For Immediate Release:	Contact: Ken Malik
April 2004	Executive Director
	Prostate Awareness Foundation
	415-675-5661

 

PROSTATE AWARENESS FOUNDATION

ANNOUNCES ANECDOTAL TRIAL

ON MACA ROOT, A BOTANICAL

SUPPLEMENT GROWN IN THE ANDES

 

San Francisco, CA:

    The Prostate Awareness Foundation (PAF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) based in San Francisco, announced today the start of an anecdotal trial on the botanical supplement Maca. Maca root is grown in the high Andes of South America at elevations over 14,000’. Ancient Inca royalty used this root to enhance sexual and general endurance and stimulate libido. Maca’s benefits were forgotten until recently. Now, many health practitioners, especially in Latin America, are taking another look at this botanical, a distant cousin of the radish.

    Ken Malik, the executive director of PAF, says that most of the information about Maca comes from South America and very little has been translated into English. The information that exists refers primarily to its benefits to menopausal women using the supplement instead of hormone replacement therapy. The product seems to have a pronounced regulatory effect on the endocrine system.

    The Foundation first heard about the product from one of its advisory board members who claimed an enhanced libido, sexual energy and endurance. Malik and others on the recent Prostate Cancer Climb to Mt Kilimanjaro used Maca to enhance their general endurance. He says, “Maca seems to have worked in this respect, as all of the PAF climbers reached the 19,341’ summit.”

    On returning home, Malik began hearing interesting reports back from PAF members about their experience with Maca. The most dramatic claims were from men with diagnosed prostate cancer who are on Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT). This therapy is designed to stop the body's ability to produce testosterone, but a side effect is the elimination of the libido. “ADT is a form of chemical castration, men on ADT should not have a libido!” Malik said. “But surprisingly some men on ADT were reporting a strong libido and sexual appetite while taking Maca root extract. We decided to conduct an anecdotal trial to test Maca’s possibilities.”

    Ten men have been recruited for this three-month trial. Herbs America, a socially conscious grower and distributor of Maca root products, (www.herbsamerica.com) stepped forward and is offering the product at no charge to trial participants. PAF is still in the recruiting stage for this anecdotal trial entitled “The Impact of Maca Root Extract on Libido, Sexual Function and General Energy Level In Men With Diagnosed Prostate Cancer.”  Please call the Foundation for details.