Here is something interesting I found a while back:
Safe, Effective, and Natural Ways to Boost Testosterone Levels
How to use the science of supplementation to increase this powerful anabolic hormone
by Charles Poliquin
As far as hormones go, the one that has drawn the most attention from the media for the past several years is testosterone. It is considered primarily the "male" hormone, as it is responsible for influencing the development of muscle mass and male secondary sexual characteristics, and it's not uncommon for an adult male to produce 60 times more of the hormone than an adult female. Testosterone's powerful effects have led to the illegal use of potentially dangerous synthetic forms of the hormone by athletes, and older men have started investigating ways to acquire the hormone as a way to regain their youth and sexual vigor. Let's start this discussion by looking at some disturbing numbers.
Between 1971 and 1991, average testosterone levels for males have decreased by 31 percent. Through our work at the Poliquin Performance Centers, we have seen, for example, professional hockey players in their early 30s with testosterone levels of 70-year-old females. And we have discovered by talking to high school coaches that young athletes often appear to be much weaker than their counterparts of 20 years ago, despite the fact that knowledge about training has improved along with the increased availability of training facilities.
I discussed this problem with my veteran strength coaching colleagues, and we all agreed that it was easier to put mass in athletes in the 1980s, even though less was known about nutrition and training, just because testosterone levels were higher then. Could one reason steroids have become so popular among professional athletes in recent years be due to the lower testosterone levels?
There are many possible causes, supported by scientific research, that have been proposed for the epidemic of low testosterone, such as depression, being overweight and having low levels of zinc. Other, less probable, causes range from environmental xenoestrogens to sitting too close to the television to radiation from cell phones. It's such a problem that labs are actually lowering their standards for what they consider normal testosterone levels. This creates a situation in which men see their lab results and believe they are normal even though their testosterone may actually be at near-castration levels.
The Biosignature Solution
A man's testosterone level generally peaks in his late 20s; after the age of 40 it decreases about one percent per year. This decrease in androgen production is sometimes referred to as andropause, or "male menopause." When testosterone levels fall below the normal range, the following symptoms can develop:
Low sex drive
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Increased irritability or depression
Fatigue
Reduced muscle mass and strength (often your client will not meet the 1- to 2 percent strength gains expected every workout)
Inability to concentrate
Decreased bone density; osteoporosis
In the Biosignature model, low testosterone is evidenced by high triceps skin-fold measurements; a male with optimal testosterone levels will have less than 5mm on the triceps. The higher the triceps level, the lower the testosterone; even at 10mm, a male is at the bottom range for testosterone. At 15mm, his testosterone levels are abysmal. But part of the Biosignature program is not just to learn how to measure hormone levels but to provide practical, natural ways to bring those hormones back to normal.
Phase 1, Days 1 to 8: Increased Conversion of Cortisol to DHEA
Upon awakening:
3-5 Yang R-ALA
Breakfast:
2 Licorice Supreme and
1 Pantethine Supreme
Lunch:
3-5 Yang R-ALA and
2 Licorice Supreme and
1 Pantethine Supreme
Dinner:
1 Pantethine Supreme
Licorice Supreme serves to extend the half-life of cortisol, which helps with the problem of low morning energy stemming from levels of cortisol that are too low. By raising your morning cortisol to normal levels, in the afternoon and evening cortisol will drop, which will lower your stress and help you sleep better. This effect will also allow your other hormones to come into balance. This supplement can be combined with Yin Builder for a synergistic effect. (Warning: Licorice Supreme should be avoided for those suffering from high blood pressure.)
Phase 2, Days 9 to 16: Boosting T3 and Androgens
Upon awakening:
3-5 Yang R-ALA
Breakfast:
2 Holy Basil Supreme and
1 Pantethine Supreme
Lunch:
3-5 Yang R-ALA and 2 Holy Basil Supreme and 1 Pantethine Supreme
Dinner:
1 Pantethine Supreme
The Holy Basil Supreme works to reset the neurotransmitter balance. If the client complains of being buzzed in the morning, it is normal, as the brain is rebalancing the four major neurotransmitters at that time. Holy Basil Supreme will also protect the body from the effects of both physical and chemical stress and will boost morning and afternoon energy.
Phase 3, Days 17 to 24: Boosting LH and Growth Hormone
Upon awakening:
3-5 Yang R-ALA
Breakfast:
1 Pantethine Supreme
Lunch:
3-5 Yang R-ALA and
1 Pantethine Supreme
Dinner:
2 Tribulus Supreme
Bedtime Snack:
2 Tribulus Supreme
The Tribulus Supreme is a powerhouse for its ability to boost testosterone as well as growth hormone. Expect improved recovery, better sleep and more energy.
Phase 4, Days 25 to 32: Boosting Dopamine and Androgens
Upon awakening:
3-5 Yang R-ALA
Breakfast:
1-2 Androgen Excellence and
1 Pantethine Supreme
Lunch:
3-5 Yang R-ALA and
1-2 Androgen Excellence and
1 Pantethine Supreme
Dinner:
1 Pantethine Supreme
Androgen Excellence raises dopamine levels, and it raises them a lot! It is not uncommon for the sex drive to skyrocket. If your client has tremors during that phase, use less of this product, as the dopamine levels are becoming too high. Some clients, I've found, will only need to take one at breakfast; otherwise they become too wired.
In order to complete the protocol you will need to purchase the following amounts of each supplement:
Androgen Excellence - 1
Pantethine Supreme - 2
Tribulus Supreme - 1
Yang R-ALA - 4
Licorice Supreme - 1
Holy Basil Supreme - 1
It is also very important to keep the timing of the nutraceuticals exactly as the program describes. For example, Tribulus has to be taken at night, as it is a relaxant. Take it in the morning and you will have the drive of wet linguini. Here are a few other important points:
Make certain that levels of zinc, magnesium, B6, B9 and B12 are adequate.
No hard alcohol is permitted, but one to two glasses of red wine is allowed.
If a male has high pectoral skin folds, he can take Green Tea Excellence, Grape Seed Supreme, DIM Avail, and DIM Extra, as they will work synergistically with these protocols.
If the client has abnormal blood fats, such as low HDL and high LDL and triglycerides, he may need to double the dose of Pantethine Supreme.
If low testosterone affects cognitive ability, take Fast Brain 2.0, two caps at breakfast
