This energizing plant is also referred to as Peruvian ginseng (although maca is not in the same family as ginseng, it is actually closely related to the radish). Maca has been used for centuries in the Andes to enhance fertility in humans and animals.

Maca has been growing in world popularity over the last several years due to several large U.S. marketing campaigns touting its energizing, fertility enhancement, hormonal balancing, aphrodisiac, and, especially, enhanced sexual performance properties. Maca root is being effectively administered to both men and women to help increase libido, men's sperm activity, and to assist both sexes with issues regarding their physical endurance and threshold.

Other traditional herbal medicine uses in the U.S. and abroad include increasing energy, stamina, and endurance in athletes, promoting mental clarity, treating male impotence, and helping with menstrual irregularities, female hormonal imbalances, menopause, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The synergy of so many amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in their natural states may increase the assimilation, uptake, and utilization of them in the body makes maca a good source of energy and nutrition.

Not much research has been carried out for this particular botanical out of its native country Peru, but several distinguished journals and scientists worldwide have supported what the Peruvian researchers have done and the preliminary studies they published..