Three Testosterone Boosters (that actually work)
Article by Stefan Burns - Updated January 2023. Join the Wild Free Organic email newsletter! Stefan Burns YouTube
Effective natural testosterone boosting herbs exist and can help you reach that next level, whether that’s improved athletic performance and general health, better libido and virility, an amelioration of mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and in general more confidence and swag.
Author Stefan Burns 405 lb Deadlift at 170 lbs bodyweight - 12/28/2022
Testosterone is a hormone produced primarily in the testicles but also in the adrenal glands, and it governs over lean body tissue by increasing muscle mass, bone density, and by reducing and redistributing body fat. Testosterone also has neurocognitive effects and stimulates higher-risk higher-reward seeking behaviors. Testosterone is one of the most important hormones for male development, and while this article is geared towards men, testosterone is also an important hormone for women. Low testosterone levels in women can lead to a loss in libido and reduced bone density as well as hormonal problems. Low testosterone levels in men and women can result in mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Testosterone is a vitally important hormone, an average testosterone levels have been declining in men for decades, and it also generally declines with age for men in western populations (1), though age related testosterone decline doesn’t appear to happen when exceptional health is maintained (2). There are many factors which have caused this, the biggest being changing western culture itself which doesn’t incentivize testosterone-stimulating behaviors as much anymore. Other testosterone reducing factors include circadian rhythm disruptions (like excess blue light at night and low light in the morning) and excess xenoestrogens entering into the body from plastics and phthalates.
The same question is often asked by men who have checked their testosterone levels and find that they are low and also by men who in the normal range and are looking to gain every masculine advantage, and it is:
“Is there a natural safe way to raise testosterone levels effectively and noticeably?”
The answer to this question is a definitive YES, and in this article we’ll discuss three herbs which actually boost testosterone levels, and they are cistanche, tongkat ali, and ashwagandha.
In the expandable section below I present some valuable foundational information on the limitations and potentials of hormone modulating herbs, or if you want to get right to learning more about these three herbs which have good scientific evidence supporting their testosterone boosting properties which I have also personally tested, then keep scrolling.
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There is a lot of contradictory information on this topic which makes things confusing for people learning about natural ways to support and optimize hormone levels. It’s a common misconception that no effective natural testosterone boosters exist, and that any herbal supplement labeled as a testosterone booster is a scam. To clear the water in order to find the testosterone boosting herbs that do work, we must first identify what is making the water “cloudy” in the first place:
Well-designed scientific investigations into the biophysiological effects of many herbs are severely lacking, many of the studies that have been done haven’t been replicated by other research groups, and sometimes replication studies showed contradictory effects (possibly due to poor study design, limited sample sizes, and biologic differences amongst research participants).
Few human studies exist, most are done with mice/rats, and often these studies examined just the effect of supplementing with the main active compound in an herb rather than the entire herb, which is a major confounding variable.
Well-known herbs like maca and horny goat weed have libido enhancing effects and can help with erectile dysfunction, which makes people believe it’s raising their testosterone levels, but no strong evidence supports this (3, 4).
Against this backdrop it’s widely recognized and accepted that plants/herbs like soy and licorice root contain biologically relevant phytoestrogens (5, 6).
The truth of the matter is that many tens of thousands of unique plant phytochemicals exist, each with their own diverse biologic effects, and some of these are endocrine system adaptogens which raise/lower hormone levels. Estrogenic herbs exist and androgenic herbs also exist.
The safety of a testosterone boosting herb is also important. For example the South African herb Bulbine Natalensis, traditionally used as an aphrodisiac, appears to be a very potent testosterone booster (in rats, 7), but the 10:1 extract doses used to boost testosterone levels the most (50 mg/kg for rats, human equivalent dose is 8mg/kg bodyweight) have evidence of elevating liver and kidney enzymes which indicates stress to the liver and kidneys, while also causing some unfavorable lobules and tubules to develop (8). More research is clearly needed.
