When it comes to both natural and synthetic testosterone boosters, Ashwagandha made a huge renaissance together with supplements such as Tongkat Ali or Turkesterone. One name that you can almost bet on to get dropped in any testosterone related discussion is Andrew Huberman, who popularized the whole topic with, e.g., his talk at the Joe Rogan podcast (who advocates for Testosterone Replacement Therapy himself). Partly due to their voices, the awareness of male hormone levels dropping from a certain age - for some already in their late twenties, for others in their early forties - to levels that wear down on performance and well-being has thankfully risen within the last few years, leading to more and more man looking to optimize their hormone system by raising testosterone levels through certain activities such as weight lifting or running and often supplementation.
And while only “hard cases” of low T should be treated with the often “irreversible” because lifetime-commiting choice to go on TRT, optimizing one’s testosterone levels with natural supplements that hold little to no danger became increasingly popular as well. The most popular of these supplements used to be a mix of Vitamin D, Zinc and Magnesium but increasingly pre-made testosterone booster products such as TestRX or Prime Male have been gaining traction in the past years. These are specially crafted mixes of natural ingredients that often contain trace minerals and proteins, herbs like Tribulus Terrestris or Ginseng as well as other compounds that are proven to boost test levels without any effects on long term health.
Not wanting to exaggerate the benefits nor dilute its significance it has to be noted though that improvement from solely taking natural testosterone boosters is generally not spectacular - they will help you start your body going down the right track along with healthy habits like exercise or lifestyle changes rather than restoring testosterone levels straight away back into those youthful twenties zeniths. Sounds pretty good, right? But men looking for the best suitable testosterone boosting supplement are often left in the dark with proper information. Advertising of course makes use of the everyday Joe’s blindspots, secret wishes of instant gratification instead of working hard for your six pack etc. so whatever ads you see popping up on the internet or TV campaigns should be met with reasonable skepticism. Supplements that brand themselves on the line of “Super Hero Testo-Overkill 2000” and promise huge results in little time - even worse with no to little effort - gave a bad name to the whole industry, leading to a comparable situation than fat burners.
If 90% of the substances and supplements you see in advertising are more or less snake oil, how can you tell if a certain brand and its ingredients are legit or not? Researching studies of course! One natural occurring substance that has made its way into the top natural testosterone boosting substances on pretty much every toplist on the internet is definitely Ashwagandha, a traditional adaptogen used for various conditions related to stress such as insomnia, aging, anxiety, and others. Ashwagandha is a herb with numerous health benefits. It has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and recent studies have shown it can help reduce stress and anxiety, boost energy levels, regulate blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and improve overall heart health. Additionally, ashwagandha is proven to reduce inflammation and pain while also supporting immune system function. Ashwagandha helps balance hormones in the body by providing adaptogenic qualities which allow the body to better manage stress levels by promoting relaxation without causing drowsiness or other similar side effects.
Studies have also indicated that ashwagandha can enhance cognitive performance due to its ability to enhance synaptic activity within the brain while reducing oxidative damage commonly caused by free radical cells. These characteristics are important components of maintaining mental clarity throughout life's challenges as well as keeping memory sharp with age-associated decline. Ashwagandha should not be confused with Physalis alkekengi, also known as winter cherry, or with American ginseng, Panax ginseng, and eleuthero. These plants are different entities and may have different effects on the body, so using them synonymously could lead to severe health consequences if mixed up!
And while there’s a whole bunch of studies that indicate numerous positive advantages of Ashwagandha, the only way to really find out if a supplement works for your very own body is by testing it yourself! In general its advisable to get your bloodwork done before and 3 months after taking Ashwagandha to see the real difference in your body’s testosterone levels! While there’s still further research needed to proof a lot of its potential benefits (often claimed as proven facts by advertising), it’s safe to say that from all the latest natural wonder supplements thought to improve Testosterone and Co., besides Turkesterone, Tongkat Ali and Tribulus, Ashwagandha belongs to one of the safest to consider!
Other references we used for research
Gill, N., Biggs, M. L., & Gilroy, C. (2016). Neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing properties of Withania somnifera: Recent advances in animal studies. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM , 2016 , 7358045. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7358045
Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoorv jain S., & Anishetty S. (2012). A prospective randomized double- blind placebo controlled study of safety & efficacy of a high concentration full spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress& anxiety in adults .Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine . 34(3):255–262
Gadag V, Sukhathkay S and Joshi K. (2017). Effect of Ashwagandha on serum cortisol levels in stressed human volunteers: A pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 23(7):573-577. DOI: 10.1089/acm201620160145
Aggarwal BB, Singh S, Chandan BK et al (2012). Description of Withania somnifera from India: Is the definition in Ayurveda Acceptable? Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012; 757912
