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What Does Testosterone Do In the Body and What Herbs Help?

What Does Testosterone Do In the Body and What Herbs Help

Darrell Miller

07/05/11

Date: July 05, 2011 03:25 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: What Does Testosterone Do In the Body and What Herbs Help

Testosterone is a prominent hormone among the male populations of mammals, reptiles and other certain animal group. This hormone is considered to be the most powerful and useful naturally - produced androgens. It is an androgen type of steroid hormone which plays a significant role in the reproductive system. It is required for the development of the male sex characteristics and activates the function of the secondary sex characteristics. Secondary sexual characteristics of a male individual may include a larger and deeper voice, hair growth in the genital and axillary area as well as in the face in the form of beard or mustache.

Testosterone is also thought to help build up muscle mass and improve bone growth and health. Though testosterone is a dominant male hormone, it is also present among females in lesser amounts. Normally, males have about 300 to 1,200 nanograms per deciliter while females have only about 30 to 100 nanograms per deciliter. These values may differ from one laboratory to another; therefore it is best that you would discuss your testosterone results with your doctor so that you may know the significance of testosterone level.

Testosterone plays a significant role in sexual stimulation. The impulse is sent to the central nervous system in which testosterone receptor sites are stimulated. When testosterone molecules attach to these receptor sites, a cluster of biochemical events occur including increased sexual desire, great performance and optimum sense of sexual fulfillment. Researches show that the amount of testosterone in the bloodstream is directly related to the quality of sex life most especially among males. Those who have low testosterone levels relatively suffer from decreased sexual desire, impotence, reduced sensitivity or atrophy of the penis and testicles.

Testosterone has many health benefits. In fact, increased levels of testosterone precipitates good health among men such as decreasing the tendencies of cardiovascular diseases most especially hypertension and heart attacks. However, studies show that high testosterone level is correlated with men’s risky behavior. This risky behavior leads men to unhealthy habits such as smoking, alcoholism and increased stress levels.

Another benefit of testosterone is that it can be employed as treatment for certain medical conditions such as breast cancer among women. Testosterone hormone best counteracts the high levels of the female hormone estrogen. Estrogen is thought to contribute significantly among many malignancies. Among males, testosterone is also used as treatment for hypogonadism, a condition in which there is decreased functioning of the gonads. Physicians also recommend this hormone as relief for irregular heavy menstruation known as menorrhagia.

Though testosterone is naturally produced by the body, there are herbs that also help boost the level and functioning of this hormone. These include Ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, Tongkat ali, Horny Goat Weed and Mucuna Pruriens. These herbs are said to increase the secretion of luteinizing hormone by the pituitary gland. Luteinizing hormone is the one responsible for the stimulation of the testes to produce testosterone. Therefore, testosterone levels remain up and normally high. There is no concrete evidence that one herb is better than the other, the good thing is that these herbs are available in combination in the form capsules.