Boosting testosterone levels is one thing, being healthy is another, and the two don’t have to be in opposition to each other but instead can occur in tandem. Having adequate testosterone levels, especially as a man, is a key part of being optimally healthy and living a long life.
Here are the basic requirements as I see it for any testosterone-boosting herb to fulfill that you’re considering to use:
Stimulates testosterone production and increases free testosterone levels while keep estrogen levels healthy
Contains phytochemical antioxidants which are health beneficial and keeps the body in a safe anti-inflammatory state
Has a long history of traditional use and is safe when used at effective dosages
Cistanche, tongkat ali, and ashwagandha nicely fulfill these requirements, and we’ll start with the herb I have the most personal experience with and I have noticed to be the most potent…cistanche.
Cistanche - A Mega Testosterone Booster
Cistanche is a genus of perennial herbs consisting of 22 known species that grow in arid deserts throughout Eurasia. Cistanche is unique in that it’s a parasitic plant that draws water and nutrients from its host plant. In Traditional Chinese Medicine Cistanche is considered the “ginseng of the desert” and is used primarily to correct yang (androgen) deficiency (9).
Cistanche deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa are the two main species of cistanche that are harvested and prepared into herbal supplements and extracts. They only differ slightly in the composition of their chemical constituents, and Cistanche tubulosa is more commonly found as a supplement than Cistanche deserticola.
Recommended Cistanche Supplement
The most basic form of cistanche is a raw powder made from the stem of the plant. Most cistanche supplements are extracts created from this raw powder, condensing the main active constituents and standardizing them to certain percentages.
Nootropics Depot sells a Cistanche tubulosa supplement, available as a powder or in capsules, which has been standardized to contain minimum 50% echinacoside + 10% acetoside, the two main testosterone-boosting chemicals identified in cistanche.
I have used this specific cistanche supplement many times and prefer it over others on the market because it’s highly effective, isn’t extremely bitter (like others are), and contains the highest percentages of phytochemicals echinacoside and acetoside.
With cistanche I boosted my free testosterone by 53% in just 30 days as part of a self-designed cistanche and cholesterol protocol. Click that link if you’d like to learn more about the protocol (so you can try it yourself) and to see my results which include my before and after free testosterone levels, gym log, and DEXA lean body mass scans.
What does Cistanche do?
In addition to raising free testosterone levels, cistanche also works beneficially with the brain and kidneys, has metabolism boosting effects, simulates the immune system, and is a potent aphrodisiac. Yeah it’s a pretty great combo for most men in the modern world we live in!
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Cistanche stimulates testosterone production by improving the transport of cholesterol (the base molecule of all hormones) to the testosterone-producing Leydig cells of the testes. Cistanche also appears to increase the gene expression which signals for greater testosterone production. Acteoside also has an antiestrogenic effect by modulating the conversion of testosterone into estrogen, a necessary feature for an effective and safe testosterone booster. Learn more about how cistanche boosts testosterone with this article that goes in-depth.
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Cistanche improves brain health by preventing neuron cell death, promotes neurogenesis, limits amyloid plaque deposition, and increases dopamine, noadrenaline, and serotonin neurotransmitter concentrations in the brain. These factors make cistanche useful for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and brain fog. It’s a combination of cistanche’s effects on the brain and sex organs that make it one of the best natural libido enhancing herbs.
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Cistanche improves metabolism by enhancing mitochondrial function, remedying Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction (aka chronic fatigue syndrome), improving the resiliency of lactic acid and blood urea nitrogen pathways, and in general by increasing autonomic nervous system activity. The adrenal glands produce both cholesterol and testosterone, and it’s not uncommon for certain testosterone boosters to overly stress the adrenals, leading to chronic fatigue, and this makes cistanche’s protective effect on the adrenal glands highly valuable.
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Cistanche improves immunity by increasing the kill rate of cancer cells, stimulating the proliferation of antibodies, beneficially modulating memory T cells, and by activating the phagocytic (engulfing) function of macrophages. As a herb containing powerful antioxidants cistanche prevents DNA damage and unwarranted cellular apoptosis (cell death).
