Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Maca root (Lepidium meyenii), sometimes referred to as "Macaenes" due to its content of macamides and macaenes, has traditionally been used in Peruvian folk medicine to support fertility and hormonal balance, including menstrual health. Historical accounts and ethnobotanical surveys indicate that Maca has been consumed by Andean populations to enhance stamina, fertility, and reproductive function. While there are anecdotal and traditional reports of Maca being used to address menstrual irregularities such as amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), there is limited scientific evidence specifically validating its efficacy for this condition.

Few small human studies and animal experiments suggest that Maca may have effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and could influence hormone levels. However, these studies often focus on general hormone balance, libido, or menopausal symptoms rather than specifically treating amenorrhea. No large-scale, high-quality clinical trials have demonstrated that Maca or its active compounds (such as macaenes) are effective in restoring menstruation in women with amenorrhea. Thus, its use for amenorrhea is grounded more in traditional use than in robust scientific validation, and the overall quality of evidence remains low (rated 1).

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