Maca Root vs Shilajit for libido
Short answer: For libido, users rate them about the same: 90% report improvement with Maca Root (39 reports) and 87% with Shilajit (45 reports).
Maca Root has 3 meta-analyses and 1 randomized trials on PubMed; Shilajit has 1 and 7.
Based on 90 reports about Maca Root and 427 about Shilajit. Not medical advice.
| Maca Root Supplement | Shilajit Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 41%helped44 reports · medium confidence | 61%helped154 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Research | BResearch: Moderate | BResearch: Moderate |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 3 / 1 | 1 / 7 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Libido % reporting improvement | 90% (39) | 87% (45) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 92% (12) | 94% (67) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 50% (6) | 89% (38) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 62% (8) | 93% (28) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 67% (6) | 84% (19) |
| Common side effects | stomach issues, fatigue, diarrhea, jitteriness | irritability, anxiety, drowsiness, insomnia |
| Typical dose reported | 500 mg / 2x daily | 400-600 mg / daily with food |
In summary, there is some weak evidence to suggest that several botanical extracts may be effective in reducing the appearance of skin aging but no evidence that this effect is enduring. Independent replications with larger, more diverse samples, longer treatment durations and more rigorous study designs are required to validate these preliminary findings.
Drugs Aging, 2010 ↗“maca root majorly helped my anxiety, and is giving me the confidence I need to actively improve my life.”
The exceptions were β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate and betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes. Eurycoma longifolia, a blend of Punica granatum fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts (Tesnor™) and purified Shilajit extract (PrimaVie™) can be considered possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism; Eurycoma longifolia and Withania somnifera possibly effective for healthy men; and a non-hormonal aromatase inhibitor (Novadex XT™) possibly effective for male athletes.
Int J Impot Res, 2024 ↗“Shilajit actually did wonders for me, I'm chronically ill so energy levels and mental clarity were in the dumps and it's the first thing I've tried that boosts a noticeable amount.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate