herb · for low libido
Maca
Its plant compounds appear to lift energy and drive, though how is not pinned down.
Say that in clinical terms
Glucosinolate compounds provide energizing effects and enhance endurance performance capacity.
How strong is the research?
Evidence evidence
Only one studyA different form was studiedLow-quality evidence
1 paper read, 1 supporting.
How much to take
daily
1500–3000 mg
Gelatinized maca has better absorption. Effects on endurance seen at 2 weeks.
Before you take it
- No NIH/IOM Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been established for Maca Root; human clinical safety data beyond 4 continuous months are limited.
- Maca contains glucosinolates that, in excess and combined with low dietary iodine, may impair thyroid hormone synthesis and cause goiter; use with caution in hypothyroidism or any thyroid disorder.
- Maca has been shown to modulate reproductive-hormone pathways (suppressing FSH/LH, altering estradiol) through non-estrogenic mechanisms; use with caution in hormone-sensitive conditions including estrogen-receptor-positive breast, uterine, or ovarian cancers; endometriosis; and uterine fibroids.
- Insufficient human data exist for use during pregnancy or lactation; not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals.
- Post-marketing case reports of adverse events (headache, GI disturbance, dizziness, palpitations) occurred with multi-ingredient products; causal attribution to Maca alone has not been established in these reports.
- The paper's primary finding is improvement in self-reported sexual desire with no corresponding change in serum testosterone or estradiol — the mechanism is not androgenic; this is relevant context for a 'Low Stamina' association that implies energy-based effects