Well it has been over 12 months since I started my search for a natural testosterone booster. I thought I might share my experience here and maybe this can help others.
Below is what I found that works and what does not work for ME. Please note that this was just for ME. And outside of some blood test along the way, all I did was trial and error and keeping a running journal of my experiences. Please take this info for what it is....a VERY NON-SCIENTIFIC search for improving MY health naturally without prescription drugs. I wanted something that would give me balanced results. I mean I was not seeking a sexual enhancer, or workout enhancer, etc. Just something to give me a bit of a "lift" all around.
A little about me. I am 43. 6'2". currently 205lbs. I try and eat healthy(er) but do indulge in pasta, bread, etc., from time to time. And a slice of cheese cake maybe once a month. No fast food. I do not drink coffee, soda's, alcohol, or tea. I do take a men's multivitamin, concentrated garlic, and fish oil daily.
I workout with free weights 4 times a week and do 30 min a day on the elliptical machine. I am far from being in "great" shape, but consider myself healthier then the average joe.
So last May I went and had a full physical and labs done. Overall the doc says I am in very good cond. I have been doing blood work to keep an eye on my testosterone for the last few years. In that time frame my T levels were around 500. Considered "normal" by normal health standards. I will not go into the whole T level debate here...there is a whole thread here about that if you search for it. I personally felt it should be higher. So I set out looking for something that I could buy OTC without a prescription.
I started by researching all I could about "natural" T boosters. I can tell you that 95% of the crap being sold out there is just that...crap with no noticeable effect or increase in T levels.
I tried the following:
ZMA
Tribulus
Zinc
D-Aspartic Acid
Horny Goat Weed
Maca
Tongkat Ali
I only used those supplements in the "purest form" I could find. Not the mixed blends sold as "male enhancement" pills,etc. I did a blood test for T levels before starting to use these supplements and after 30 days.
Out of all of those the Tongkat Ali was the first one that I actually "felt" like it was having some kind of effect. Tongkat Ali is a extract from the root of the eurycoma longifolia shrub. And in a lot of countries where it is grown, it is a protected plant. So there are lots of fake and low quality forms of it out there.
So after 3-4 days I felt I had more energy. My sex drive seemed to be higher then normal. Working out was about the same, but I noted in my journal I seemed to have a bit more stamina.
Now I will say this, because while I did not look for a T booster for a "sexual enhancer"...higher T levels generally will lead to being hornier. And some folks maybe are looking for a T booster for sexual performance. Nothing wrong with that at all. So read on.
As for the sexual side of it...the Tongkat seemed to work well as far as harder erection and bigger load when ejaculating. Without going to far into this, up until a few years ago I had VERY big "loads". Think Peter North type ejaculation.
So with the Tongkat it did seem like there was something to it actually raising T levels. At least it felt that way when I got off.
But...after about a week I just did not seem to feel the effects as much. After reading about Tongkat Ali I found out your supposed to cycle it. 3 days on 2 days off,etc.
So I started cycling it but after 3 weeks I did not really feel it was doing anything. I did another week then off for another blood draw. Guess what? At the start of using the Tongkat Ali my T level was 498. 30 days of the Tongkat and my T levels were 534. Not much if any increase. The slight elevation in T level could be due to anything. So on to the next thing...
It should also be noted that finding high quality Tongkat is VERY hard. And it is expensive. I was using the 1:200 at 1500mg a day. Price was around $300 for a 1 1/2 month supply!
Well I am sure we have all seen or heard of Horny Goat Weed. It is one of the most widely used ingredients in sexual enhancement pills,etc. But like most of the ingredients in those pills, they use a very low level amount. And the straight Horny Goat Weed you find in health food stores is only 10-20%. And even the "high quality" and high dosage HGW is questionable.
I started researching HGW and found the active ingredient is icariin. Again this is a plant extract. And getting a very high quality, high concentrate is very hard to come by.
After a bunch of research I ordered a months supply from a company claiming theirs was 60% icariin at around $80.00 per 90 caps. Within 4-5 days of starting it at double recommended dosage I felt that I could feel a positive effect. I felt I had a bit more energy. My workouts felt "better" and I seemed to want to push myself more.
The sexual side seemed good as well. I felt...you guessed it...hornier! Unlike the Tongkat, the icariin did not seem to taper off. So far so good. But...lets see what the blood test says. Starting T levels were at 509. 30 days of of the icariin and my T levels were at 583. Hmm...better but still not really worth the $80.00.
Now my search for a higher potency icariin started. After LOTS of searching and samples I was able to get my hands on some 98% icariin direct from the manufacturer. I had to buy a kilogram! And it is NOT cheap at all. But...
