Low Testosterone

Why it works: 1) It contains measurable androgens (“phytoandrogens”).. Several lab papers from the 1970s identified testosterone, epitestosterone and androstenedione in Pinus pollen (e.g., Pinus...

Instructions: There are no medical guidelines for pine pollen to treat TD. Any “instructions” come from supplement makers and herbal guides, not clinical societies. Typical patterns you’ll see:....

Warnings: Allergy risk (pollen/tree-nut context):. • Pine pollen can trigger typical pollen-allergy symptoms;...

Studies: Human studies (very limited & low quality):Two small, op...

Why it works: Possible effects on “free” (bioavailable) testosterone via SHBG: In a small human study, short-term boron supplementation was associated with higher free testosterone and lower SHB...

Instructions: There’s no approved dosing regimen for treating low T with boron. What follows are research protocols used in small trials so you can see what’s actually been tested:. • 10 mg elem...

Warnings: Not an approved treatment for low testosterone. Use only under medical guidance if you have suspecte...

Studies: Naghii et al., 2011 (8 healthy men): 10 mg/day for 7 days →...

Why it works: Possible aromatase inhibition (lab data): Extracts and several damiana flavonoids (e.g., pinocembrin, acacetin, apigenin-7-glucoside) inhibit aromatase, the enzyme that converts te...

Instructions: There is no medically established dosing for low testosterone. If you still want to try damiana as an adjunct (not a replacement for medically indicated therapy), typical tradition...

Warnings: Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid—insufficient safety data; some sources list it as not recommended....

Studies: In-vitro (lab): Damiana leaf extract and isolated compounds...

Why it works: Small human trial signal: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy men (45–55 y) used purified shilajit 250 mg twice daily for 90 days and reported significa...

Instructions: Form & quality: Use purified shilajit from a reputable manufacturer with independent lab reports (COAs) for heavy metals. Avoid raw/unprocessed resins. (See safety alerts under “Wa...

Warnings: Heavy metal contamination risk (critical): Multiple regulators have warned about lead/arsenic/mercur...

Studies: Pandit et al., Andrologia (2016) — 250 mg purified shilajit...

Why it works: Possible enzyme modulation (less T breakdown): Standardized fenugreek seed extracts appear to inhibit aromatase (conversion of testosterone → estradiol) and 5-α-reductase (testoste...

Instructions: Form & dose used in studies. • Standardized seed extract 600 mg/day (often branded—e.g., Testofen®—typically ~50% saponins) for 12 weeks in men 43–70 y. Read by QxMD. • Fenugreek g...

Warnings: Anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin): Fenugreek may increase bleeding risk; case reports and pharmacology...

Studies: Lee-Ødegård et al., 2024 (PLOS ONE) — Double-blind RCT (n=95...

Why it works: Stimulates testicular steroidogenesis (Leydig cells): The major quassinoid eurycomanone increases testosterone production in Leydig-cell preparations and appears to inhibit aromata...

Instructions: Standardized extract & dose used in RCTs:. • 100–200 mg/day of a standardized water extract (often sold as “Physta®”), for 12 weeks, increased total and free testosterone in men ag...

Warnings: Liver safety: Overall human data suggest good short-term tolerability, but rare cases of herb-induce...

Studies: Systematic review & meta-analysis (2022, Medicina): Acro...

Why it works: Antioxidant & anti-inflammatory effects in the testes. In animals, ginger reduces oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in testicular tissue and boosts antioxidant enzymes (SOD,...

Instructions: There is no established medical protocol for ginger to treat low testosterone. If someone chooses to try ginger as an adjunct (not a replacement for evaluation/treatment of hypogon...

Warnings: Ginger is widely used and generally well-tolerated, but supplements can interact and cause side effe...

Studies: 2018 biomolecules review (“Ginger and Testosterone”). Synthe...

Why it works: TCM rationale (Kidney-Yang deficiency): In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), many symptoms that overlap with hypogonadism—fatigue, cold intolerance, low libido/ED, low back/knee...

Instructions: Classical/official dosing (patent pills): The Chinese Pharmacopoeia monograph lists small honey pills 9 g, 3×/day; or big honey pills 1 pill (≈9 g), 3×/day, by mouth. (Indications...

