Updated April 2026

What is maca root?

Maca is a cruciferous root vegetable -- Lepidium meyenii -- native to the high Andes of Peru, cultivated for more than 2,000 years. It is often called "Peruvian ginseng," though it is not related to ginseng at all. What it shares is an adaptogenic profile: compounds that help the body cope with physical and emotional stress. Modern maca supplements concentrate the root into powder, capsule, or gummy form, preserving its signature bioactives -- macamides, macaenes, and glucosinolates -- along with B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, iron, and essential amino acids.

Does maca root actually boost libido?

Yes -- and this is one of the few natural botanicals with repeated randomized controlled trial support. A 2009 randomized trial in Andrologia found that men with mild erectile dysfunction who took maca extract (2,400 mg/day for 12 weeks) reported significantly improved subjective well-being and sexual performance versus placebo. (Zenico et al., 2009) A 2009 pilot study in the same journal confirmed the desire-side effect is independent of testosterone or other reproductive hormone changes. (Gonzales et al., 2002)

The effect is not limited to men. Randomized trials in postmenopausal women showed significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction versus placebo. This breadth of evidence across sexes and life stages is what distinguishes maca from most other botanical aphrodisiacs.

How does maca work if it doesn't raise testosterone?

Most people assume a libido herb must be a hormone booster. Maca isn't. Across clinical studies, serum testosterone, estradiol, and LH levels didn't change meaningfully -- yet desire scores did. Researchers believe maca works by supporting the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, modulating cortisol, and improving energy and mood via its adaptogenic compounds. That means it tends to help when low libido is tied to stress, fatigue, or SSRI side effects -- not when the root cause is a hard endocrine deficiency.

Maca for women: menopause, perimenopause, and SSRI-related low desire

Maca has a specific niche for women navigating hormonal transitions. For postmenopausal women, randomized trials show improvements in mood and sexual function without estrogen replacement. For women on SSRIs or SNRIs, maca is one of the few placebo-controlled-studied natural options for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. If you're in perimenopause, menopause, or on an antidepressant and desire has flattened, maca is one of the better-supported botanicals to trial.

For a comparison of where maca fits versus Tribulus and Muira Puama (which are in NUUD's non-hemp formula), see our guide to libido gummies.

Maca for men: desire, performance, and sperm health

For men, the Zenico 2009 trial showed desire and performance improvements in men with mild ED, and the 2002 Gonzales trial confirmed the desire-side effect is independent of testosterone changes. A 2001 study in Asian Journal of Andrology found maca improved sperm production and motility in healthy adult men -- another benefit for couples focused on reproductive health.

How maca compares to other libido botanicals

Botanical	Primary mechanism	Evidence quality	Onset	In NUUD formula
Maca Root	HPA axis, cortisol modulation, non-hormonal	Strong -- multiple RCTs, men and women	6 to 12 weeks	Sex Bites (hemp line)
Tribulus Terrestris	Androgen receptor support, LH signaling	Strong -- multiple RCTs in women with HSDD	4 to 8 weeks	All non-hemp gummies + capsules
Muira Puama	Nervous system toning, peripheral blood flow	Moderate -- 2 human pilot trials	2 to 4 weeks	All non-hemp gummies + capsules
Ashwagandha	Cortisol reduction, stress adaptation	Moderate -- RCTs in men and women	4 to 8 weeks	Not in current NUUD formula

A note on NUUD's formula: NUUD's non-hemp libido gummies use Tribulus Terrestris, Muira Puama, Boiled Rehmannia Root, Piper Nigrum, and NUUD Mushroom Complex instead of maca. Maca is in Sex Bites (the hemp formula) only. If you want the Tribulus + Muira Puama combination, explore our libido supplements page.

5 steps to using maca root effectively

1. Choose gelatinized maca powder or a standardized extract. Gelatinized maca absorbs better than raw. For supplements, look for a standardized extract rather than raw root powder.
2. Start at 1.5 g/day and build to 3 g/day. Most clinical trials use 1.5 to 3.5 g per day. Consistency matters more than dose size.
3. Take it in the morning with food. Maca has mild energizing properties. Morning dosing avoids any potential sleep disruption.
4. Commit to 8 to 12 weeks. The 2009 Zenico trial used a 12-week window; the 2002 Gonzales trial hit significance at 8 weeks. A 2-week trial is not a fair test.
5. Pair with a fast-acting format for planned intimacy. Maca builds the baseline. If you also want an occasion-specific effect, pair it with the hemp-based Sex Bites line, which includes maca alongside other fast-acting botanicals.

Dosage and safety

Clinical trials typically use 1.5 to 3.5 g of concentrated maca per day. Maca has a long food-history safety record in Peru, where it is eaten as a staple crop. A few groups should talk to a clinician first: people with thyroid conditions (maca contains glucosinolates that can affect iodine uptake), anyone pregnant or nursing, and people on hormone-sensitive medications.

Frequently asked questions

Does maca root really increase libido?

Multiple randomized trials show maca supports sexual desire in both men and women after roughly 8 to 12 weeks of daily use. It does not raise testosterone directly; it appears to work through stress and mood pathways.

How fast does maca work for libido?

Most studies show measurable improvement at 8 weeks of consistent daily use. You may feel an energy or mood shift sooner, but plan on a 2-to-3 month window before judging the desire effect.

Is maca better for women or men?

Both. Clinical evidence exists for men with mild ED, for postmenopausal women, and for women with SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. The ingredient is not gender-specific.

Does NUUD use maca in its libido gummies?

NUUD's non-hemp libido gummies use Tribulus Terrestris and Muira Puama instead of maca -- two botanicals with strong clinical evidence for desire in both sexes. Maca is in the hemp-based Sex Bites line. If you want the Tribulus + Muira Puama combination, see the libido gummies collection.

Does maca work for SSRI-related low libido?

A placebo-controlled trial found maca improved sexual function in women with antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction, making it one of the few evidence-based natural options for that specific issue.

References

1. Zenico T, Cicero AF, Valmorri L, et al. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction. Andrologia. 2009. Zenico et al., 2009
2. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, et al. Lepidium meyenii (maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian J Androl. 2001. Gonzales et al., 2002