Maca Root Extract for Libido: Does Maca Root Increase Libido?
Low libido can really take a toll on your relationship. Your self-confidence, too. But before you turn to pharmaceutical solutions, it’s worth looking into something more natural - like maca root extract for libido.
Does maca root increase libido, though? It certainly can! The really interesting part is that this Peruvian remedy doesn’t impact your hormones at all. But it could be just what you need to revitalize your sex drive.
We’ve pulled together the maca root libido evidence below, and you’ll also discover the #1 way to harness its potential in Snoozy’s Love Birds sex gummies. They combine maca root with horny goat weed, panax ginseng, and damiana for a multi-faceted approach to boosting libido.
Key Takeaways
- There are clinical trials showing maca root may improve sex drive in men and women alike.1,2
- Maca doesn’t mess with testosterone, estrogen, or other hormones, either.
- The side effects are mild. Most people can try a maca supplement without any worry.
- Set expectations. Maca root is not a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s subtle.
- Snoozy’s Love Birds combines maca with other natural aphrodisiacs and libido-boosters for well-rounded support.
Common Causes of Low LibiEdo
Libido is a fancy word for sex drive. It’s very normal for libido to fluctuate in both men and women. However, lingering low sex drive that affects your relationships or quality of life is a problem worth addressing. There are usually identifiable causes behind it.
Perhaps the most common cause of low libido is chronic stress. The body pushes sexual function and overall desire to the back burner when cortisol is constantly elevated.
Hormonal shifts can play a role as well - aging, menopause, low testosterone are all possible culprits. It could even be a side effect from a medication you’re on, like birth control or SSRIs.
Poor sleep, relationship tension, and performance anxiety are other reasons your libido could be lower than normal. Ultimately, addressing the root cause is the best way to bring libido back into a healthy range - but does maca root increase libido, too?
Does Maca Root Increase Libido?
The honest answer is that we have fairly limited clinical evidence. Most of why we recommend trying maca root extract for libido goes back to all the anecdotal evidence behind it.
This root vegetable grows in the high-altitude regions of Peru. There, it has been a food staple and remedy for over 2,000 years. Its most common use in traditional medicine was for enhancing energy and fertility.
But how does maca root increase libido? There are two specific compounds we think are behind the benefits: macamides and macaenes. These interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors throughout the body. The ECS influences everything from mood and stress response to pleasure.
You can start to see why maca root for libido is so popular. But let’s take a closer look at the maca root libido evidence below to decide if this is really something you should take a chance on.
Maca Root Libido Evidence
We do have a handful of maca root libido studies showing promising results.
The first we found intriguing was done decades ago, back in 2002. Researchers ran a 12-week randomized controlled trial with 57 healthy men. They took either 1.5g or 3g of maca daily. The gentlemen self-reported their results, and most began to notice an uptick in sexual desire around the 8-week mark.1
A 2015 study was conducted specifically on those struggling with low libido as a side effect of SSRI antidepressants. The women who took 3g of maca showed better improvements on sexual function scales. The strongest results were shown in postmenopausal women.2
A 2009 trial brought together 50 men struggling with mild ED. They were given 2.4g of maca extract daily for 12 weeks, and erectile function scores improved significantly compared to the placebo group.3
So, does maca root increase libido? It has the potential to. That’s for sure. But there’s a little more to the story than meets the eye…
Setting Expectations With Maca Root For Libido
Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman of Georgetown University Medical Center says it best:
“Maca might have a positive effect on sexual dysfunction. Yet there are so many psychological and social aspects when measuring sexual healing that it is hard to be conclusive.”4
So, keep your expectations in check if you’re struggling with ED or libido-related woes that can be traced back to medication side effects. The research does show strong improvements in sexual desire - but you still need to address the root cause of the issue. We’ve seen that maca root for libido works best when the problem is energy or stress.
Using Maca Root Extract for Libido
Fortunately, using maca root extract for libido doesn’t mean cooking up the plant yourself. There are tons of supplements to choose from - capsules, powders, and even gummies.
Snoozy’s Love Birds gummies pair 300mg of maca root extract with 300mg of horny goat weed, 175mg of panax ginseng, and 200mg of damiana. All four of these botanical ingredients have strong reputations for improving sexual vitality and bringing you closer to that special someone.
You can try them risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee, too. Order Love Birds today and see for yourself how well maca root extract for libido works.
More Ways to Enhance Libido
Think back to all the possible culprits behind low sex drive. It’s worth taking inventory of what’s going on in your life that could be to blame.
Have you been dealing with more stress than usual?
How have you been sleeping?
Did you start taking a new medication recently?
Is your relationship itself in a good place?
Supplements work best when you address the root cause itself.
Signs You Should See a Doctor
Low libido that’s caused by medication side effects warrants a conversation with your doctor. It’s uncomfortable, sure. But be honest with them, and they may be able to suggest alternatives or dosage changes to bring sex drive back into balance.
You should also talk to your doctor if your libido stays low after a few months of trying to make changes. Or if you notice pain during sex or symptoms of depression. Supplements like maca root extract for libido will likely not be enough in these cases.
Bottom Line on Maca Root For Libido
In closing, does maca root increase libido? It can, but only to a certain extent. There is ample maca root libido evidence showing it can reignite desire that may have gone dormant because of stress or energy. It may even help mitigate some of the side effects of medications causing low libido, according to one study.
But maca root is not a treatment for ED. And it works best in synergy with other libido-boosting ingredients, which is what makes Snoozy’s Love Birds formula the best way to tap into the benefits of maca. Try it yourself today!
Frequently asked questions
Is Ashwagandha or maca better for libido?
They’re totally different, but we’d argue maca root for libido is the better fit. Both are adaptogens, but there’s less evidence on ashwagandha as a libido-booster.
What color maca root is best for libido?
Most of the maca root libido evidence comes from studies that used yellow or mixed-color gelatinized maca root.
What happens if I take maca every day?
You don’t have to worry about any adverse effects if you take a responsible dosage and use a high-quality extract. You will slowly but surely notice improvements to energy levels, stress response, and hopefully, libido!
Related Resources
Does Horny Goat Weed Increase Libido | GABA vs Ashwagandha For Stress
References
- Gonzales GF, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia, 2002;34(6):367-72. PubMed
- Dording CM, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in women. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015. PubMed
- Zenico T, et al. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction. Andrologia, 2009. PubMed
- Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, Georgetown University Medical Center. Quoted in "The Truth About Maca." WebMD
