I take Echinacea as prophylactic for respiratory infections and for immune system support. It also has antiviral properties. The research is a bit conflicting but I assume it is effective. Echinacea also used to have anxiolytic effect, I assume through cannabinoidergic mechanism, but this effect has mostly faded out.
Interesting, do you feel any cannabis-like effects from Echinacea? Improved mood, increased hunger, increased relaxation, etc?
Tribulus improves libido and energy levels a bit for me. It also perhaps make me feel a bit more manly? From DHT increase or androgen receptor enhancement I assume, but this could be placebo lol. Also I find that while it does not directly increase strength, it makes weights feel mentally easier to lift if that makes sense.
How long does it take for tribulus to start working? I only tried it for one day and didn't get any benefits.
I had no idea tribulus enhances androgen receptor density. I might try it because of this.
Actually I noticed the Tribulus product I take contains 5 mg zinc, but that's quite low amount. Some supplements contain up to 50 mg zinc. Yeah Magnesium could also be a good addition, I've usually supplemented it but haven't bought a new bottle after I ran out.
If I recall correctly, magnesium can increase free testosterone so it's probably a good idea to supplement with it. Plus, it's generally good for health. Personally, I find 100 mg to induce relaxation. Any more than that and I start to feel apathetic and tired.
That zinc dose is a bit on the low side but 50 mg is too much, especially in the long-term as it can upset copper-zinc balance, as in zinc-induced copper deficiency.
Hmm some studies indicate that Ginseng may decrease the effect of Nicotine. I noticed that today the effects of Nicotine gum are weaker/smoother. I still feel some boost in mood, focus and motivation but not as "pushy". Oh well, that might not be a bad thing? But I still wonder if I should either stop taking Nicotine or Ginseng as they interact that way.
Yeah, Ginseng modulates dopamine and seems quite potent in this area. I always noticed that it would completely block any uplifting and motivating effects of stimulants, modafinil, and even caffeine I think.
GTS decreased nicotine-induced Fos protein expression in the nucleus accumbens and striatum, reflecting the inhibition by GTS of nicotine-induced enhancement of dopaminergic transmission. The results of the present study suggest that GTS acts not only on dopaminergic neurons directly or indirectly to prevent nicotine-induced DA release but also postsynaptically by binding to DA D2 receptors.
https://www.nature.com/articles/1300945
Was this one of the studies you saw?
Not sure what you should stop, Nicotine or Ginseng. I guess it depends on your desired effects of the stack. On the other hand, I'm guessing that Ginseng would make it a lot easier to stop using Nicotine, in case any psychological addiction happens.
Citrulline malate definitely improves vasodilation and pumps in response to resistance training.
Good to hear, I've personally never used it despite buying some. I haven't been to the gym in years now. The gym is closed due to the pandemic lockdown. I only have 10 lbs dumbbells at home.
I tried taking 9 mg of Boron on empty stomach, but it was a bit too much I guess. It spiked my libido but also made me feel somewhat angry/irritated for no good reason. Taking it with food spread to two doses I don't feel those side effects. Seems quite effective mineral that has broad range of possible beneficial effects.
What do you think caused those effects from taking it on an empty stomach? Does it have stimulant-like effects?
I have not taken boron by itself, but yesterday and today I took this supplement: https://ca.iherb.com/pr/six-star-elite-series-testosterone-booster-60-caplets/54772
I bought it just for the Rhodiola crenulata, which supposedly has different effects from Rhodiola rosea. It has 5 mg of Boron per serving. Yesterday, I didn't really notice much, maybe improved focus. But today I definitely felt it. It's almost like a stimulant, there was a brief period of heightened mood and energy before dropping slightly just above baseline.
I decided not to take Ginseng yesterday or the following few days. I got the third dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine yesterday and Ginseng has been noted to increase the antibody response to vaccinations. I was unsure if that's a desirable effect in the case of COVID vaccine or could it possibly increase the risk of side effects.
I see, well the increased antibodies might be a good thing, but I have little knowledge in this area. The Moderna vaccine is slightly more effective than Pfizer and retains its effectiveness for a longer period of time, one of the reasons supposedly being the higher dose which results in increased antibodies. But yeah it does also increase the side effects due to a stronger immune response I think.
In your case, I'm not sure if stopping Ginseng for a few days is sufficient to prevent the increase antibody response. The effect might be directly caused by one of the active compounds in Ginseng or it might be an indirect effect that takes time to manifest and vice versa. The study seems to have assessed this effect after chronic dosing.
So this depends on how long you've been taking the Ginseng.
