Chrysin
Chrysin is a bioflavonoid that is extracted from several plants. It is best known for being extracted from the passion flower, passiflora coerulea and incarnata, the flower of a climbing plant (liana). There are many different types of passion flower, some of which also bear fruit, such as the passion fruit. Herbal medicine knows passiflora(chrysin) as a sleeping pill and sedative! A sleeping pill and sedative as a sexual enhancer? - you may ask. I'll come back to this in a moment. First of all, there are other uses: lowering blood pressure, antispasmodic, analgesic - that's what you read in herbal medicine books. Homeopathy in the form of the old master William Boericke, who has already been quoted several times: "Has a calming effect on the nervous system.... in worried and overworked patients...". We must not completely forget that all these descriptions only refer to the effects of the whole plant - chrysin, however, is a very special extract of it. And this extract, as shown by studies that I will come to in a moment, has very special effects that only unfold under very special conditions - these will also be explained below.
Chrysin as an aromatization inhibitor
The so-called aromatization is a biochemical process of transformation of steroid hormones, whereby predominantly male sex hormones are transformed into female sex hormones. The enzyme responsible for this conversion is called aromatase. Aromatase activity is particularly high in fatty tissue - so it is not surprising that as we age, increasing amounts of testosterone are converted into oestrogens, as muscle mass generally decreases and fat mass increases as we age. To anticipate: there is another metabolic process that also plays an important role in lean men and causes problems with increasing ageing: the binding of testosterone to protein bodies. However, let us dwell on the aromatase for a moment. If this enzyme is effectively inhibited, oestrogen production decreases. Aromatase inhibitors are not only sought in bodybuilding, anti-aging or potency enhancement, but also in gynecology when it comes to treating tumors whose growth can be fueled by estrogens.
A study in the Journal of Steroid Biochemical Molecular Biology (1993;Vol 46, No 3) showed that chrysin has the most pronounced aromatase-inhibiting potency of all bioflavonoids. Ten bioflavonoids (such as rutin, genistein, tea catechins, etc.) were compared with the effects of the drug aminoglutethimide. Only chrysin showed the same efficacy as the prescription drug. The scientists concluded from their investigations that it is possibly the chrysin and flavonoid content of some foods that is responsible for the cancer-preventive effect of vegetable-rich foods. While the cancer-preventive effect is certainly mainly of interest to women (there are some estrogen-sensitive tumors in women, such as breast cancer), the main focus for men is more in the area of "restoring youthful testosterone levels" with all the associated positive effects such as: Increased potency and vitality, mood enhancement, prevention of cardiovascular disease and reduction of age-related muscle atrophy. The problem with chrysin for a long time was that in some studies it did not show the testosterone effect that many users expected.
This is due to its inadequate absorption from the human intestine - only a very small proportion reaches the blood if the following is not taken into account: A study in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology (1999, Vol.58) examined the specific factors of the poor resorption of chrysin from the intestine and concluded that the simultaneous use of an extract of black pepper significantly increases bioavailability. Pilot studies have shown that chrysin together with piperine (black pepper) significantly reduces oestrogen production and increases testosterone levels (total testosterone and free testosterone) within 30 days.
How Chrysin outperforms prescription aromatase inhibitors
The advantage of using plant extracts, such as chrysin, over drugs is that they also have positive side effects that drugs do not have: Chrysin is not only an aromatase inhibitor, but also an excellent antioxidant, so it has vitamin-like effects. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. As more and more scientists see ageing as a process of progressive chronic inflammatory processes with effects on blood vessels, brain, joints, heart valves etc., chrysin probably also has an anti-ageing effect. For men, it is the ideal testosterone booster and therefore a rejuvenator par excellence.
Another effect of chrysin contributes to an increase in libido A common reason for a lack of sexual satisfaction in men is work-related stress and anxiety. Sexual pressure to perform, exaggerated expectations, can also prevent men from achieving or maintaining sufficient erections. The anxiolytic properties of chrysin were investigated in a placebo-controlled animal study (Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior (1994, Vol 47), in which mice were given either chrysin or diazepam (Valium) or placebo. The results showed that the "chrysin mice" were just as relaxed as the diazepam mice, but they were not tired, but remained awake. In other words, chrysin induced relaxation in the brain without impairing motor function (which would not be desirable for sexual activity). A further study on rats in 1997 confirmed the relaxing properties of chrysin and showed that, unlike diazepam, chrysin does not impair memory and concentration.
In summary, there is every indication that chrysin acts as a sexual enhancer in three ways
- It increases the level of free testosterone
- It reduces excess oestrogen
- It has an anxiolytic effect
The Life Extension Foundation has conducted studies to evaluate the effects of Chrysin combined with Piperine in aging men (45 years and older). These studies have shown some impressive preliminary data justifying the use of Chrysin as a sexual enhancer. Further research will be published in future issues of "LifeExtension Magazine".
Need in sports
Chrysin, chemically 5, 7-dihydroxyflavone, has gained notoriety among bodybuilders as a "testosterone booster" and also as an agent that reduces the conversion of testosterone to estrogens (female sex hormones) and thus ensures training success (muscle building) with testosterone injections. When taking prohormones and steroids, chrysin could be used to keep oestrogen levels low and thus prevent water retention under the skin or gynaecomastia. An optimal dosage would be 1-3g throughout the day.
Safety and side effects
Chrysin is potentially safe and harmless for most adults when used in appropriate doses for up to 8 weeks. There are no reports of adverse side effects.
Precautions & Warnings
Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the safety of Chrysin during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Chrysin to be on the safe side.
Interactions
Care should be taken when combining Chrysin with the following medications:
Medications for estrogen-sensitive cancers (aromatase inhibitors).
Some types of cancer are influenced by hormones in the body. Oestrogen-sensitive cancers are types of cancer that are affected by the levels of oestrogen in the body. Drugs for estrogen-sensitive cancers help to lower estrogen levels in the body. Chrysin may also lower estrogen levels in the body. Taking chrysin in combination with drugs for oestrogen-sensitive cancers could lower oestrogen levels too much.
Care should be taken when combining chrysin with the following medications:
Drugs that are broken down by the liver (cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates).
Some drugs are broken down by the liver. Chrysin may reduce the rate at which the liver breaks down certain drugs. Taking chrysin in combination with drugs that are broken down by the liver could increase the effects and side effects of some drugs. For this reason, you should consult your doctor before taking chrysin if you are taking medicines that are broken down by the liver.
Drugs that are broken down by the liver (glucoronidated drugs)
The body breaks down some medicines in order to be able to excrete them. The liver helps to break down these drugs. Chrysin may increase the rate at which some drugs are broken down by the liver. This could reduce the effectiveness of some of these drugs.