Maca

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Maca

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By: Patricia McDougall

Maca is a plant that resembles a radish and grows in the Andean mountains of Peru. The root of the plant is dried and powdered and used for over two thousand years for anti-fatigue and stimulant uses. Recently Maca has gained popularity as an aphrodisiac herb to increase sexual stamina. Currently Maca is an important medicinal herb export product for Peru.

The Spanish conquistadors "discovered" Maca because they found that the reproduction of their animals was below average in the mountains. On the recommendation of the locals, they used Maca and found that the fertility of the animals increased after eating Maca herb, and used it to increase the production of livestock. Maca herb has recently received worldwide attention as a herb used to increase male endurance during sex.

Apart from improving fertility, Maca herb also seems to possess properties that stimulate the production of hormones by the body. This makes it useful in treating hormone deficiencies, as it is a better alternative to injecting external hormones in the body.

Men have reported stronger erections that last longer, therefor improving sexual pleasure. Men and women both use Maca to improve their sex life in Peru. The herb is growing in popularity all over the world, particularly in the US, Europe and Japan as a vitality enhancing dietary supplement. The growing popularity of this herb worldwide is reflected in increasing areas of farmlands being dedicated to its growth in Peru.

All that might be very convincing and may be enticing too, but how does one go about getting Maca herb. Fortunately, you don't have to go to Peru and pick up the herb from the cultivators there, as there are many commercial preparations available in easy and ready to use forms. You need to be careful before obtaining one of these however. The purity of the herbs used in the preparation, and the dosage can affect the efficacy of the herb. In fact, if you are not careful about these you could end up with even some harmful effects. Thankfully, there are a few genuine manufacturers who provide you with the pure herb.

Patricia McDougall B.Sc. is a Chartered Herbalist and graduate of the Dominion Herbal College, British Columbia, Canada. Originally from Peru, Patricia is the Director of Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC of Newark Delaware.
http://www.amazon-botanicals.com/Maca_herb_s/87.htm