herb · for low mood
Maca
Its plant compounds show mood-lifting activity and appear to steady stress hormones.
Say that in clinical terms
Flavonoid compounds demonstrate antidepressant-like activity and modulate HPA axis function.
How strong is the research?
Evidence evidence
Only one studyStudied in a narrower groupLow-quality evidence
2 papers read, 1 supporting.
Who was studied: 14 postmenopausal women completed the study.
How much to take
daily
1500–3000 mg
Mood improvement independent of hormone changes. Safe for long-term use.
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.
What we make of it
One pilot of 14 postmenopausal women is the entire evidence.
The detail
A single pilot study of 14 women is all there is. Any mood effect may be specific to menopausal hormone changes rather than anything that generalises.