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Cistanche has a notable aphrodisiac effect because it triggers the release of dopamine in parts of the brain responsible for sexual arousal, by improving the functions of the testes, by reducing latency periods in-between erections, and through its general vaso-relaxing properties. Cistanche increases sperm count, increases their motility, and reduces the amount of abnormal sperm.
How does Cistanche Work?
Cistanche has these many different and beneficial biologic effects because of the unique phytochemicals it contains. The most notable of these are phenylethanoid glycosides, echinacoside, acteoside, and tubuloside B.
Firstly, these compounds and others like flavonoids are strong antioxidants. An antioxidant is a compound has the ability to give away a free electron to stop an electron-deficient free radical compound from oxidizing something. This process makes the body more stable at the atomic scale. Antioxidants keep certain chemicals which are naturally more unstable (because they have multiple receptors they need to be able to bind to, like dopamine and testosterone) protected from oxidation and this improves cellular signaling and functioning. It’s partly because cistanche (and the other two herbs tongkat ali and ashwagandha) keep the body in a more anti-inflammatory state that the body is then able to secrete valuable hormones and neurotransmitters like testosterone and dopamine without fear of them being oxidized and therefore squandered.
Cistanche also alters gene expression to upregulate steroidogenesis and cholesterol transport which results in more testosterone being produced by the Leydig cells of the testes. Testosterone can be better protected from oxidation by being bound to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), and in a more overall anti-inflammatory environment, more free testosterone can safely float around allowing for greater androgenic masculinization effects to occur. In effect, men can better be men, and for women this can improve fertility and make pregnancy possible.
Phytochemicals also interact directly with cells and the microbiome, which adds another layer of depth to how cistanche works that is still poorly understood and requires more scientific research.
Dosing Instructions for Cistanche
If using the Nootropics Depot Cistanche Supplement, the serving size is 200 mg, and that is a good dose to begin with. Take the cistanche on a relatively empty stomach in the morning or at night. I typically stir it into my morning coffee alongside other herbs like chaga mushroom, cinnamon, and cacao.
If you are a larger individual (>200 lbs, 90 kg), or you’re not noticing the effects of the cistanche after a week or two, you can increase the dose to 400 mg, taken either once daily or split into two 200 mg doses morning and night.
Personally while I find the masculinizing effects of cistanche quite obvious, I also find that it’s a gentle herb that the body tolerates well and can be used for extended periods of time. Its effects build up smoothly and leisurely and are harsh and sudden like other tonifying yang herbs.
For first time users I recommend cycling off cistanche for the duration of your first use. For example if you supplement with cistanche for thirty days, then refrain from using it or any other testosterone booster for thirty days afterwards. It’s better to play it safe and this allows you to more clearly establish what effects you felt/noticed.
Cistanche is well-tolerated and safe in larger doses, which allows for megadosing in the 600-800 mg range (with the Nootropics Depot supplement), as I have done myself, but this should only even be considered by experienced users and for those with larger bodyweights (>75 kg).
If you’re interested in learning more about cistanche, which I would recommend if you plan on purchasing and using the herb, then click the button below to be taken to the main herb encyclopedia page for cistanche.
Tongkat Ali - A Popular Testosterone Booster
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a plant native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia with a long history of use in the traditional medicine use. Tongkat ali is also known as Malaysian ginseng or “long jack”, and its traditional uses are for improving libido and as an aphrodisiac, and for the treatment of malaria (10).
The roots and bark of Tongkat ali contain the highest levels of its main active compound, eurycomanone, and its typically the roots that are harvested and prepared for use. As with any herb, it’s the entourage effect of Tongkat Ali’s unique phytochemical flavonoids, quassinoids, terpenes, and others that determine its biologic effects.
Recommended Tongkat Ali Supplement
Tongkat ali supplements range from a raw powder to highly concentrated and standardized extracts. Tongkat ali contains a lot of bitterants (i.e. plant compounds that are highly bitter tasting) and thus the best tongkat ali supplements strike the right balance of retaining their raw phytochemistry while also undergoing a level of extraction which increases the concentration of eurycomanone while reducing bitter flavors.
