14-11-2012, 11:43
(14-11-2012, 07:13)jiberish Wrote: Look into anti-androgens. Paeonia and Liquorice help lower test. Spearmint tea is useful too.
Ugh. NO NO NO to the first two! JUST NO!
Paeonia aka White Peony should ONLY be used by women with a SEVERE shortage of their own natural aromatase production. Licorice should never be used by anyone. Ever. Except in low doses for very short bursts. For long-term control of androgen levels? NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!
The entire mint family actually appears to have decent androgen binding and therefore block strong androgens from binding to receptor sites and causing masculinizing or de-feminizing effects.
Also useful is the ever-touted saw palmetto.
Another decent one is Pygeum bark.
Although I myself use chinese skullcap, I would not generally suggest it to women because it's activity is to block a certain reduction enzyme that is used for both the androgen and estrogen pathways. While it seems to prefer the androgen pathway, it will still interfere in the estrogen pathway to some degree and I would not suggest it.
Honestly I'm having difficulty thinking of non-mint-based receptor blocking anti-androgens, which are likely to be the best choice for women. Saw palmetto does receptor blocking to a degree, but not nearly as well as it blocks 5-alpha-reductase, which is the enzyme responsible for turning testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.
Look for herbs with IIRC beta-Sitosterol. That's the most common super weak androgen binder that binds to androgen receptors and blocks other androgens from doing so.