Maca Extract - A New Natural HRT?

There seems to be increasing evidence that Maca can help women to significantly reduce menopausal symptoms and improve hormone levels.

High Success Rate
One study suggests an 84% success rate in clinical trials, particularly in the reduction of hot flashes and night sweats. It also indicated an improvement in the subjects ability to maintain a healthy weight.

Attractive Alternative To HRT
Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study with postmenopausal women found that Maca stimulated the production of estrogen, suppressed follicle-stimulating hormones and reduced the severity of menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes and night sweating. These results led the researchers to conclude that Maca offered "an attractive non-hormonal addition to the choices available to early-postmenopausal women in the form of a natural plant alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).”

Benefits Mood & Libido
A further double-blind, placebo-controlled study discovered that Maca "reduces psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression, and lowers measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women independent of estrogenic and androgenic activity." In other words, Maca benefited the female subjects' moods and libido without negatively affecting their sexual hormones.

Acknowledgements: Natural Health International & Menopause Journal