Evidence supporting the use of: Maca
For the health condition: Nervous Exhaustion

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) has a long history of traditional use in the Andes, particularly in Peru, as a tonic to promote stamina, energy, and resilience to stress—traits associated with what is sometimes described as "nervous exhaustion." Traditional Andean healers have used maca root to help the body adapt to physical and mental stressors, improve mood, and counteract fatigue. This ethnobotanical reputation is the principal basis for using maca in the context of nervous exhaustion, a term rooted in 19th-century medicine but now often described as chronic fatigue, burnout, or stress-related fatigue.

Modern scientific research on maca is limited and does not specifically address "nervous exhaustion." A handful of clinical studies and animal models suggest that maca may have adaptogenic effects, potentially supporting mood and energy levels, possibly by influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neurotransmitter balance, or antioxidant capacity. However, these studies are preliminary, often small, and usually focus on related concepts such as mood, energy, or stress rather than the classical definition of nervous exhaustion. There is currently no robust clinical trial evidence directly validating maca's efficacy for this specific condition.

In summary, the use of maca for nervous exhaustion is justified primarily by traditional usage with some low-level scientific support for related symptoms like fatigue and stress, but not for nervous exhaustion as a defined clinical entity.

More about maca
More about Nervous Exhaustion