Nootropics Depot sells two versions of tongkat ali to consider. They sell a tongkat ali powder supplement standardized to contain 2% eurycomanone, also available as capsules, and then they also sell a more potent tongkat ali capsule supplement which contains 10% eurycomanone.
If you plan on supplementing tongkat ali daily for an extended period of time for its testosterone boosting, cognitive enhancing, and immunity properties, then I recommend you use the 2% eurycomanone powder as many herbs have a U-shaped efficacy curve. What that means is that the sweet spot for the greatest biologic effects is in the middle dosing range, and if more is administered beyond that it becomes less effective.
I recommend the 10% eurycomanone tongkat ali capsules if you are specifically interested in the aphrodisiac and libido-enhancing properties of tongkat ali. For this type of use-case, you could take it 2-3 hours before you expect the fun to begin, so for example at the beginning of a date night. Alternatively the more highly concentrated tongkat ali supplement sold by Nootropics Depot would also be good to take as a one-off before an event where additional masculine energy would be beneficial, say for a sales presentation, night on the town, or before a fitness event.
What does Tongkat Ali do?
The most notable effects that tongkat ali has is its ability to raise testosterone levels while keeping estrogen levels in-line and its general libido-enhancing effect. Like cistanche and ashwagandha though, tongkat ali has other beneficial biologic effects you may be interested in and wish to use it for.
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Tongkat ali is such an effective testosterone booster because its improves androgen steroidogensis across multiple pathways. Evidence shows that tongkat ali raises total testosterone levels by directly enhancing steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells. Additionally tongkat ali unbinds testosterone from SHBG (or inhibits its binding), allowing a greater quantity of free testosterone to circulate throughout the body. The eurypeptides of tongkat ali, most notably eurycomanone, stimulate dihydroepiandosterone (DHEA) which initiates the conversion of precursor hormones into testosterone and estrogen. It’s also been shown that tongkat ali influences the aromatization of testosterone into estrogen by limiting the actions of aromatase, thereby keeping testosterone levels elevated in the body.
All of these factors together make tongkat ali one of the best natural testosterone boosters currently known to man.
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Tongkat ali interacts with the brain and nervous system in a few ways, most notably through neurotransmitter modulation. Tongkat ali increases dopamine concentrations in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions, the parts of the brain responsible for higher cognitive processes and memory & learning respectively. Higher dopamine concentrations enhances muscular control, motivation and reward circuits, and improve intra-cellular communication.
Tongkat ali contains many plant antioxidants, many of which are able to pass through the blood-brain barrier, and through this mechanism tongkat ali has a neuroprotective effect.
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In general antioxidant phytochemicals improve the functioning of the immune system, and tongkat ali has been shown to be cytotoxic and have antiproliferative properties on certain cancer cell lines and tumors such as breast, gastric, cervical, and lung cancers.
One of the main traditional uses of tongkat ali is to help fight off a malarial infection, malaria being caused by a parasite introduced to the body by mosquitoes. Eurycomanone and other phytochemicals found in tongkat ali in research settings have shown significant antimalarial properties by inhibiting the growth of P. falciparum malaria parasite strains.
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Tongkat helps remedy male infertility, an increasing problem, through a variety of mechanisms. First through its modulation of brain neurotransmitter concentrations it stimulates arousal pathways in the brain which trigger the autonomic nervous system to stimulate an erection. Tongkat ali is useful to remedy erectile dysfunction, can make erections bigger and harder, and it reduces the latency period in-between erections.
Not only does tongkat ali help improve the functioning of male “hardware”, but it also increases semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and improves sperm morphology (aka reduces defective sperm).
How does Tongkat Ali Work?
