This root has been given the nickname "Peruvian Ginseng" because the raw root does have a similar resemblance to actual ginseng. It is not the same, but does share similar health benefits. Botanically, they are different: Lepidium meyenii, or maca, or Peruvian ginseng, is an herbaceous biennial plant of the Brassicaceae family native to the high Andes of Peru. Ginseng is the root of plants in the genus Panax, such as Korean ginseng, South China ginseng, and American ginseng, typically characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. Organic Maca Powder has been reported to give an energy boost and increase libido.