Post: #26

Niacin is a good choice for mood boosting. I have taken it off and on for 2 years now and can say it does calm you down and give you a little lift in your mood. It's flaw is the "flush" it will give you and why many folks whom are fair skinned avoid the stuff so they don't look like a tomato. They have 'no flush' versions but these do not work as well as certain compositions are destroyed when taking out what causes the flush, etc.

Saw Palmetto has never been on my radar. Ive never come across anything telling me it would help me personally. I have no use for it but I'll mention to @Nomad77 look into sourcing it from a natural products company. The drugstore brand/versions of many things are complete crap and thy use h cheapest variants of said herb, and use the least ammount possible to keep pieces down. Look for a local health/wellness shop and source or from there.

Post: #27

Saw Palmetto beneficial elements are its phytosterols. It interferes w/the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme which is responsible for conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone, its tissue active form).

Its main use is for moderating BPH (benign prostate inflammation). The big pharma version is Finasteride. A large study was conducted- Finasteride users reported some issues w/sexual function. Saw palmetto- zero reported sexual function incidents. Finasteride off label use- anti-hair-loss. Saw palmetto has similar effect.

That being said Saw Palmetto has anti-androgen qualities (blocks sexual hormones from exerting influence on biological tissues). So some caution would be wise. If you are in your 20s or 30s, I would be very careful.

@G-manifesto- those multivitamins NOW that you recommended have a small dosage of saw palmetto.

Post: #28

(02-20-2013 10:52 AM)soup Wrote:  

(02-19-2013 06:21 PM)callaghan Wrote:  unless one has a DHT excess (confirmed by bloodwork) it does not seem a good option for men

http://www.mikemahler.com/online-library...ogens.html

With regard to herbal supplements, avoid saw palmetto, which can block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Given that DHT is more potent than testosterone, this is the last thing you want. Saw palmetto can also reduce androgen receptor uptake of testosterone and DHT, which just makes things worse. Instead, take nettle root, which shows numerous benefits, including unbinding testosterone and DHT from the glycoprotein sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

So, saw P reduces testosterone and it's better to take nettle root? Do you take nettle root?

I am not against saw palmetto per se , my opinion is that one has to be careful before taking a hefty dose for a prolonged period of time,as the OP reported it may be useful for some.

I have just started taking nettle root, so will post later if I find it useful, but I saw recommended even by endocrinologists..

Post: #29

Any male who is having energy, prostate, testosterone problems should look into http://www.life-choice.net/. It is a company out of Cochrane Alberta. They have a great product I love called Fiery Male. They combine all scientifically proven ingredients to balance a males hormones out. They also only use top notch ingredients. Unlike the shit you buy in the grocery store, any of their products use the best of the best. Link below for the exact product.

http://www.life-choice.net/product/00/13...25mg-90-Vs

I guarantee you if you are on this that shit you will pound women into submission.

The whole reason I even tried their products is because our wonderful Canadian government is trying to sue them into submission. Can you guess why ? It is because their products work so well that they are actually CURING diseases. I phoned the company last year and although they won't discuss the on going lawsuit they were expecting to win this year and publish a huge article about it in the paper to prove how criminal our government is and big pharma. Anyways I made a sizable donation to their lawyers to help with the fight. They aren't looking for donations what so ever but if you try the products and like them I suggest you do all you can to help out.

Post: #30

I'm gonna try it BIG and report it if it makes any difference.

Post: #31

(02-20-2013 11:48 AM)DVY Wrote:  Saw Palmetto beneficial elements are its phytosterols. It interferes w/the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme which is responsible for conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone, its tissue active form).

Its main use is for moderating BPH (benign prostate inflammation). The big pharma version is Finasteride. A large study was conducted- Finasteride users reported some issues w/sexual function. Saw palmetto- zero reported sexual function incidents. Finasteride off label use- anti-hair-loss. Saw palmetto has similar effect.

That being said Saw Palmetto has anti-androgen qualities (blocks sexual hormones from exerting influence on biological tissues). So some caution would be wise. If you are in your 20s or 30s, I would be very careful.

@G-manifesto- those multivitamins NOW that you recommended have a small dosage of saw palmetto.

I'm about to be 33. So, do you think I'm too young to take this stuff?

Post: #32

I take a daily cocktail of saw palmetto, ginseng and gingko. I definitely feel healthier but it could just be a placebo effect.

Post: #33

(02-20-2013 11:48 AM)DVY Wrote:  That being said Saw Palmetto has anti-androgen qualities (blocks sexual hormones from exerting influence on biological tissues). So some caution would be wise. If you are in your 20s or 30s, I would be very careful.

That's the reason I wouldn't want to mess with this stuff. Anti-androgen effects, no thanks. There are plenty of alternatives for taking anti-oxidants.

Post: #34

@soup- I wouldnt unless you were doing it for a specific reason and willing to accept possible anti-androgen effects. One good thing about saw palmetto in youth is it slows hair-loss.

Taking it in your 30s for mood improvement, no. There are lots of other supplements w/less possible downside.

Post: #35

(02-21-2013 11:53 AM)DVY Wrote:  @soup- I wouldnt unless you were doing it for a specific reason and willing to accept possible anti-androgen effects. One good thing about saw palmetto in youth is it slows hair-loss.

Taking it in your 30s for mood improvement, no. There are lots of other supplements w/less possible downside.

I just read on the internet that it can:

"enhance sexual drive"

and in another place:

"sexual dysfunction is a common side effect"

What gives?

Post: #36

@g-manifesto- The research is not conclusive.

But a large study comparing finasteride versus saw palmetto had the results that saw palmetto has zero reported sexual dysfunction issues.

The flipside is that every medication/compound affects everybody a little differently.