Warnings: Aconite (Fu Zi) toxicity: You Gui Wan contains processed Aconiti lateralis (Fu Zi). Aconitum alkaloi...

Studies: There are no high-quality randomized controlled trials showi...

Why it works: Traditional (TCM/Kampo) rationale.. Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is a classic “warm Yang & tonify Kidney” formula. In TCM theory, symptoms that often travel with clinically low testosterone...

Instructions: Professional diagnosis first.. Because this is a warming Yang formula containing stimulating herbs (traditionally including processed aconite), it should only be used after a TCM/K...

Warnings: 1) Product quality & aconite (Fu Zi) risk.. Some classical versions include processed aconite (Zhi F...

Studies: Animal model (hydrocortisone-suppressed testosterone): Jinku...

Why it works: Traditional (TCM) rationale. Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan “tonifies the kidney and nourishes essence (jing),” a classic TCM pattern behind subfertility, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and low...

Instructions: Common forms & typical label dosing. • Teapills: “8 pills, 3×/day.” kamwostore.com. • Capsules or granules: e.g., 4 capsules 2–3×/day or 4.5 g granules in hot water 2–3×/day. Treas...

Warnings: 1) Drug–herb interactions (important):. • Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) may increase warfarin levels/...

Studies: Human RCTs (male infertility/sub-fertility):A double-blind,...

Why it works: Proposed mechanisms. Tribulus contains steroidal saponins (especially protodioscin) that have been hypothesized to influence androgen pathways and nitric-oxide signaling. Lab and t...

Instructions: First, confirm true hypogonadism. Guidelines advise diagnosing low T with two separate early-morning total testosterone tests (ideally before 11 a.m.), plus evaluation of LH/FSH to...

Warnings: Liver & kidney toxicity (rare but serious case reports): Acute hepatotoxicity (including fatal liver...

Studies: Systematic reviews / overviews2025 Nutrients PRISMA review:...

Why it works: Stress/HPA-axis modulation: Ashwagandha can lower cortisol and may raise gonadotropins (LH/FSH) in some studies—mechanisms that can secondarily support testicular steroidogenesis....

Instructions: Form & standardization. • Choose a root extract standardized to withanolides (common in trials). (Examples used in trials include KSM-66® root extract and a Shoden® extract; brand...

Warnings: 1) Liver injury (rare, but documented). • Case reports and pharmacovigilance bulletins describe clin...

Studies: Randomized controlled trials (human):Healthy resistance-trai...

Why it works: Zinc deficiency can lower testosterone: Classic human work shows that restricting zinc intake in healthy young men markedly reduced serum testosterone over ~20 weeks; in marginally...

Instructions: Confirm you actually need it. • Ask your clinician to evaluate morning testosterone (two separate days) and to assess zinc status (serum/plasma zinc plus diet/risk factors). (Low z...

Warnings: Do not chronically exceed the UL (40 mg elemental/day) without medical supervision. Prolonged high i...

Studies: Human depletion/repletion study (Nutrition, 1996)Zinc restri...

Why it works: Biologic plausibility. Vitamin D receptors are present in the testes (Leydig and Sertoli cells). Experimental work suggests vitamin D signaling can influence steroidogenesis (the p...

Instructions: Use vitamin D₃ to correct vitamin D deficiency, not as a direct testosterone drug. If you suspect low T, get properly evaluated; vitamin D is an adjunct for deficiency.. Check leve...

Warnings: Do not exceed safe intakes without medical supervision. The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for ad...

Studies: Randomized trial showing an increase (2011). Overweight men...

Why it works: Improves erectile physiology (not the same as raising T): Ginsenosides (esp. Rg1/Rg3/Re) increase nitric-oxide (NO) signalling in penile tissue, relaxing cavernosal smooth muscle a...

Instructions: Choose the right species: Panax ginseng (Asian/Korean ginseng). Don’t confuse with Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), Eleutherococcus (“Siberian ginseng”), or Panax notoginsen...

Warnings: Common adverse effects: Insomnia, nervousness, GI upset, tachycardia; rare case reports include mani...

Studies: Symptom improvement without testosterone increase2025 RCT (n...