Native Peruvians apparently used maca as a food and as medicine.
Claims exist that maca is an adaptogen similar to ginseng.
Maca has been used traditionally to increase energy and to promote endurance. Maca is available as capsules containing 500 mg of the herb or as a grain alcohol extract. I've only experimented with maca for a week with dosages ranging from 1,000 mg to 5,000 mg. Within a few hours of taking the higher dose of maca, there is an increase in arousal and energy levels. This lasts a few hours and then fades away.