I'm looking to try a few different anti-androgens in the new year,
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Red reishi, commonly known as LingZhi in Chinese, is a mushroom thought to have many health benefits. In a research study exploring the anti-androgenic effects of 20 species of mushrooms, reishi mushrooms had the strongest action in inhibiting testosterone (3). That study found that reishi mushrooms significantly reduced levels of 5-alpha reductase, preventing conversion of testosterone into the more potent DHT. High levels of DHT are a risk factor for conditions such as benign prostatatic hypertrophy (BPH), acne, and baldness.
White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Chinese peony is a widely grown ornamental plant with several hundred selected cultivars. Many of the cultivars have double flowers with the stamens modified into additional petals. White peony has been important in traditional Chinese medicine and has been shown to affect human androgen levels in vitro. In a 1991 study in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine Takeuchi et al described the effects of paeoniflorin, a compound found in white peony that inhibited the production of testosterone and promoted the activity of aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen (7). To date, there have been no studies that translate or explore the clinical effects.
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Chaste tree (or chasteberry) is a native of the Mediterranean region and is traditionally used to correct hormone imbalances. In ancient times, it was believed to be an anaphrodisiac, hence the name chaste tree. Clinical studies have demonstrated effectiveness of medications produced from extract of the plant in the management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and cyclical mastalgia (14). The mechanism of action is presumed to be via dopaminergic effects resulting in changes of prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary. At low doses, it blocks the activation of D2 receptors in the brain by competitive binding, causing a slight increase in prolactin release. In higher concentrations, the binding activity is sufficient to reduce the release of prolactin (15).
Reduction in prolactin levels affects FSH and estrogen levels in females and testosterone levels in men. There is as yet no information regarding its efficacy in endocrine disease states such as PCOS, however, one small-scale study has demonstrated this prolactin reducing effect in a group of healthy males, and the implication is that it could be of use in mild hyperprolactinemia (16, 17). One could also theorize that it could be refined for use as a male contraceptive, because testosterone reduction should reduce libido and sperm production. This topic is further explored in a review by Grant & Anawalt (18).
I know a lot of us are on Spearmint, if we look closely at spearmint we can find some research in regards to this: Its anti-androgenic properties reduce the level of free testosterone in the blood, while leaving total testosterone and DHEAS unaffected, as demonstrated in a study from Turkey by Akdogan and colleagues
http://endometabol.com/?page=article&article_id=3644
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693613/
This is the question I'm seeking clarification on,
Question:
I have heard this through hearsay but would like some verification. Could someone with high free testosterone have plenty of excess to be converting that to estrogen? Anyone got any papers on this?
Answered:
Yes, absolutely.
That's why bodybuilders use aromatase inhibitors along with their supplemented testosterone; inhibitors of the enzyme which converts testosterone into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors are also prescribed along with testosterone replacement therapy to men, to keep them from developing feminine traits.
Every time I've (unsuccessfully) experimented with ingesting hormones to elevate testosterone it has resulted in increased feminine traits. Such as adiposity around nipples, also known as gynecomastia.
Just check http://en.wikipedia....atase_inhibitor and view the references; or do your own search for "androgen elevated estrogens men" or something similar.
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase_inhibitor AIs are taken to either block the production of estrogen or block the action of estrogen on receptors.
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase Aromatase, also called estrogen synthetase or estrogen synthase, is an enzyme responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of estrogens.
The bold text is to identify the key reasons to consider
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Red reishi, commonly known as LingZhi in Chinese, is a mushroom thought to have many health benefits. In a research study exploring the anti-androgenic effects of 20 species of mushrooms, reishi mushrooms had the strongest action in inhibiting testosterone (3). That study found that reishi mushrooms significantly reduced levels of 5-alpha reductase, preventing conversion of testosterone into the more potent DHT. High levels of DHT are a risk factor for conditions such as benign prostatatic hypertrophy (BPH), acne, and baldness.
White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Chinese peony is a widely grown ornamental plant with several hundred selected cultivars. Many of the cultivars have double flowers with the stamens modified into additional petals. White peony has been important in traditional Chinese medicine and has been shown to affect human androgen levels in vitro. In a 1991 study in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine Takeuchi et al described the effects of paeoniflorin, a compound found in white peony that inhibited the production of testosterone and promoted the activity of aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen (7). To date, there have been no studies that translate or explore the clinical effects.
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Chaste tree (or chasteberry) is a native of the Mediterranean region and is traditionally used to correct hormone imbalances. In ancient times, it was believed to be an anaphrodisiac, hence the name chaste tree. Clinical studies have demonstrated effectiveness of medications produced from extract of the plant in the management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and cyclical mastalgia (14). The mechanism of action is presumed to be via dopaminergic effects resulting in changes of prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary. At low doses, it blocks the activation of D2 receptors in the brain by competitive binding, causing a slight increase in prolactin release. In higher concentrations, the binding activity is sufficient to reduce the release of prolactin (15).
Reduction in prolactin levels affects FSH and estrogen levels in females and testosterone levels in men. There is as yet no information regarding its efficacy in endocrine disease states such as PCOS, however, one small-scale study has demonstrated this prolactin reducing effect in a group of healthy males, and the implication is that it could be of use in mild hyperprolactinemia (16, 17). One could also theorize that it could be refined for use as a male contraceptive, because testosterone reduction should reduce libido and sperm production. This topic is further explored in a review by Grant & Anawalt (18).
I know a lot of us are on Spearmint, if we look closely at spearmint we can find some research in regards to this: Its anti-androgenic properties reduce the level of free testosterone in the blood, while leaving total testosterone and DHEAS unaffected, as demonstrated in a study from Turkey by Akdogan and colleagues
http://endometabol.com/?page=article&article_id=3644
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693613/
This is the question I'm seeking clarification on,
Question:
I have heard this through hearsay but would like some verification. Could someone with high free testosterone have plenty of excess to be converting that to estrogen? Anyone got any papers on this?
Answered:
Yes, absolutely.
That's why bodybuilders use aromatase inhibitors along with their supplemented testosterone; inhibitors of the enzyme which converts testosterone into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors are also prescribed along with testosterone replacement therapy to men, to keep them from developing feminine traits.
Every time I've (unsuccessfully) experimented with ingesting hormones to elevate testosterone it has resulted in increased feminine traits. Such as adiposity around nipples, also known as gynecomastia.
Just check http://en.wikipedia....atase_inhibitor and view the references; or do your own search for "androgen elevated estrogens men" or something similar.
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase_inhibitor AIs are taken to either block the production of estrogen or block the action of estrogen on receptors.
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase Aromatase, also called estrogen synthetase or estrogen synthase, is an enzyme responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of estrogens.
The bold text is to identify the key reasons to consider