Benefits Of Maca Root For Hair Growth And How To Use It?
Considered a superfood, maca root has garnered attention for its countless health benefits. One of its most notable benefits is its ability to care for hair. So, does Maca root help hair growth? How do you use maca root for hair growth? These questions will be answered in this article.
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Does Maca Help Hair Growth?
Maca root may support hair growth and health due to its rich nutritional profile and potential hormone-balancing properties. [1]
The hair follicle undergoes a cyclical process consisting of three phases: anagen (growth), catagen (regression), and telogen (resting).
Hair loss, such as alopecia, disrupts this cycle, favoring the telogen phase and resulting in hair thinning.
Maca, rich in oligosaccharides and peptides [2], shows promise in protecting hair follicles from oxidative and inflammatory stress.
It reduces reactive oxygen species and PGE2 release, indicating anti-inflammatory properties.
Maca can protect hair follicles and promote hair growth, making it a promising ingredient for hair loss management products. [3]
What Are The Benefits Of Maca Root For Hair Health?
Benefits Of Maca For Hair Follicle Strengthening
Maca is also rich in oligosaccharides and peptides, which help protect hair follicles from oxidative stress and inflammation.
Furthermore, Maca also contains essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that can strengthen hair follicles, potentially reducing breakage and promoting healthier hair growth. [3], [4]
Benefits Of Maca Root For Hair Growth
Maca has effects on sexual function, reproduction, memory, depression, anxiety, energy, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and osteoporosis. The black, yellow, and red varieties of Maca have different effectiveness.
Black Maca is the best for sperm production, memory, and fatigue, while red Maca reduces benign prostatic hyperplasia and osteoporosis. Maca also lowers blood sugar and blood pressure, helping hair grow normally and more evenly. [5]
Maca root contains compounds like macaenes and macamides, which promote hair growth and protect against stress. Seveov, a natural maca extract, stimulates hair growth by boosting cell proliferation and protecting hair follicles.
It increases cell proliferation by 169% in the hair bulb and 36% in the outer root sheath, showing its protective benefits. Additionally, it enhances collagen density in the skin, improving hair adhesion to the scalp and preventing hair loss. [6]
Maca root is rich in essential amino acids and various nutrients. It contains compounds like macamides and macaenes that may enhance fertility and balance sex hormones.
Additionally, maca root's adaptogenic properties help alleviate stress-induced corticosterone spikes, potentially contributing to decreased hair loss and miniaturization, while stimulating hair growth. [7]
Benefits Of Maca For Hair Growth During Menopause
For women experiencing hair thinning or loss during menopause, Maca's hormone-balancing properties may help alleviate these symptoms, contributing to healthier hair growth.
Maca is known for its hormone-balancing and adaptogenic properties, modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis and enhancing endogenous sex hormone production.
Clinical trials show that maca supplementation in perimenopausal women improves estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone levels and alleviates menopausal symptoms. [7]
How Does Maca Root Benefit Hair?
Maca May Help With Hormone Balance
Maca contains compounds that may help regulate hormone levels, including those related to hair health, such as estrogen and testosterone, potentially reducing hair loss and promoting growth. [1]
Maca has been used as an adaptogen to manage conditions such as anemia, infertility, and hormonal imbalance in women. [8]
Maca May Increase Scalp Circulation
On the scalp, hair appears to be affected before it grows, and oxidative stress plays a role in premature hair loss. [9] Therefore, Maca is an effective antioxidant that will help prevent hair loss and improve circulation in the scalp. [10]
Improved circulation to the scalp can promote healthier hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. Maca's potential to increase scalp circulation may contribute to this benefit.
How To Use Maca Root For Hair Growth?
There are several ways to include maca root in your hair care routine:
- Topical application: Create a hair mask by blending maca powder with water or carrier oil. Gently apply the mixture to your scalp and hair, allowing it to work its magic for about 20-30 minutes. Finally, thoroughly rinse it out for optimal results.
- Oral supplementation: Unleash the potential hair benefits of maca root powder or capsules by consuming them orally. This nourishing approach provides your body with essential nutrients from within, promoting healthier hair.
- Enhance the nutritional value of your smoothies or juices by adding maca powder, giving your beverages an extra dose of goodness.
- Integrate maca powder capsules or tablets into your daily routine.
- Nourish your hair with maca root oil or maca extract.
- Amplify the effectiveness of your shampoo or conditioner by incorporating maca root.
- Opt for maca root supplements specifically designed to promote hair health and growth.
- Incorporate cooked maca root into your well-balanced diet.
By following these tips, you can make the most of maca root's benefits for your hair care regimen.
Maca Root Products For Hair
Thanks to its properties and potential benefits for hair growth, Maca root has been incorporated into many products to provide users with various options.
Maca root supplements: Maca is a superfood known for its energy-boosting effects and aids in hair growth. Additionally, combined with DIM and Fenugreek, it supports hormonal balance and skin health.
