Evidence supporting the use of: Maca
For the health condition: Nervous Exhaustion
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.
Other ingredients used for Nervous Exhaustion
amino acidsashwagandha
astragalus
waterhyssop
caterpillar mushroom
Chinese salvia root
cordyceps
eleuthero
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
gotu kola
l-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
licorice root
lion's mane
liquid liver fractions
maca
magnesium
motherwort
spruce
pollen
reishi mushroom
rhodiola
thiamin (vitamin B1)
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin D
zinc
jiaogulan
catnip
bee pollen
blessed thistle
sunflower
amber
royal jelly
wheat germ
Aralia
Ambergris
Albizia
Anemone
Astragaloside
Animal protein
Betony
Blue Flag
Beef liver
Bone Marrow
Brahmi
Ba Ji Tian
Black Hellebore
Codonopsis
Cynomorium
Convolvulus prostratus
Convolvulus Pluricaulis
Deer Root
Deer Velvet
Egg
Elk antler
Eurycoma Longifolia
Frankincense
Gerovital H3
Spikenard
Wheat
Other health conditions supported by maca
Adrenal FatigueAmenorrhea
Anemia
Anxiety
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Depression
Diabetes
Energy (lack of)
Erectile Dysfunction
Fatigue
Hot Flashes
Infertility
Insomnia
Irritability
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Mental Illness
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nervous Exhaustion
Nocturnal Emission
Osteoporosis
PMS (general)
Progesterone (low)
Puberty (hormone balancer)
Sex Drive (low)
Stress
Testosterone (low)