I'm browsing through an encyclopedia for an assignment when I stumbled across this;

Quote"Section: THE EDGE: NUTRITION & SUPPLEMENTS
TESTOSTERONE TIMES

• Damiana, a shrub native to Mexico and Central and South America, has been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac and is present in several sexual-enhancement supplements. But it's not just good in the bedroom; it also might work in the gym. Researchers at the University of Mississippi (Oxford) recently studied damiana's ability to inhibit the aromatase enzyme, which is responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen, and made an interesting discovery. They reported in the Journal of Ethnopharma cology that damiana extract is indeed a potent aromatase inhibitor due primarily to its active ingredients pinocembrin and acacetin. When aromatase is blunted, testosterone levels remain high, as does the potential to build muscle and torch fat.

Take-Home Tip: To get a boost in the bedroom and ramp up muscle growth and strength, look for products that supply 50-500 mg of damiana extract. Take it 30-60 minutes before work outs, or sexual activity, as well as 30-60 minutes before bedtime."

Just thought I'd bring it here in case anyone's interested.  I'm going to give it a try seeing as how I can't start hormone therapy yet.

Hmm, sounds more like a sort of natural Viagra than anything else.

I would feel rather weird to take this stuff before I head to the gym (hoping it will improve my muscles) and walking around with a hard-on.

Let us know how it works out, will ya?

Cheers,
Vincent

Will do, I'll be picking some up tonight.

I wont be able to tell you if I get a boner or not though.

Try fish oil & flax seed... both natural testosterone-boosters, with quite a few other nutritional benefits as well. Oh, and exercise. Nothing like adrenaline to boost T levels (seriously).

SD

Quote from: Sebastien on March 30, 2009, 04:01:58 PM
Try fish oil & flax seed... both natural testosterone-boosters, with quite a few other nutritional benefits as well. Oh, and exercise. Nothing like adrenaline to boost T levels (seriously).

SD

REALLY? O.O

But... I love praticing Taekwondo...

I KNEW there was a reason I feel odd when doing it...

I heard Flax seed produced Estrogen...I will look into this.  Thank you!

And I definitely need to exercise more.

And I didn't end up picking up any damiana extract because I forgot to check and see who would have it before I went out.  XD  So maybe tomorrow I will get it.

I had to look this up cuz i had heard flax seed can aid T production too, here's what I found:

Flax Seeds may retard the progression of Hair Loss in people with Male Pattern Baldness (due to the Plant Lignans content of Flax Seeds inhibiting the binding of Dihydrotestosterone (the Hormone believed to cause Male Pattern Baldness) to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG).   

Flax Seeds help to prevent Breast Cancer (due to Plant Lignans in Flax Seeds that inhibit the Aromatase enzymes that are implicated in the proliferation of Breast Cancer).   

(from http://www.drmanso.com/?p=482 )

so it sounds like it can have an effect on hormones. you'd probably have to eat a ton of it to get and real effects, but it is one of the good fatty acids, so adding it to your diet probably isn't a bad idea . as for damiana...just be careful of drug interactions and allergies.

Damiana's not a drug XD  Thanks for the warning though.

So, I found articles of all three of these.

Damiana I found may increase testosterone levels.  For every two articles that claimed that it does help increase testosterone levels, there's one that says it doesn't.  Just google "damiana testosterone"

As for flax seeds...same deal, one even recommended it to MtFs because it supposedly is reducing testosterone levels.  Google; "flax seeds testosterone"

Fish oil though...that seems to be suggested everywhere.  Google; "fish oil testosterone"

I can't imagine that it'll have much of an effect, and could have unwanted side effects. "Herbal" doesn't necessarily mean "harmless." I suggest you ask a doctor. I have a hard time believing that it would give you enough testosterone to change your voice or grow facial hair enough to notice.

I am quite sure that it wont have significant change.  I'm kind of counting on that.  I can't have anything on record, or any physical changes for a year or so from now.  I'm hoping that I'll have a few subtle changes though.

the FDA doesn't control herbal supplements, and they CAN cause interactions even though they're herbal.

I am not sure about Damiana but my ND told me to take Fish oil and vitamin D while on T so I have started those.
Myles

Vitamin D?  What does that do?

Yeah, my endo told me to take vitamin D too, but it wasn't because of the T, it was because of recent studies that are showing that it may reduce the risk of cancer.

Dennis

Aha, okej.  Thanks.

Yeah and my SO's Dr also told her to take vitamin D. Honestly I can't remember why she said to take it I just said ok. I'm sure it will come bak to me.
Myles