Maca Root · Lepidium meyenii
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian root vegetable from the Andes mountains, traditionally consumed for energy, fertility, and libido support. Multiple color phenotypes exist: yellow (most common, balanced effects), red (predominantly studied for prostate health), and black (predominantly studied for energy and male fertility).
Morning common; some users split AM/PM. Avoid evening if energizing effect.
Start here. Every protocol below is ordered lowest-first. Begin at the smallest effective dose, hold about a week to assess tolerance, and step up only if needed.
Maca's effects do NOT come from direct hormonal modulation:
Multiple controlled studies show maca does NOT increase serum testosterone, estradiol, FSH, or LH levels. The libido and energy effects occur via different pathways.
Unique fatty acid amides found in maca that act on cannabinoid (CB1) and TRPV1 receptors. May mediate libido, mood, and adaptogen effects.
May modulate HPA and HPG axes at the hypothalamic level rather than peripherally.
In male fertility, maca improves sperm count and motility through unclear mechanisms - likely involves mitochondrial energy metabolism in sperm.
Red maca shows specificity for prostate health; black maca for male fertility/energy; yellow is balanced. Likely reflects differential bioactive content.
Days 1-14: subtle subjective effects.
Weeks 2-8: peak libido and energy effects.
Weeks 8+: sustained effects; sperm parameter improvements need 12+ weeks.
Each reference below was re-fetched from its PubMed record, and the quoted sentence was confirmed to appear in that abstract and to support the claim it sits under. Follow any of them to read the source.
Evidence boundary from the checked abstract: Increase of sperm count was not related to dose of Maca.
Increase of sperm count was not related to dose of Maca.
Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men.
Evidence scope. This entry supports only the exact statement quoted from the live abstract; it does not independently verify OnePin's displayed dose, route, frequency, formulation, population, or broader mechanism.
Claims we could not support
No abstract we checked supports these for this molecule at this route. That is not the same as saying they are false — it marks where the evidence is missing.
Dose/route: 1.5-3g daily; Oral powder or capsule; 1-2x daily. No checked live PubMed abstract verified this exact displayed dose, route, and frequency for the same molecule/formulation and relevant population.
Primary safety claim: No primary safety text present in source JSON. No checked live PubMed abstract directly verified this source-JSON safety claim at the displayed formulation, route, and regimen.
Variable by component
Hours plasma; effects accumulate over weeks
Oral moderate; gelatinized higher
Days for cumulative effects
Hepatic
Storage. Powder/capsule. Cool, dry location. Sealed container.
Dietary supplement (US, DSHEA). Traditional food in Peru.
Put it to work
Open Maca straight into OnePin with your vial and dose pre-filled, then let it handle the syringe math and remind you before the vial runs out.
Open Maca in the app →Go deeper
The complete Maca walkthrough, real protocol discussion and coaching live inside the BlessUp community on Skool.
Join the community ↗Track it in OnePin. Log vials, draws, and protocols in the app.
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