Looking for opinion from CS or others. Green tea known to be 5-ar inhibitor and anti-androgen. Would using topically 20 minutes a day cause a problem libido/sexual function wise?

Im just curious what everyone thinks about this.

Thanks in advance!

I know there are green tea "hair rinses", it should definitely do some good at least

No.

This is a distinction we must make when we're viewing the research as opposed to using a natural substance.

The design of a study usually includes using isolated fractions of a substance, and in large (supraphysiological) amounts that aren't realistic to achieve in the body from normal use. That's the point. Most of these are trying to isolate the effects noted by users of a particular plant down to the molecules that are actually responsible. Probably for the purpose of designing a drug or supplement around that molecule.

But you aren't getting that molecule at that dose or in isolation when you are using either crude plant or crude extracts of that plant (teas or decoctions).

If you were to starting consuming green tea in large amounts, you might get an effect. But as a topical applied for 20 minutes, no you will not get any systemic sexual side effects.

I think its more practical to start considering your intake of plant substances as a whole, all of the supplements, all of the food, as one big picture.

Thanks.

My next question would then be: Ive heard of others on bodybuilding forums having trouble with libido/sexual function from taking green tea. Now Im not sure if they are taking a standardized supplement or drinking it, but wouldn't that still be far far less than the amounts used in the studies like you are mentioning? (in vitro etc)

Maybe it would be important to find out how much they are ingesting first and what potency it is..

Short answer (topically and internally), no problems with libido or performance.

I read somewhere that the right amount of caffeine (in this case green tea) topically can stimulate hair growth, but too much can potentially be harmful to hair.  I'm going to get back into spraying my hair with green tea again

johndoe1225 wrote:I read somewhere that the right amount of caffeine (in this case green tea) topically can stimulate hair growth, but too much can potentially be harmful to hair.  I'm going to get back into spraying my hair with green tea again

I thought you were going to give sage 1's formula a shot.


In regards to my other question, not sure what to make of these posts from this link saying green tea messed with their libido/sex drive.. Does it have to do with the standardiZed extracts?

http://anabolicminds.com/forum/supplements/56324-green-tea-libido.html

Sizzling,

Chances are good that they are blaming the observations about their libido on something that isn't responsible. Libido is a really erratic thing. Even in completely healthy individuals it swings up and down and is really a highly personal experience. Transient changes in sex drive are very common and can be effected by SO many things: sleep and fatigue, stress, hormonal ups or downs.

Changes in things like libido are going to happen whether someone is on a supplement or not. Its just very easy - when a person is taking a supplement - to be hyper-conscious of everything happening in the body and blame everything on a supplement. You wouldn't blame a change in libido on eating a carton of raspberries for lunch, so its a mistake to blame it on taking 400 mg of ground up green tea leaves.

There is a tendency in many people here, including myself for a very long time, to be way too conscious/anxious about every little thing happening in the body. And to worry way too much about it and try to blame it on this or that supplement. Sure, if you take something and after three days of use you start breaking out in hives, then they go away after stopping, you have good reason to start thinking harder about that supplement. But too often people start threads about how this or that lowered sex drive, or made them feel foggy, or low energy, etc. etc. - all things that could be caused by a multitude of factors.

I do agree with you sir, but I also know for a fact way back in the day when I wanted to try an all natural form of propecia in the form of saw palmetto, even
Tho I tried to ignore it, it completely wiped out my sex drive and erection quality.. Like, it was bad bad. So I wouldn't say across the board natural don't cause these effects, because many do.

That's why I was wondering, maybe if the plant is extracted to have extra high amounts of a certain compound, thereby removing its function as found in nature, maybe in that scenario these guys couldve been experiencing effects. Or not, but I thought it might be a reason

No that's a good point. The extraction process is important, and whether you are using crude herb or an extract of a particular compound. Certain plant's actives are more abundant than other plant's actives in their tissues. I do believe you 100% that saw palmetto, with the right extraction and the right doses could effect libido. I just don't believe there is anything in green tea which could be doing that same thing.

sizzlinghairs wrote:

johndoe1225 wrote:I read somewhere that the right amount of caffeine (in this case green tea) topically can stimulate hair growth, but too much can potentially be harmful to hair.  I'm going to get back into spraying my hair with green tea again

I thought you were going to give sage 1's formula a shot.


In regards to my other question, not sure what to make of these posts from this link saying green tea messed with their libido/sex drive.. Does it have to do with the standardiZed extracts?

http://anabolicminds.com/forum/supplements/56324-green-tea-libido.html

Yes I will but I also have spray bottles, one containing 50/50 ACV/Water and another I'll fill with green tea

thats a great point sizzling, and btw when i first tried saw palmetto, i thought i was so smart for trying something natural that would do the same thing as fin. but it gave me the worse sides i have experienced with anything so far, including several drugs.(not fin, but other meds i take) i had multiple urination problems, sexual problems, i swear it affected my mental clarity, but its hard to prove. and i had more or less the same sides with lots of different strengths, brands, forumlas etc.

dont anyone think that supplements are free of side effects because they are not.

Awkward as I posted in the other thread detailing my extreme coconut oil experiment but, here is another... I drank 5-6 cups of green tea daily for several months. No changes in libido. But I did spend half my time in the bathroom.