6. Maca Dosage and Contraindications

Dose:

• Traditionally, in the Andes Lepidium meyenii Walp. is eaten in a very similar way to potatoes. Peasants of central Peru are used to eat almost half a kilogram of Lepidium meyenii Walp. hypocotyl/root in a single day. They say that this amount energizes them quite enough in order to accomplish their farming activities as well as their ‘husband activities’ (actually, women in central Peru are very prolific). They eat it cooked and most commonly in soups.
• In the United States, herbal medicine recommends 5 g to 20 g of processed Lepidium meyenii Walp daily. The preferred presentations are in tablets, capsules and flour. The last one, ‘maca flour’, is the cheapest and can be stirred into juice, water or smoothies (2 teaspoons of root powder are about 5.5 grams).
• If you are to take standardized and concentrated extract products, follow the labeled instructions, according to the manufacturer.
• Some authorities are questioning the expending of Lepidium meyenii Walp. capsules or tablets. They say that the traditional use of this Andean plant is as food, not as a diet supplement. Taking a few capsules or tablets of dry Lepidium meyenii Walp. powder will not be of much benefit, as Andean peasants are used to eat huge amounts of this tuberous organ instead of having just some milligrams of it. Hence, they recommend preferably the use of Lepidium meyenii Walp. flour (that is, powdered dry hypocotyls/roots) in soaps, drinks, cakes, cookies, etc. instead of capsules or tablets.
• In several rat and mice studies, the animals were administered up to 4 g per kg of body weight of a concentrated Lepidium meyenii Walp. extract to achieve an improvement of sexual performance. This would equate to about a 300 g dosage in an average 75 kg man.

Contraindications:

• The administration of this product in doses over 2 g/kg of weight may be contraindicated in hypertensive individuals.

Drug Interactions:

None reported.