Tongkat ali contains a rich assortment of plant phytochemicals which have various biologic effects, the most prominent being quassinoids like eurycomanone. These phytochemicals interact with the microbiome of the gut and cells directly, influencing the biologic activities that happen at the cellular level. Through electromagnetic interactions phytochemicals like eurycomanone alter gene expression. Herbs assist the body in upregulating the activation of genetic instructions it already has, and in this way you can see how tongkat ali or the other testosterone boosters cistanche and ashwagandha simply unlock your latent genetic potential. With good diet and lifestyle habits in place, it’s possible that natural herbal testosterone boosters permanently upregulate androgen steroidogenesis, even after cessation of the herb, though this is speculation of a “water tends to flow down a well-cut stream” nature and research is needed to confirm the effect.
The abundant antioxidants found in tongkat ali support this whole process and help maintain a stable cellular and atomic environment throughout the body. Put simply, tongkat ali is an herb that makes it easier to be masculine while not being dangerous like exogenous steroids are.
Dosing Instructions for Tongkat Ali
The serving size for the Tongkat ali powder sold by Nootropics Depot is 200 mg, standardized to 2% eurycomanone but overall containing >2% eurypeptides as eurycomanone is just one of many eurypeptides. If using this brand of tongkat ali start supplementation with 100 mg for 1 week and then increase to 200 mg afterwards. If no noticeable effects are felt at the standard serving size or you’re a larger individual then the dosage can be increased to 200 mg twice daily (morning and night). One way to know it’s working as a guy is if you’re waking up frequently with a stiffy.
Since tongkat ali contains so many bitterants you may find its taste unpleasant. For this reason I either mix it into a small shot glass of water or milk and shoot it back. I find that following that with a shot of apple cider vinegar, followed by another of just water, helps. Slightly unpleasant but over quickly, and having a shot of apple cider vinegar daily is good for the microbiome and metabolism.
Like with cistanche, tongkat ali also goes well with a cup of coffee, with any bitterness being easily dealt with by the addition of a sweetener like honey. Cistanche is the testosterone-boosting herb I add to my nootropic coffee, but tongkat ali works well here too as the two are very similar to each other.
It’s best to take tongkat ali on a relatively empty stomach so it is absorbed into the bloodstream effectively and without delay.
If you’re interested in learning more about tongkat ali, which I would recommend if you plan on purchasing and using the herb, then click the button below to be taken to the main herb encyclopedia page for tongkat ali.
Ashwagandha - A Mild Testosterone Booster
Ashwagandha is a well-known adaptogenic herb in ayurvedic medicine also known as “Indian ginseng”, understood to be a powerful tonic, aphrodisiac, anti-parasitic, and useful for various brain disorders (11). The roots are the most common part of Withania somnifera to be used, with the word ashwagandha meaning “odor of a horse” and it’s also traditionally believed that consuming ashwagandha imbues one with the power of a horse.
The main active phytochemicals found in ashwagandha are alkaloids, lactones, and saponins, with the most notable being withanolide lactones. Together these phytonutrients and others broadly influence the function of the cognitive, immune, metabolic, digestive, and reproductive systems via the entourage effect. If you are only interested in mildly raising your testosterone levels, balancing out your overall hormone profile, while also enjoying many other health benefits all from one supplement, then ashwagandha is one of the best herbs to use.
Recommended Ashwagandha Supplement
Ashwagandha is a very popular supplement and thus many different types of the herb exist on the market, from chopped root and raw powder to highly extracted versions like KSM-66 ashwagandha.
It’s not uncommon to find anecdotal reports online of people who supplement with ashwagandha to help with their libido for example only to find it completely disappear on them, and from my observations it seems this happens most commonly with the highly extracted versions of the herb like the KSM-66 ashwagandha. As stated earlier, the most effective doses typically lay in the middle of the U-shaped efficacy curve, and it’s mostly likely over-supplementation of ashwagandha that causes these unexpected oppositional effects.
For this reason I recommend taking either a raw ashwagandha powder like that sold by Mountain Rose Herbs or just a lightly extracted version like that sold by Nootropics Depot. The 12% withanolides ashwagandha powder sold by Nootropics Depot sits nicely in the U-curve “sweet spot” and is easily dosed up or down depending on your needs.
