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[FONT="]The sports supplement graveyard is littered with products that promised much, but failed to deliver (miserably, in most cases). Most notable are herbs, and their purported “anabolic” actions. However, the Ayurvedic (Indian) system of medicine has given us a few gems. One of those is Cissus Quadrangularis, which I’ll cover in a separate article.
Today, I introduce you to Anacyclus pyrethrum. AP is an aphrodisiac herb said to enhance male vitality and virility, in addition to having nootropic properties. Like many other products, it promises an increase in testosterone along with pro-fertility effects. Quite unlike many herbal remedies though, it really is worthy of your consideration.
Let’s take a closer look..
DOSAGE
There are 3 methods of extraction: ethanol, petroleum ether, water. All of them appear effective. Given the rat guidelines, equivalent human doses would be:
• 550-1,600 mg daily for a 150 lb person
• 700-2,200 mg daily for a 200 lb person
• 900-2,700 mg daily for a 250 lb person
In practice, I find 1,000 to 1,500mg to be effective for virtually everyone.
ACTIVES
Speculation is that the alkylamides inherent therein are responsible for its unique effects Just how true this is is anyone’s guess, and I’d be wary of over-standardized products. It’s thought that levels build up over time, but effects linger after you stop using it. I find the more that man meddles with the hand of nature though, that’s where side effects occur.
Which brings me to…
EFFECTS
The first thing you notice is ravenous hunger. This is probably the most powerful effect the product has, as any good bodybuilder will tell you food is the most anabolic substance on earth. More than that, you crave good food and in particular – carbs. It seems you can eat a LOT more carbohydrates with this product, and they’re stored as muscle glycogen vs. triglyceride (body fat).
Supplementation in rats using the ethanolic extract for 28 days showed a dose-dependent increase in testosterone and luteinizing hormone to approximately two-fold of baseline. Since exact numbers aren’t given though, it’s hard to say if this is significant. I honestly wouldn’t put much stock in this mechanism, given the history of test boosters. Even assuming it does double test, going from 300 to 600ng/dl isn’t enough to provide a muscle building boost. The vast majority of users noting a performance enhancement effect do so in the supraphysiological range, and no herb I know of gets you there.
Libido enhancement is noticeable however, so know that’s coming. With respect to semen an increase in sperm motility and count has also been noted. Finally, an anti-amnesia effect has been observed. While this may be marginal in your buying decision, it may be of value for those prescribed Xanax or the related benzos (which destroy your memory).
Of all the positives however, I suspect AP excels at maximizing food intake and glucose disposal the most. Two very, very desirable qualities.
WORKS WELL WITH
As long as we’re hyper-saturating the muscle with glucose and water, it makes all the sense in the world for creatine to hitch a ride into the muscle cell. Two other ingredients that’ve been shown to improve creatine uptake are R-ALA* and sodium**. In fact, creatine transport into muscle has been shown to be more sodium dependent than insulin. Get those fab 4 into circulation along with creatine and cell volumization will be a slam dunk – itself a potent trigger of muscle growth.
Finally, it’s my position that various other non-hormonal anabolics compliment AP nicely. For example, Laxogenin and its various 25(R) cousins need optimal test levels to exert their effects. By doubling testosterone, AP allows Laxogenin to really shine.
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[FONT="]The sports supplement graveyard is littered with products that promised much, but failed to deliver (miserably, in most cases). Most notable are herbs, and their purported “anabolic” actions. However, the Ayurvedic (Indian) system of medicine has given us a few gems. One of those is Cissus Quadrangularis, which I’ll cover in a separate article.
Today, I introduce you to Anacyclus pyrethrum. AP is an aphrodisiac herb said to enhance male vitality and virility, in addition to having nootropic properties. Like many other products, it promises an increase in testosterone along with pro-fertility effects. Quite unlike many herbal remedies though, it really is worthy of your consideration.
Let’s take a closer look..
DOSAGE
There are 3 methods of extraction: ethanol, petroleum ether, water. All of them appear effective. Given the rat guidelines, equivalent human doses would be:
• 550-1,600 mg daily for a 150 lb person
• 700-2,200 mg daily for a 200 lb person
• 900-2,700 mg daily for a 250 lb person
In practice, I find 1,000 to 1,500mg to be effective for virtually everyone.
ACTIVES
Speculation is that the alkylamides inherent therein are responsible for its unique effects Just how true this is is anyone’s guess, and I’d be wary of over-standardized products. It’s thought that levels build up over time, but effects linger after you stop using it. I find the more that man meddles with the hand of nature though, that’s where side effects occur.
Which brings me to…
EFFECTS
The first thing you notice is ravenous hunger. This is probably the most powerful effect the product has, as any good bodybuilder will tell you food is the most anabolic substance on earth. More than that, you crave good food and in particular – carbs. It seems you can eat a LOT more carbohydrates with this product, and they’re stored as muscle glycogen vs. triglyceride (body fat).
Supplementation in rats using the ethanolic extract for 28 days showed a dose-dependent increase in testosterone and luteinizing hormone to approximately two-fold of baseline. Since exact numbers aren’t given though, it’s hard to say if this is significant. I honestly wouldn’t put much stock in this mechanism, given the history of test boosters. Even assuming it does double test, going from 300 to 600ng/dl isn’t enough to provide a muscle building boost. The vast majority of users noting a performance enhancement effect do so in the supraphysiological range, and no herb I know of gets you there.
Libido enhancement is noticeable however, so know that’s coming. With respect to semen an increase in sperm motility and count has also been noted. Finally, an anti-amnesia effect has been observed. While this may be marginal in your buying decision, it may be of value for those prescribed Xanax or the related benzos (which destroy your memory).
Of all the positives however, I suspect AP excels at maximizing food intake and glucose disposal the most. Two very, very desirable qualities.
WORKS WELL WITH
As long as we’re hyper-saturating the muscle with glucose and water, it makes all the sense in the world for creatine to hitch a ride into the muscle cell. Two other ingredients that’ve been shown to improve creatine uptake are R-ALA* and sodium**. In fact, creatine transport into muscle has been shown to be more sodium dependent than insulin. Get those fab 4 into circulation along with creatine and cell volumization will be a slam dunk – itself a potent trigger of muscle growth.
Finally, it’s my position that various other non-hormonal anabolics compliment AP nicely. For example, Laxogenin and its various 25(R) cousins need optimal test levels to exert their effects. By doubling testosterone, AP allows Laxogenin to really shine.
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