Maca Root, a star in the wellness community, is making its mark in everything from coffee to shakes to scalp-care.

Despite being revered for its medicinal properties for thousands of years in South America (it’s also known as Peruvian ginseng for its energizing and stimulating properties), Maca Root is just now starting to enjoy global superfood status. Researchers are continually turning up new health benefits associated with this powerful root vegetable native to the Andes of Peru.

Maca Root acts as a natural antioxidant, boosting levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase in the body and skin. These antioxidants help neutralize harmful free radicals and preventing damage to cells.

This, plus its soothing properties, helps to create a healthier overall scalp landscape.

Where It’s Sourced

Maca Root is a cruciferous vegetable like kale, cauliflower, or radishes. It’s grows in the semi-desert conditions in the Andes Mountains of Peru where it thrives in blazing sunlight and high temperatures during the day and severe frost at night. Maca Root is used in traditional medicine as well as in food—it’s a key ingredient in a fermented drink called Maca Chicha. Maca Root has a similar appearance and size as radishes or turnips with green tops and roots that range in color from yellow to purple and black.

Priority is given to endemic species, which is why our Maca Root is sourced only from Latin America, its land of origin. In order to respect local practices, we only use plants that are harvested from the wild under controlled conditions or cultivated on agricultural land.

The Behind-the-Scenes Science: Clarifies Scalp, Helps Fight Free Radicals

A 2014 study demonstrated that polysaccharides extracted from Maca Root had high antioxidant activity and were effective in fighting free radical damage. Maca Root is high in saponin, an antibacterial compound, which has been proven to be a powerful scalp cleanser. This ensures that your follicles stay clean and unclogged, so that hair has an optimal environment.

References

1. Extraction, purification and antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides from maca (Lepidium meyenii). Zha S, Zhao Q, Chen J, Wang L, Zhang G, Zhang H, Zhao B.