ADAPTOGENS · COMPARED
Maca vs Ginseng vs Ashwagandha
Maca (Lepidium meyenii), Panax ginseng and ashwagandha compared on energy, libido, fertility and hormone claims: documented evidence, cautions, and lab-test effects.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Back to MacaSafety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read who should be careful, by situation before you use anything on this page.
If you have a hormone-sensitive cancer (such as breast, uterine or prostate cancer), are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are having hormone blood tests, talk to your clinician before using any of these three. MSK warns about maca with hormone-sensitive cancers and pregnancy, NCCIH about ashwagandha with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and pregnancy. [1][2]
The question
Maca, ginseng and ashwagandha are often grouped in "energy" and "libido" products. They are three unrelated plants. This page lines up what the sources say about each, without ranking them. Whether maca counts as an adaptogen is a classification question; the MSK maca page we read does not use that word, and most maca claims there are about stamina, fertility, libido and menopause. [1] See what the word adaptogen means.What each plant is
| Maca | Asian ginseng | Ashwagandha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lepidium meyenii Walp. [3] | Panax ginseng C.A.Mey. [3] | Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal [3] |
| Family | Brassicaceae (cabbage family) [3][1] | Araliaceae [3] | Solanaceae [3] |
| Background | Native to Peru; used as food and medicine there [1] | Native to the Far East [4] | Shrub of India, Africa and the Middle East [2] |
| Plant part in supplements | Root form not stated on the page we read | Root [4] | Root, leaf, or both [2] |
Traditional use of maca includes enhancing fertility and sexual performance and easing menopausal symptoms. [1] That is traditional use, not proof.
What research found
| Use | Maca | Asian ginseng | Ashwagandha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall human evidence | Only a few small trials [1] | Mostly small, under 3 months [4] | Many small trials using varied preparations [2] |
| Energy and fatigue | Not established; used for stamina but human evidence is limited [1] | A small benefit on general fatigue in one 2023 review; not all research agrees [4] | Not enough evidence listed by NCCIH for this use [2] |
| Sexual function | Systematic reviews judged evidence for improving sexual dysfunction to be limited [1] | Some research suggests improvement in erectile dysfunction [4] | Not an NCCIH finding in the page we read |
| Fertility and testosterone | Mixed data on semen quality; no effect on blood testosterone in men in the studies MSK cites [1] | Not addressed in the page we read | Limited evidence that 2 to 4 months may raise testosterone and sperm quality [2] |
| Menopause | Systematic reviews judged evidence limited [1] | Not addressed in the NCCIH page we read | Not enough evidence [2] |
| Stress and sleep | Not addressed in the page we read | Not an NCCIH finding in the page we read | Some preparations may help insomnia and stress [2] |
| Strength of evidence (our label) | Insufficient to limited | Mixed | Promising but limited |
Head-to-head evidence
Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for randomized trials naming maca with ginseng, and ashwagandha with ginseng, and found none. We did not run a separate search for maca with ashwagandha. In the sources we read, each plant was studied on its own.No universal winner
They are different plants with different evidence, different cautions and often different goals. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about medicines and conditions before choosing; do not change prescribed medicines on your own.Frequently asked questions
Is maca an adaptogen?
The MSK maca page we read does not call it one. Whether it counts depends on which definition is used. [1]
Does maca raise testosterone?
MSK says maca does not affect blood testosterone in men in the studies it cites, and may interfere with testosterone lab tests. [1]
Does ashwagandha raise testosterone?
NCCIH describes limited evidence that 2 to 4 months of use may. [2]
Which is best for libido?
Proper evidence not found for a winner. Reviews of maca call evidence limited, and NCCIH reports some research for ginseng in erectile dysfunction. [1][4]
Are they safe in pregnancy?
Maca may not be, ginseng may be unsafe by mouth, and ashwagandha should be avoided. [1][4][2] Ask a clinician.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
| Point | Maca | Asian ginseng | Ashwagandha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported effects | Altered menstrual cycles, moodiness, cramps, gastritis, insomnia (subjective reports) [1] | Insomnia most common [4] | Drowsiness, stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting; rare liver injury [2] |
| Hormone-sensitive cancer | Talk to your clinician [1] | A lab study showed estrogen receptor activation; human relevance unknown [5] | Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: avoid [2] |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Maca may not be safe [1] | Some studies suggest it may be unsafe in pregnancy [4] | Avoid in pregnancy; not while breastfeeding [2] |
| Lab test effects | Maca may interfere with testosterone tests; a case report described intermenstrual bleeding and high testosterone [1] | Not described in this page | May falsely raise a digoxin test and raise thyroxine levels [6] |
| Medicines | Raised the blood pressure effect of losartan in rats; relevance unknown [1] | Insulin, sulfonylureas, MAOIs [5] | Diabetes, blood pressure, immune, sedative, anti-seizure and thyroid medicines [2] |
If you are having hormone or thyroid tests, tell the clinician and lab which products you use. See maca side effects and cautions and maca for libido, energy and menopause.
References
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Maca: Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Ashwagandha: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated March 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy species match, queried for each plant name used on these pages. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Asian Ginseng: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated February 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Ginseng (Asian): Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Ashwagandha: Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More. Read 2026-10-23.