Maca & Muirapauma

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Maca is a hardy perennial plant cultivated high in the Andean Mountains. Legend has it that Inca warriors would consume Maca before entering into battle. This would make them extremely strong. But after conquering a city, the Incan soldiers were forbidden from using Maca to protect the conquered women from the warrior's powerful sexual impulses. Maca has been used successfully by native Peruvians as an aphrodisiac, and as an adaptogen to increase energy levels. Its fertility enhancing properties were supported clinically as early as 1961, when researchers discovered it increased the fertility of rats. Recently, scientists have rediscovered the wonders of the herb Maca in enhancing libido and energy levels and in attacking erectile dysfunction. A study published in the April 2000 issue of Urology, the prestigious medical journal that first published the Viagra studies, found Maca's sexual performance powers to be consistent with the legendary reports coming from Peru for hundreds of years. Hugo Malaspina, M.D., a cardiologist practicing complementary medicine in Lima, Peru, has been using Maca in his practice for ten years. Dr. Malaspina first found out about Maca through a group of sexually active older men who were taking the herb with good results. Dr. Malaspina reported: "One man in this group started taking Maca and found he was able to perform satisfactorily in a sexual relationship with a lady friend. Soon everyone in the group began drinking the powdered Maca as a beverage and enjoying the boost that the root was giving their hormonal functions." A chemical analysis conducted in 1981 showed the presence of biologically-active aromatic isothiocyanates, especially p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which have reputed aphrodisiac properties. Initial analysis of Maca indicates that the effects on fertility are a result of the glucosinolates. Today, dried Maca roots are ground to powder and sold in capsules as a medicine and food supplement to increase stamina and fertility.

Muirapauma, sometimes spelled Marapauma, is a South American tree native to the Brazilian rain forests. Muirapauma is one of the most active botanicals with a long history of traditional use as an energy tonic, general health improver and remedy for impotence and sexual insufficiency. The roots of this Amazonian tree were the subject of a study conducted by the UCLA School of Medicine. The study showed a significant improvement in both erectile function and sexual desire. The Amazon natives have known this for centuries, as this herb has been widely used as an aphrodisiac by both men and women, and is commonly known as "potent wood". Muirapauma has been used by different native populations in Brazil for enhancement of virility, for impotence, for stress management, for nervous system stimulation, and for general overall health. Two French studies show that Muirapauma does indeed improve libido and sexual function. Scientists also believe that this herb increases testosterone levels, though this has not yet been clinically proven. Muirapauma has been used successfully in tonifying the nervous system and for treating cases of mild exhaustion. It also helps with gastrointestinal and reproductive disorders, while it's anti-rheumatic properties have been used for treating stress and trauma. A clinical study with 262 patients complaining of lack of sexual desire and the inability to attain or maintain an erection demonstrated Muirapauma extract to be effective in many cases. Within 2 weeks, at a daily dose of 1 to 1.5 grams of the extract, 62 percent of patients with loss of libido claimed that the treatment had dynamic effect while 51 percent of patients with "erection failures" felt that Muirapauma was of benefit. Primary chemical constituents of Muirapauma include alkaloids (muirapaumine), esters, and phytosterols. Presently, the exact mechanism of action of this herb is still under investigation. From the preliminary information, it appears that it works on enhancing both psychological and physical aspects of sexual function.