Clinical Studies

MOOD INGREDIENT RESEARCH

Better connection starts with honest science.

A transparent look at the published human research behind the botanicals in MOOD Chocolate—what researchers found, what remains uncertain, and what it means for you.

Explore the studies ↓

EVIDENCE, AT A GLANCE

Four botanicals.
No inflated promises.

We prioritise human research, distinguish promising findings from established facts, and make every paper easy to inspect.

Desire & wellbeingEarly human evidence

Maca root

Lepidium meyenii

Small placebo-controlled trials have explored maca for sexual desire and sexual wellbeing. Some reported improvements, but sample sizes were modest and results should be interpreted cautiously.

  • ✓ 12-week placebo-controlled trial
  • ✓ Benefit observed from week 8
  • ✓ More research is needed
View published abstract ↗Gonzales et al., Andrologia (2002)
Physical performanceLimited human evidence

Black ginger

Kaempferia parviflora

Human studies of standardised black ginger extracts have examined grip strength, physical fitness and endurance. Findings vary by extract, dose, population and duration.

  • ✓ Randomised controlled design
  • ✓ Fitness outcomes studied
  • ✓ Extracts are not interchangeable
View published abstract ↗Promthep et al. (2015)
Alertness & response timeMixed human evidence

Guarana

Paullinia cupana

A systematic review found a small improvement in response time across acute studies, without a clear improvement in accuracy. It remains unclear how much is attributable to caffeine.

  • ✓ 8 placebo-controlled studies
  • ✓ 328 participants
  • ✓ Small response-time effect
View published abstract ↗Hack et al., Nutrients (2023)
Traditional botanical useInsufficient direct evidence

Epimedium

Epimedium species

Epimedium and its flavonoids have been studied in humans for selected outcomes, limited direct clinical evidence on intimacy benefit from Epimedium itself.

  • ✓ Human safety data exist
  • ✓ Outcome-specific evidence
  • ✓ No overextended claims
View published abstract ↗Yong et al. (2021)

HOW WE READ THE RESEARCH

Our evidence standard.

Botanical research is nuanced. The quality of a study matters as much as its headline.

  1. 01Humans before hypothesesWe lead with human clinical research.
  2. 02Design mattersRandomisation, controls, sample size and duration shape confidence.
  3. 03Context is not equivalenceOne extract or dose does not prove the same effect in another formulation.
  4. 04Uncertainty belongs on the pageMixed, limited or early evidence is described exactly that way.

USE THOUGHTFULLY

Good information includes safety.

Contains guarana

Guarana naturally contains caffeine. Consider your total daily caffeine intake and avoid close to bedtime if sensitive.

Ask a professional

Speak with a healthcare professional if pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a condition, or taking medication.

Food, not medicine

MOOD Chocolate is a food experience and not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Science-aware.
Ritual-led.

MOOD was created as a small evening ritual—a reason to slow down and make space for connection.

Discover MOOD Chocolate ↗