If you are interested in an ashwagandha supplement that has a higher concentration of withanolides, then Nootropics Depot also sells a 35% withanolide Shoden ashwagandha powder. As long as you are precise with your dosing, either version can be used.
Some quick back-of-the-napkin calculations show that at current prices (01/2023), the 12% withanolide powder comes out to 300 mg withanolides per dollar if purchasing the 60 gram tub (the largest), whereas the shoden 35% withanolide powder comes out to 260 mg withanolides per dollar if purchasing the 30 gram tub (the largest).
Withanolide percentages can vary widely between different ashwagandha products (12) depending on a variety of factors like their cultivation and processing, and for this reason a standardized extract ashwagandha from a reputable supplier is typically preferable over a raw powder.
What does Ashwagandha do?
One of the main effects of ashwagandha is that it increases parasympathetic nervous system activity. If you’re stressed and/or engaged in energetic pathways, then your sympathetic “fight or flight” nervous system is dominant. This causes the adrenal glands to release cortisol and changes the expression of the overall hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The average person in western society engages their sympathetic nervous system more often than their parasympathetic nervous system, and over the long term this autonomic nervous system imbalance leads to many chronic health conditions such as sleep issues, heart disease, thyroid problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, and more. Learn how to balance the autonomic nervous system.
Ashwagandha is such a valuable natural herbal supplement because it assist in balancing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The reason ashwagandha has only been shown to increase testosterone levels on average by 10-15% is because it’s primary action is on the adrenal glands, which in addition to producing cortisol also produce testosterone in small quantities. Ashwagandha for example has been shown to reduce the cortisol response of stressful situations (13), like an endurance event to complete exhaustion, thereby destressing the adrenal glands which improves their resource management and functioning. Through its modulation of cortisol and other hormones, ashwagandha improves sleep, makes it easier to rest and relax,
In addition to this ashwagandha also benefits the brain, immune system, and the digestive system.
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Ashwagandha is a powerful cognitive aid because it interacts with the brain in a variety of beneficial ways. Ashwagandha has a balancing action on neurotransmitters GABA and serotonin and normalizes dopamine levels to normal. Ashwagandha inhibits nerve cells from over-firing and intensifies acetylcholine, glutathione, and secretase enzyme activity. Overall ashwagandha has been shown to be comparable to pharmaceutical drugs in its ability to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and to stabilize mood. Ashwagandha also inhibits the production beta amyloid plaques and reverse neural decay by promoting neurogenesis and through the creation of new synaptic connections.
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Ashwagandha improves the functioning of the immune system by returning it to a state of normal functioning. It does this by bringing white blood cells back to normal ranges if overly elevated or suppressed while also having a powerful anti-cancer effect which inhibits the reduces the growth of tumors. The phytochemicals that ashwagandha possesses also have general antimicrobial properties.
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Ashwagandha improves digestion, a very important aspect of overall health and wellness as readers of Wild Free Organic should know. Ashwagandha does this by having antimicrobial and anti-parasitic properties which beneficially shift the microbiome towards greater symbiosis with its host (you). Ashwagandha also simulates digestive action, reduces flatulence, and has a strong effect in preventing and healing stress-induced gastric ulcers.
How does Ashwagandha Work?
Ashwagandha has these many health benefits because of its unique phytochemical profile which confer upon it adaptogenic properties which promotes balances between the different systems of the body. Overall ashwagandha is considered a tonic which revitalizes the body by correcting deficiencies and over-abundances, whether they are yin/yang or hot/cold as classified in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The benefits received from supplementing with ashwagandha depend on how long it is used for and how consistently. A single large dose of ashwagandha is useful before an endurance event, improving stamina and reducing the following stress response and cortisol dump. A large one-off dose many also be all that’s needed to stimulate an aphrodisiac effect, though that may require more consistent supplementation depending on your individual physiology. The longer term health and wellness benefits of ashwagandha, especially the neurocognitive and immunity effects, take a few weeks to begin to manifest and will be more pronounced over a 6+ month long time span.
