Hy all guys, sorry to bump this so old thread, but i want to help all of you trying to maximize yourself! (sorry i have very bad english)
If anybody know this, there's a study conducted on rats (obviously...) that report a 300 % increase in serum testosterone compared to control group:
Effect of icariin on reproduction endocrine function Table 2 shows that in the C, ICA and T groups, the serum testosterone concentration was higher than that in the M group. Furthermore, the concentration of serum testosterone in the ICA group was higher than that in the C group and lower than that in the T group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in levels of LH and FSH among these four groups.
group testosterone
M 0.7878 ± 0.4469
C 3.0141 ± 0.4131
ICA 10.9387 ± 2.0392
T 34.9649 ± 11.4220
T stands for Testosterone injiections, and value are obviously the highest among the groups.
However, icariin group elevated their levels 3 times!
On another site i've found this interesting trial of a fitness enthusiast who gave bloodwork before and after treating himself with tongkat ali first, with little results, and icariin after. Here's a part from the article:
"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.
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."
So, i think icariin is a very good product, and i want to share my experience, with a 75 % icariin extract. I did not have bloodwork, but it's about 2 years that i'm in the supplement world, and few items have worked for me: icariin is one of them, with that in about 2 weeks of use i've felt very very GREAT mood (i suffered depression before,used xanax,sleeping pills,and other s**t, before starting lifting and finding good supplements), strenght to the roof (maxed all of my lifts), and a skyrocketed libido. I was another person. Now cycling on and off, this great mood and confidence only returns with what i think are good working products, and icariin is one, if not the best, supplement that i've tried regarding power/focus/mood/strenght. The problem is, quality icariin is expensive. Sorry for the long post, if any question i'm here for you guys, and sorry for poor english. Stay tuned!
EDIT i've found that icariin works best, and before, used with piperine, or bioperine, due to better absorption i think. In effect i think that all the supplements works better with piperine.
