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Herbs for Andropause

Apr 4, 2011 | By Tomas Linnaeus
Herbs for Andropause
Photo Credit Grandfather while fishing image by Uriy Badaev from Fotolia.com

Andropause in men is similar to menopause in women. Older men show a progressive decline in circulating hormones such as testosterone. This change produces symptoms ranging from reproductive infertility to sexual dysfunction. A variety of treatment alternatives, including medications and surgeries, exist for this medical condition. Herbal extracts may provide complementary treatment, but speak with a doctor before treating andropause with herbal remedies.

Tribulus Terrestris

The Tribulus terrestris plant produces a fruit often considered an aphrodisiac. The mechanism behind this alleged effect remains unknown, but it may involve testosterone enhancement. Such an increase in testosterone would benefit men experiencing andropause. A 2010 report in "Acta Medica Lituanica" looked at the impact of Tribulus on testosterone in athletes. Healthy men received either the herbal extract or no treatment daily for three weeks. Relative to baseline, Tribulus intake triggered an increase in testosterone production within 10 days. It also increased muscular strength and aerobic capacity. While suggestive, this study tested younger men. The results may not apply to older men in the andropause phase of their lives.

Kaempferia Parviflora

Men in Thailand sometimes consume extracts from the Kaempferia parviflora plant in mixed drinks. This herb is taken to enhance sexual performance, although it's not clear how this effect is achieved. Other aphrodisiac herbs like Massularia acuminata act by increasing testosterone. A study described in the 2007 volume of the "Journal of Reproduction and Development" evaluated this possibility in laboratory animals given Kaempferia parviflora. Castrated rats received either the herbal extract or an inert treatment for five days. The extract, relative to placebo, had positive effects within two days. Serum testosterone increased as did body weight. Data obtained in animals do not always generalize well to humans.

Lycium Barbarum

Fruit taken from the Lycium barbarum plant also have a reputation as sexual enhancers. These claims have received some scientific support. Data from a 2006 report in "Life Sciences" suggest that Lycium enhances sexual activity by increasing testosterone. A 2010 article in "Phytotherapy Research" tested this hypothesis in an animal model of andropause. Researchers irradiated rodents to suppress their reproductive function. Two weeks of daily Lycium intake restored the rats' sexual health. It also increased their testosterone levels. The antioxidant properties of the herb mediated these results. The findings, however, may not apply to humans because of the intentional radiation damage. This drastic change may not be comparable to the gradual decline seen in andropause.

Catha Edulis

Eating leaves from the Catha edulis plant produces an amphetamine-like effect. This stimulation can lead to aggressive behavior similar to that observed with anabolic steroids. Like other performance-enhancing drugs, increases in circulating testosterone may underlie these changes. A 2006 paper in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" evaluated this possibility in healthy primates. Baboons received daily doses of Catha juice for two months. Relative to baseline, this treatment increased testosterone. It also decreased prolactin and cortisol. This experiment tested young baboons with normal levels of testosterone, so similar data might not be obtained in andropausal men. The effect on prolactin and cortisol also reveals the potential side effects of testosterone enhancement.

References

Article reviewed by Christine Brncik Last updated on: Apr 4, 2011

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