Tongkat Ali and Raising the Testosterone Thermostat
Tongkat Ali and Raising the Testosterone Thermostat
Most herbs that raise testosterone
levels--what is known as androgenic herbs--do so utilizing what I like to call
the LH/FSH pathway. This pathway increases the production of lutinizing hormone
(LH) in the anterior pituitary gland, which increases the production of
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the hormone directly responsible for
signaling the sertoli cells in the testies to produce testosterone. The
LH/FSH pathway is an important mechinism for safely and effectivly increasing
the body's own production of testosterone. Our
Endocrine Strengthening Formula utilizes
the LH/FSH pathway to increase testosterone production.
However, this is not how
Tongkat Ali, Eurycoma longifolia. Tongkat
utilizes a much higher level of processing in the body, which makes it the
companion to combine with herbs that utilize the LH/FSH pathway. But before we
get into Tongkat Ali, let's learn a little more anatomy and physiology.
99.9% of hormones in the body are regulated by a process called negative
feedback. What this means is that the presence of a hormone actually turns off
the production of that hormone. Homeostasis--the ideal state of the body--uses
negative feedback to monitor most bodily functions. When levels drop, the body
increases production of the hormone who's levels have just dropped. All sex
hormones use negative feedback to maintain healthy levels. Each person will
have a different "set point" that the body uses as a reference for
homeostasis. Drop below the set point, and you will produce more (lets say)
testosterone until you reach that "set point."
Negative feedback is very similar to the thermostat in your home: when you set
the thermostat at 65 degrees, if the temperature drops below 65 degrees, the
heat kicks in and brings the temp back up to 65. Of course, some people will
keep their thermostat at 65, others at 70, and still others will keep the
thermostat cranked up all winter at 78 or 79. Whatever the reading on the
thermostat is the homeostasis of your home. If it is 70, then your "set
point" is 70. Want it warmer, turn it up. Cooler? Turn it down. Simple
enough.
But what about in the body? How can you change the "set point" of
your own thermostat? What if you want to change the point at which the body
shuts off testosterone production? If someone wanted to increase testosterone
production in the body, changing that set point would be one of the most
effective ways to do this. The change would be slow, but the overall effect
would be long lasting and dramatic.
And this is the exact method that
Tongkat Ali utilizes to increase testosterone
production. Tongkat Ali walks over to your "testosterone thermostat"
and turns it up. Way up.
Tongkat Ali works alone to increase testosterone
production, but the effects of Tongkat Ali really shine when combined with
herbs that up the LH/FSH pathway. When these two classes of androgenic herbs
are combined, the production of testosterone is affected through increasing LH
and FSH levels, which signal higher testosterone production, and the thermostat
is turned way up, keeping the production high over the long run.