Maca root is a Peruvian botanical used in both male and female health supplements. Independent review of the published clinical evidence and what it does and doesn't support.
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian root vegetable with published evidence for subjective wellbeing and libido support in both men and women. It does not contain hormones or phytoestrogens. Its mechanism appears to involve hypothalamic regulation of pituitary function rather than direct hormonal action.
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian root vegetable in the Brassicaceae family. It has been used traditionally for energy, fertility and libido support for centuries. Modern supplement use has been driven by published clinical trials showing improvements in sexual dysfunction and subjective wellbeing.
A systematic review (Shin et al., 2010) of available RCTs concluded that maca has limited but positive evidence for improving libido in healthy adults. A separate trial (Brooks et al., 2008) found maca superior to placebo for self-rated sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women with SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction.
Despite common claims, maca does not increase testosterone or oestrogen levels in published research. Its mechanism appears to be hypothalamic — supporting pituitary hormone regulation via a non-hormonal pathway. It is not an aphrodisiac in the pharmacological sense but may support subjective sexual interest and energy.