What is maca powder?

Maca powder is made from the roots of the maca plant, which hails from the plateaus of the Peruvian Andes Mountains. It is used as a food and a medicine, although its medicinal properties have yet to be proven, according to WebMD. It has a scent reminiscent of butterscotch.

WebMD explains that maca powder is used to treat anemia and chronic fatigue syndrome and to boost stamina, energy and athletic performance. Women use it to treat menstrual and menopausal problems and enhance fertility. It also finds use in treating osteoporosis, depression, HIV, leukemia, stomach cancer and tuberculosis. Men find it helpful in treating erectile dysfunction and stimulating sexual arousal.