I finally received my kilo in the mail. Off for another blood draw...starting to feel like a pin cushion....starting T levels 479. I started with taking 50mg three times a day. After 4-5 days I could feel the effects. Week two I upped it to 100mg three times a day. Oh yeh! about 3-4 days into the higher dosage and I can for sure feel it. Lots of energy. My workouts are great! I am not as tired and can really push myself.
On the sexual side...umm...year...it does the trick! Icariin is a natural PDE-5 inhibitor...works the same way Viagra works. And like the Tongkat, it gave me the big ejaculate. But what I found interesting was that if I did not have sex for 2 days or more I would get a heavy feeling and ache in my testicles like i did when I was in my 30's and younger. Followed by really hard erections.
So it was defiantly doing good in that area.
Well for week three I upped the dose to 200mg three times a day. Now at that level it did give me a lot of "energy". Like a coffee buzz I get on the rare times I have drank coffee. So this is something to think about if you have trouble sleeping already,etc.
I decided and have stayed with two 200mg doses and a last of the day (5pm) dose of 150mg. This seems to be the sweet spot for me.
Ok...that is great you say, but what about T levels??? Well after 30 days and another blood draw my T level was....ready for this?...712! Now I am thinking to myself...hmmm...no way right? I ask my doc if that is the same test,etc. I go to the same lab for my blood draws. He said yes and asked what have I changed in my eating habits,etc. I gave him the run down on what I was using. He really did not offer up much one way or the other. But he said it could be a fluke. I asked again for another lab slip and continued my 550mg a day. I waited 45 days since the last blood draw. I received the results. My T levels are 728.
I can tell you I have added 45 lbs to my bench press since taking the icarrin. 20 lbs to my arm workouts. My sex drive is fantastic (ask my wife!). And I generally feel more balanced and energetic.
The icariin has worked so well for me that I shared it with two buddies. They have had similar results. So much so that they have bought a bunch from me making it less expensive for myself.
There is a lot of info about icariin to be found if you search for it. Do your own research. What I do recommend if you want to try it is to only go with the 98%. The lower quality icariin does not seem to work as well. And most published studies are based on the 98%.
Again....this is just my own experience and worth exactly what you paid for it. Maybe this can help someone or maybe not.
Take care,Stan
Below is what I found that works and what does not work for ME. Please note that this was just for ME. And outside of some blood test along the way, all I did was trial and error and keeping a running journal of my experiences. Please take this info for what it is....a VERY NON-SCIENTIFIC search for improving MY health naturally without prescription drugs. I wanted something that would give me balanced results. I mean I was not seeking a sexual enhancer, or workout enhancer, etc. Just something to give me a bit of a "lift" all around.
A little about me. I am 43. 6'2". currently 205lbs. I try and eat healthy(er) but do indulge in pasta, bread, etc., from time to time. And a slice of cheese cake maybe once a month. No fast food. I do not drink coffee, soda's, alcohol, or tea. I do take a men's multivitamin, concentrated garlic, and fish oil daily.
I workout with free weights 4 times a week and do 30 min a day on the elliptical machine. I am far from being in "great" shape, but consider myself healthier then the average joe.
So last May I went and had a full physical and labs done. Overall the doc says I am in very good cond. I have been doing blood work to keep an eye on my testosterone for the last few years. In that time frame my T levels were around 500. Considered "normal" by normal health standards. I will not go into the whole T level debate here...there is a whole thread here about that if you search for it. I personally felt it should be higher. So I set out looking for something that I could buy OTC without a prescription.
I started by researching all I could about "natural" T boosters. I can tell you that 95% of the crap being sold out there is just that...crap with no noticeable effect or increase in T levels.
I tried the following:
ZMA
Tribulus
Zinc
D-Aspartic Acid
Horny Goat Weed
Maca
Tongkat Ali
I only used those supplements in the "purest form" I could find. Not the mixed blends sold as "male enhancement" pills,etc. I did a blood test for T levels before starting to use these supplements and after 30 days.
Out of all of those the Tongkat Ali was the first one that I actually "felt" like it was having some kind of effect. Tongkat Ali is a extract from the root of the eurycoma longifolia shrub. And in a lot of countries where it is grown, it is a protected plant. So there are lots of fake and low quality forms of it out there.
So after 3-4 days I felt I had more energy. My sex drive seemed to be higher then normal. Working out was about the same, but I noted in my journal I seemed to have a bit more stamina.
