THE TRIALS AND TRIBULUS OF TESTOSTERONE: THE COMPELLING

CASE FOR ASHWAGANDHA FOR MEN (AND WOMEN!)

It is estimated that a full 40% of men over the age of 45 suffer from
testosterone deficiency and all that this condition entails, including
mental and physical fatigue, reduced libido, infertility, and reduced
muscle bulk and strengthto name but a few. Certainly, the stresses
and pressures of modern life factor into the high incidence of this
problem.
In recent years, men have turned to the herb, Tribulus terrestris, as a
natural means to help elevate their testosterone. A recent review,
however, puts its effectiveness in this regard into question and shows
it to be inconclusive at best. (A Qureshi et al, A systematic review of
the herbal extract Tribulus terrestris and the roots of its putative
aphrodisiac and performance enhancing effect, Journal of Dietary
Supplements March 2014; 11(1): 64-79)
A far more persuasive case can be made in favour of ashwagandha, a
first class tonic herb with a long and distinguished history of use in
Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional healing system native to India. A
study published in 2009 in the journal, Fertility and Sterility, found that
ashwagandha increased testosterone production by 15% in infertile
men with normal sperm. Meanwhile, men with a low sperm count
experienced a testosterone increase of 40%, and those with slow
moving sperm enjoyed a 21% increase. This same study concludes
that, Therefore, Withania somnifera offers a better and safe method of
restoring sex hormones in male infertility treatment. (Fertility and
Sterility 2009 June 5 epub)
A more recent study, which appeared in 2013, found that infertile men
taking ashwagandha capsules every day for a couple of months had
their testosterone level rise by 17% and their sperm cell concentration
by 167%. (VR Ambiye et al, Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic
Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in
Oligospermic Males, Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative
Medicine 2013; 571420)
Herbalist Michael Tierra goes so far as to call ashwagandha Indias
wonder herb. Its precise mechanism of action, however, remains
something of a mystery. It seems that ashwagandha is somehow
homeostatic, heightening the bodys ability to regulate and balance
hormone levels, avoiding swings to either extreme. Hence,
ashwagandha does not produce testosterone increases in males whose
testosterone levels are already high, nor does it increase testosterone
in women. Which is why ashwagandha is used as a hormone balancer

for women. This makes it a helpful aid in reducing menopausal

symptoms and enhancing sexual desire and satisfaction.
Beyond its hormonal benefits, ashwagandha is considered a revitalizing
adaptogen, reducing stress and increasing endurance. Possibly its most
remarkable attribute is its neuro-regenerative power and its ability to
preserve the health of the aging brain. Research has shown that
ashwagandha extract is capable of halting and even repairing damage
to brain cells in an experimentally induced model of Alzheimers
disease. In laboratory experiments in India in 2004, researchers
discovered that ashwagandha root extract inhibits acetylcholinesterase
in much the same way as the prescription drug donepezil, which is
currently used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. (MI Choudhary
et al, Withanolides, a new class of natural cholinesterase inhibitors
with calcium antagonistic properties, Biochemical and Biophysical
Research Communications 2005 Aug 19;334(1):276-87)
In addition, a monograph published by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Research Center suggests that ashwagandhas antiinflammatory effects are comparable to hydrocortisone. (Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center, Information About Herbs,
Botanicals and Other Products, New York, 2006. Accessed online from:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm)
Given all these wonderful therapeutic facets of ashwagandha, its
hardly a surprise that we consider our new St. Francis Ashwagandha
Capsules a significant addition to our product line.