DIM supports estrogen metabolism, while Fenugreek and Vegan Probiotics target women's hormonal imbalances, support fertility, and may improve sexual function.
Maca root mask: Helps deeply nourish both hair and scalp. Rich in Vitamins B, C, and E to help stimulate hair growth. Maca root extract helps restore, moisturize, and soften hair, helping to stimulate scalp circulation and promote healthy hair.
Maca root shampoo: This helps nourish the scalp, strengthen the hair follicles, and boost hair growth. Wet your hair, apply a sufficient amount evenly on your hair, wash thoroughly, and rinse thoroughly. It should be used in combination with lemongrass or moisturizing cream to increase effectiveness.
Maca root has a pleasant taste and is often made into powder after being harvested and ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Maca Root Cause Hair Loss?
There's no evidence to suggest that maca root causes hair loss. Its nutrient-rich composition may promote hair growth and overall hair health.
Does Maca Root Block DHT?
Maca root is widely recognized for its remarkable ability to balance hormones. Studies have revealed its effectiveness in inhibiting dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to hair loss, while restoring estrogen receptor beta's expression. [11]
Which Maca Is Best For Hair?
Different varieties of maca root, such as red, black, and yellow, offer similar health benefits. Red Maca is rich in essential vitamins such as B, C, and E and minerals like zinc, magnesium, and iron. These nutrients support scalp health, influencing hair growth. Additionally, Maca root enhances hair appearance by imparting shine and volume. [12]
Conclusion
In short, the question is: "How do you use Maca root for hair growth?" has been answered. Maca root has many benefits for hair growth and overall hair health. Its hormone-balancing properties, ability to increase scalp circulation, and nutrient-rich composition make Maca root a valuable addition to any hair care routine.
Whether used topically or orally, maca root can contribute to healthier, stronger, and more beautiful hair. Besides, many functional Maca products have appeared on the market; you can choose a product that is suitable for you to use.
References
- [1] Meissner, H. O., Mscisz, A., Reich-Bilinska, H., Mrozikiewicz, P., Bobkiewicz-Kozlowska, T., Kedzia, B., Lowicka, A., & Barchia, I. (2006). Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (III) Clinical responses of early-postmenopausal women to Maca in double blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled, crossover configuration, outpatient study. International Journal of Biomedical Science : IJBS, 2(4), 375–394. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614644/
- [2] Yang, J., Cho, H., Gil, M., & Kyung Eun Kim. (2023). Anti-Inflammation and Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Maca Root Extracts Fermented Using Lactobacillus Strains. Antioxidants, 12(4), 798–798. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12040798
- [3] M. Le Roux, S. Bredif, G. Bellemere, S. Leclere-Bienfait, & Baudouin, C. (2019). 881 Hair growth and protection properties of an oligosaccharide and peptidic extract from Maca root. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 139(5), S152–S152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2019.03.957
- [4] Leitão, S., Cabrera, L., Larisa, L., Maysa Formigoni, Hernandez, R., Adriana Aparecida Droval, & Reitz, A. (2020). Medicinal effects of Peruvian maca (Lepidium meyenii): a review. Food & Function, 11(1), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9fo02732g
- [5] Gonzales. (2014). [Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp), a review of its biological properties]. Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental Y Salud Publica, 31(1). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24718534/
- [6] BALDI, M. , et al. “Synergistic Use of Bioactive Agents for the Management of Different Skin Conditions: An Overview of Biological Activities.” European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.
- [7] Ablon, G. (2021). Nutraceuticals. Dermatologic Clinics, 39(3), 417–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.det.2021.03.006
- [8] Myeong Soo Lee, Shin, B.-C., Eun Jin Yang, Lim, H.-J., & Ernst, E. (2011). Maca (Lepidium meyenii) for treatment of menopausal symptoms: A systematic review. Maturitas, 70(3), 227–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.07.01
- [9] Trüeb, R. M., Henry, J. P., Davis, M. G., & Schwartz, J. R. (2018). Scalp condition impacts hair growth and retention via oxidative stress. International Journal of Trichology, 10(6), 262–262. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijt.ijt_57_18
- [10] Sandoval, M., Okuhama, N. N., Angeles, F. M., Melchor, V. V., Condezo, L. A., Lao, J., & Mark J.S. Miller. (2002). Antioxidant activity of the cruciferous vegetable Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Food Chemistry, 79(2), 207–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0308-8146(02)00133-4
- [11] Zou, Y., Waleed Aboshora, Li, J., Xiao, T., & Zhang, L. (2017). Protective Effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) Aqueous Extract and Lycopene on Testosterone Propionate-Induced Prostatic Hyperplasia in Mice. Phytotherapy Research, 31(8), 1192–1198. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5838
- [12] Medicinal Roots and Tubers for Pharmaceutical and Commercial Applications. (2023). Google Books.
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