research has further evolved this concept of different phenotypes by introducing 3 different concentrated phenotype combination products for women depending on their stage of life – these products look at heart, bone and mental health in post-menopausal women, perimenopausal symptoms and menstrual and reproductive health in younger women.
My Clinical Experience
Using the right phenotype has proven to be so critical, that it can mean the difference between a positive and a negative outcome with conditions such as PCOS and thyroid whereby I have seen women using standard maca powders, which primarily impact the adrenal glands, actually experience worsening PCOS and Hashimoto’s symptoms, while women using Femmenessence, which primarily supports the Hypothalamus, for PCOS and thyroid issues having excellent results.
