Maca Root’s Benefits For The Mood And The Ability

Maca Root: What It Does And Doesn’t Do

Maca root, or Lepidium meyenii, gets thought of as a root vegetable, though it’s in fact a cruciferous vegetable and more closely related to cabbage—notwithstanding that it also gets called “Peruvian ginseng”.

• Nutritionally, it’s full of all manner of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a wide array of phytochemicals)
• Medicinally, it’s long enjoyed traditional use against a wide variety of illnesses, including respiratory infections and inflammatory diseases.

It’s also traditionally an aphrodisiac.

Is it really anti-inflammatory?

Probably not… Unless fermented. This hasn’t been studied deeply, but a 2023 study found that non-fermented and fermented maca root extracts had opposite effects in this regard:

Anti-Inflammation and Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Maca Root Extracts Fermented Using Lactobacillus Strains

However, this was an in vitro study, so we can’t say for sure that the results will carry over to humans.

Is it really an aphrodisiac?

Actually yes, it seems so. Here’s a study in which 45 women with antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction found it significantly improved both libido and sexual function:

❝In summary, maca root may alleviate antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction as women age, particularly in the domain of orgasm❞

~ Dr. Christina Dording et al.

Read in full: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Maca Root as Treatment for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Women

As for men, well these mice (not technically men) found it beneficial too:

Effects of combined extracts of Lepidium meyenii and Allium tuberosum Rottl. on [e-word] dysfunction

(pardon the censorship; we’re trying to avoid people’s spam filters)

It did also improve fertility (and, actually in real men this time):

Does Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improve seminal quality?

Oh, to be in the mood

Here’s an interesting study in which 3g/day yielded significant mood improvement in these 175 (human) subjects:

Acceptability, Safety, and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Adult Human Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

And yes, it was found to be “well-tolerated” which is scientist-speak for “this appears to be completely safe, but we don’t want to commit ourselves to an absolutist statement and we can’t prove a negative”.

Oh, to have the energy

As it turns out, maca root does also offer benefits in this regard too:

The improvement of daily fatigue in women following the intake of maca (Lepidium meyenii) extract containing benzyl glucosinolate

(that’s not an added ingredient; it’s just a relevant chemical that the root naturally contains)

Want to try some?

We don’t sell it, but here for your convenience is an example product on Amazon 😎

Enjoy!