People take Maca for infertility, menopause, increasing desire but does scientific evidence support any of these uses? Hi, my name is Tessa. I’m a functional medicine pharmacist and I’m about to tell you if Maca for balancing hormones is helpful, harmful or just a pain hoax There is so much interest in using maca, but to be honest, there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful in most uses. However, A 2011 study review found some evidence that maca has favorable effects on menopause symptoms including hot flashes, interrupted sleep, anxiety and depression in postmenopausal women. There isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful in most other uses like infertility, balancing horses or increasing desire. Maca can act like estrogen so if you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, I would recommend avoiding Maca. Supplements and superfoods can interact with certain medications and disease states so make sure to talk to your doctor and pharmacist before supplementing. If you choose to supplement, make sure to buy a product that is USP, NSF or BSCG verified for purity and potency so you aren’t buying impure, diluted, or contaminated products. References: 1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24931003/ 2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25954318/ 3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16796734/ 4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16174556/ 5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14600359/ 6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11890390/ 7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11754952/ 8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11561196/ 9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11297856/ 10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11753476/ 11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12525260/ 12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12472620/ DISCLAIMER: This video content is provided for informational and/or entertainment purposes only. Nothing contained in these videos should be considered as providing medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Tessa Spencer has used all reasonable care in compiling the evidence-based information but make no guarantee as to its accuracy. You should consult with your health care provider in regards to any medical concerns you may have.