As for it’s hormone modulation and testosterone boosting effects, it takes 2-3 months of ashwagandha supplementation to observe favorable increases in body-weight and testosterone levels.
Dosing Instructions for Ashwagandha
The most common part of Withania somnifera to use is the roots, and the dosing instructions here are for the roots (though the leaves are of a similar amount). Raw ashwagandha root is typically dosed at 300-600 mg daily for general health and wellness benefits, while it was a 5 gram raw ashwagandha root powder dose taken daily that was effective at boosting testosterone levels in men with fertility issues. This high dose of 5 grams daily for a few months showed no health complications. A sweet spot in-between these two dosage recommendations is 1 gram of ashwagandha taken daily and this is what I would recommend to athletes.
If using the Nootropics depot 12% withanolide ashwagandha supplement, start with the recommended 300 mg serving size for a few weeks before considering increasing it further to two servings taken daily, and that should only be done if no effect is observed. For the 35% withanolide Shoden Ashwagandha supplement, stick to the normal 120 mg serving size for a few weeks before any consideration of increasing the dose.
Ashwagandha is safe and well-tolerated with few if any side effects at normal dosages which provides it a degree of “wiggle room” which is useful in catering it to your unique needs and biology. If you find you respond well to lower doses of ashwagandha then stick with low doses, and if you find you require higher doses then that’s fine too so long as you’re careful and mindful of how your body is feeling.
If you’re interested in learning more about ashwagandha, which I would recommend if you plan on purchasing and using the herb, then click the button below to be taken to the main herb encyclopedia page for ashwagandha.
Optimize your Testosterone
Cistanche, tongkat ali, and ashwagandha are three well-proven and effective testosterone-boosting herbs that are well-tolerated and safe. Comparing them side by side it’s easy to see their similarities, not only in their names of “ginseng of the desert”, “Malaysian ginseng”, and “Indian ginseng” respectively, but also in how they influence the body biologically.
All three of these herbs work simultaneously with the brain, nervous system, immune system, endocrine system, and reproductive organs. They all have energy enhancing effects whilst simultaneously promoting parasympathetic activity (feed and breed, rest and digest) which results in vaso-relaxation.
Ashwagandha helps to blunt the cortisol and stress response from extremely stressful and strenuous events, and cistanche and tongkat ali both help promote recovery and increase lean body mass. If you are cautiously interested in raising your testosterone levels, then ashwagandha is the herb to choose as it only boosts them moderately, by 10-15% on average according to the research that has been done. Tongkat ali is more potent and in my experience cistanche is the most potent testosterone booster of the three, though your individual response and results may vary.
You can purchase high-quality cistanche, tongkat ali, and ashwagandha supplements from Nootropics Depot. If you decide to make an effort to boost your testosterone levels using either of these herbs, be mindful of your lifestyle and ensure that you’re getting adequate sleep every night, eating a healthy diet, and are limiting your stressors (both internal and environmental). If you are primarily interested in boosting your testosterone levels as a way to increase your libido, then read my guide on how to increase your libido naturally.
Please share your experiences with any of these herbs in the comments below for others who may be interested in your anecdotal findings.
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Sartorius G, Spasevska S, Idan A, et al. Serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol concentrations in older men self-reporting very good health: the healthy man study. Clin Endocrinol. 2012;77(5):755-763.
Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia. 2002;34(6):367-372.
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Boonmuen N, Gong P, Ali Z, et al. Licorice root components in dietary supplements are selective estrogen receptor modulators with a spectrum of estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activities. Steroids. 2016;105:42-49.
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More Articles on Performance
Herbs that can significantly increase testosterone levels exist and are quite effective at helping remedy the symptoms of low testosterone such as low energy and strength, poor libido and fertility, depression and anxiety, reduced confidence and drive, and low muscle mass. Cistanche, tongkat ali, and ashwagandha are proven testosterone boosters that importantly, are also safe for use. Learn more!