[happykatesmith]

Hi everyone,  

I started taking white peony root extract capsules (470mg, 5% paeoniflorin) four days ago after reading that it works as an anti-androgen. However, I’ve noticed that every morning I have strong and prolonged morning wood, which is confusing me. Is this a sign that it’s not working as an anti-androgen, or is this normal?

[AliceDydro]

Search engine says "It contains compounds that may help improve blood flow".

[prostatenipple]

Notes that I've collected (mostly from other threads on this forum):

[[White Peony]] is [[Estrogen]]ic, blocks 5ar and pro-aromatase (**strong**)  -(ethanol content from extracts increases aromatase)

A compound found in white peony inhibits the production of testosterone and promotes the activity of aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen.

So that's puzzling.
Blocking 5-ar means there's less going to DHT and more Free Testosterone (which could then be converted to estrogens).
Other places on reddit people suggest that it's the free testosterone that increases libido and erections. Other posts suggest it's the opposite.

There might be a non-obvious interaction somewhere.

WP inhibiting testosterone production is a weird one because that means there's less testosterone to convert to estrogen, so unless you are taking phytoestrogens / estrogen HRT, can't see how you would increase estrogens to continue breast growth. Again maybe there's a non-obvious interaction or some balancing act that happens.