Now I will say this, because while I did not look for a T booster for a "sexual enhancer"...higher T levels generally will lead to being hornier. And some folks maybe are looking for a T booster for sexual performance. Nothing wrong with that at all. So read on.
As for the sexual side of it...the Tongkat seemed to work well as far as harder erection and bigger load when ejaculating. Without going to far into this, up until a few years ago I had VERY big "loads". Think Peter North type ejaculation.
So with the Tongkat it did seem like there was something to it actually raising T levels. At least it felt that way when I got off.
But...after about a week I just did not seem to feel the effects as much. After reading about Tongkat Ali I found out your supposed to cycle it. 3 days on 2 days off,etc.
So I started cycling it but after 3 weeks I did not really feel it was doing anything. I did another week then off for another blood draw. Guess what? At the start of using the Tongkat Ali my T level was 498. 30 days of the Tongkat and my T levels were 534. Not much if any increase. The slight elevation in T level could be due to anything. So on to the next thing...
It should also be noted that finding high quality Tongkat is VERY hard. And it is expensive. I was using the 1:200 at 1500mg a day. Price was around $300 for a 1 1/2 month supply!
Well I am sure we have all seen or heard of Horny Goat Weed. It is one of the most widely used ingredients in sexual enhancement pills,etc. But like most of the ingredients in those pills, they use a very low level amount. And the straight Horny Goat Weed you find in health food stores is only 10-20%. And even the "high quality" and high dosage HGW is questionable.
I started researching HGW and found the active ingredient is icariin. Again this is a plant extract. And getting a very high quality, high concentrate is very hard to come by.
After a bunch of research I ordered a months supply from a company claiming theirs was 60% icariin at around $80.00 per 90 caps. Within 4-5 days of starting it at double recommended dosage I felt that I could feel a positive effect. I felt I had a bit more energy. My workouts felt "better" and I seemed to want to push myself more.
The sexual side seemed good as well. I felt...you guessed it...hornier! Unlike the Tongkat, the icariin did not seem to taper off. So far so good. But...lets see what the blood test says. Starting T levels were at 509. 30 days of of the icariin and my T levels were at 583. Hmm...better but still not really worth the $80.00.
Now my search for a higher potency icariin started. After LOTS of searching and samples I was able to get my hands on some 98% icariin direct from the manufacturer. I had to buy a kilogram! And it is NOT cheap at all. But...
I finally received my kilo in the mail. Off for another blood draw...starting to feel like a pin cushion....starting T levels 479. I started with taking 50mg three times a day. After 4-5 days I could feel the effects. Week two I upped it to 100mg three times a day. Oh yeh! about 3-4 days into the higher dosage and I can for sure feel it. Lots of energy. My workouts are great! I am not as tired and can really push myself.
On the sexual side...umm...year...it does the trick! Icariin is a natural PDE-5 inhibitor...works the same way Viagra works. And like the Tongkat, it gave me the big ejaculate. But what I found interesting was that if I did not have sex for 2 days or more I would get a heavy feeling and ache in my testicles like i did when I was in my 30's and younger. Followed by really hard erections.
So it was defiantly doing good in that area.
Well for week three I upped the dose to 200mg three times a day. Now at that level it did give me a lot of "energy". Like a coffee buzz I get on the rare times I have drank coffee. So this is something to think about if you have trouble sleeping already,etc.
I decided and have stayed with two 200mg doses and a last of the day (5pm) dose of 150mg. This seems to be the sweet spot for me.
Ok...that is great you say, but what about T levels??? Well after 30 days and another blood draw my T level was....ready for this?...712! Now I am thinking to myself...hmmm...no way right? I ask my doc if that is the same test,etc. I go to the same lab for my blood draws. He said yes and asked what have I changed in my eating habits,etc. I gave him the run down on what I was using. He really did not offer up much one way or the other. But he said it could be a fluke. I asked again for another lab slip and continued my 550mg a day. I waited 45 days since the last blood draw. I received the results. My T levels are 728.
I can tell you I have added 45 lbs to my bench press since taking the icarrin. 20 lbs to my arm workouts. My sex drive is fantastic (ask my wife!). And I generally feel more balanced and energetic.
The icariin has worked so well for me that I shared it with two buddies. They have had similar results. So much so that they have bought a bunch from me making it less expensive for myself.
There is a lot of info about icariin to be found if you search for it. Do your own research. What I do recommend if you want to try it is to only go with the 98%. The lower quality icariin does not seem to work as well. And most published studies are based on the 98%.
Again....this is just my own experience and worth exactly what you paid for it. Maybe this can help someone or maybe not.
Take care,Stan
