Evidence supporting the use of: Maca
For the health condition: Hot Flashes

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian root that has a long history of traditional use for a variety of health concerns, particularly those related to energy, fertility, and hormone balance. In the context of hot flashes—commonly experienced during menopause—maca has been used in traditional Andean medicine to help women cope with menopausal symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. This traditional use likely stems from maca’s reputation as an adaptogen and its folkloric association with balancing hormones and supporting reproductive health.

Scientific evidence for maca’s effectiveness in treating hot flashes is limited and mixed. A few small randomized clinical trials suggest that maca may help reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes in menopausal women, possibly by acting on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, but the exact mechanism is unclear and the studies are generally of low to moderate quality. There is no evidence that maca directly alters estrogen levels, and some reviews conclude that while maca may have some benefit, the data are insufficient to strongly recommend it as a treatment for hot flashes. Overall, maca’s use in this context is primarily based on tradition, with emerging but not yet convincing scientific support.

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