Last checked September 2026 against 9 sources · Editorial policy
Maca root for menopause
Maca root, an Andean plant in the mustard family, has only limited evidence for menopause. A 2011 systematic review found four small randomized trials, all reporting favorable effects on menopause symptom scores, but the number of trials, their size and their quality were too limited to draw firm conclusions, and safety hadn't been established. No larger trials are in the sources we reviewed. The North American Menopause Society doesn't recommend herbal remedies for hot flashes.
Four small trials suggest maca may ease menopause symptoms, but the evidence is too limited for firm conclusions and its safety isn't established. What to know first.
Maca root for menopause: expectation vs reality
What people often expect
“Maca is a proven hormone balancer for perimenopause”
What the evidence shows
Maca has been used in the Andes for centuries for female hormone balance, but traditional use isn't proof. The only systematic review found just four small trials and said the evidence was too limited for firm conclusions. Its safety in longer-term use hasn't been proven.
Maca and menopause: what studies show
What maca is
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is an Andean plant of the brassica, or mustard, family. It's been used for centuries in the Andes as an adaptogenic plant for anemia, infertility and female hormone balance. Today it's sold as powder and capsules for menopause, energy and libido.
Maca for menopause symptoms
A 2011 review searched 17 databases and found four randomized trials comparing maca with placebo in perimenopausal, early postmenopausal and late postmenopausal women. All four reported favorable effects on menopause scores, but the reviewers said the number of trials, the total number of women and their average quality were too limited to draw firm conclusions.
Maca root for perimenopause
Perimenopausal women were included in the maca trials, but there's no separate reliable estimate of benefit for them. Perimenopause symptoms often improve with placebo in trials, which is why small, short studies can look more positive than larger ones.
Is maca safe?
The 2011 review said maca's safety hadn't been proven and should be tested in larger studies. As a supplement, maca isn't reviewed by the FDA before sale. If you take medicines or have a hormone-sensitive condition, check with your doctor before using it.
Maca powder vs capsules
Maca is sold as powder to add to food and as capsules. The trials in the review used maca-based preparations of different kinds, so there's no established effective dose. Product strength isn't standardized between brands.
Better-supported options
For hot flashes, HRT is most effective, and CBT, hypnosis, SSRIs or SNRIs, gabapentin and fezolinetant are recommended without hormones. Among supplements, soy isoflavones and black cohosh have more research than maca, though still with modest, inconsistent results.
Learn more →Maca by the numbers
4
17
2011
The maca trials were small and of limited quality, so results may not hold up in larger studies.
Maca and alternatives compared
Maca root
Good for
Favorable results in four small trials.Watch
Evidence too limited for firm conclusions; safety not proven.Soy isoflavones
Learn more →Good for
About 20.6% fewer hot flashes in a larger meta-analysis.Watch
Not recommended by NAMS.Black cohosh
Learn more →Good for
Moderate-certainty evidence in a 2026 review.Watch
Rare liver damage.HRT
Learn more →Good for
Most effective for hot flashes and other symptoms.Watch
Needs a prescription.
How to try maca
- Treat maca as unproven; don't delay effective treatment for severe symptoms.
- Tell your doctor if you take medicines or have a hormone-sensitive condition.
- Remember supplements aren't FDA-approved before sale; strength varies by brand.
When to talk to a doctor instead of trying maca
Symptoms affecting sleep, mood or work
Ask about HRT or proven non-hormonal treatments.
Hormone-sensitive cancer history
Check with your oncology team before taking maca or other supplements.
Low libido causing distress
Talk to a doctor; treatments with evidence exist, including testosterone after menopause.
More →
Maca root and menopause: questions women ask
Does maca root help menopause?
Four small trials reported favorable effects, but a systematic review said the evidence was too limited to draw firm conclusions. It isn't a proven treatment.
Is maca good for perimenopause?
Perimenopausal women were included in the small maca trials, but there's no reliable evidence of benefit specifically for perimenopause.
Does maca balance hormones?
It has traditionally been used for female hormone balance in the Andes, but trials haven't proven hormone-balancing effects.
Is maca safe for menopausal women?
Its safety hasn't been proven in rigorous studies, according to the 2011 review. Check with your doctor, especially if you take medicines.
How much maca should I take for menopause?
There's no established dose; trials used different maca preparations. Follow the label and discuss it with your doctor.
Is maca better than black cohosh?
Black cohosh has far more research, rated moderate certainty for hot flashes in a 2026 review; maca's evidence rests on four small trials.
What is maca root?
An Andean plant in the mustard family, used for centuries in the Andes for anemia, infertility and female hormone balance. It's sold as powder and capsules.
Is maca powder or capsules better for menopause?
Neither is proven better. Trials used different maca preparations, and supplement strength isn't standardized between brands.
Is maca FDA-approved for menopause?
No. Maca is sold as a dietary supplement, and supplements aren't reviewed or approved by the FDA before they're sold.
Sources
- Lee MS, Shin BC, Yang EJ, et al. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) for treatment of menopausal symptoms: A systematic review. Maturitas. 2011;70(3):227-33.
- The North American Menopause Society. The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2023;30(6):573-590.
- van Die MD, Burger HG, Bone KM, et al. Hypericum perforatum with Vitex agnus-castus in menopausal symptoms: a randomized, controlled trial. Menopause. 2009;16(1):156-63.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements.
- Taku K, Melby MK, Kronenberg F, et al. Extracted or synthesized soybean isoflavones reduce menopausal hot flash frequency and severity: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause. 2012;19(7):776-90.
- Maunder A, Mardon AK, Rao V, et al. Complementary therapies for management of menopausal symptoms: a systematic review to inform the update of the International Menopause Society recommendations on women's midlife health. Climacteric. 2026;29(2):165-209.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Menopausal symptoms: in depth.
- Islam RM, Bell RJ, Green S, et al. Safety and efficacy of testosterone for women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trial data. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2019;7(10):754-766.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Black cohosh: usefulness and safety.
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