[AbiDrew85]

I've been taking BO for about 10 days but I have a couple of questions concerning other supplements. I take 4 Swansons BO daily along with kelp. I also take 640mg Saw Palmetto (85%+ fatty acids), 1000mg Stinging Nettle Root, and a Collagen supplement that also contains Biotin, Fo-Ti root extract and L-Cysteine. I have also been taking a hair regrowth capsule that contains Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Fo-Ti, BioPerine, Iodine, Zinc and Saw Palmetto, Pueraria Lobata, and Phytosterol Complex (soy). My total testosterone was tested at 178 (100 points below the bottom of their range). Does my testosterone need to be lower in order to see results? My understanding is that BO aromatizes testosterone into estrogen so I would think it would need some testosterone to work with. I have also read that BO contains estrogen so I don't know which is correct. I decided to take stinging nettle because it is supposed to interfere with SHBG and free up testosterone & estrogen. However, I'm concerned that it might be counter productive if the BO is not converting the T into E. I've noticed that the morning wood has returned nearly every morning where before it was only several times a month. I imagine it is the stinging nettle because I haven't taken the it the past couple days and I haven't noticed the morning wood. I was thinking about taking Reishi if I need something to bring the T down further but I don't know how much to take. I've also had some concerns about the Phytosterol Complex and Puararia Lobata in the hair product slowing down the BO or causing it to not work effectively. I would appreciate any input so that I can see some results. Thanks.

I would drop the saw palmetto and anything else that contains any phytosterols like the hair product you mentioned, and the stinging nettle. I do think you should try to decrease your testosterone though if decreasing male function is something you want to have happen. Breast growth CAN occur even with T that high, but it'll be slower. Alternatives that shouldn't mess up BO are chinese skullcap, EGCg from green tea extract, and anything containing coumarin, which is the active in the reishi you mentioned when it comes to anti-androgenic properties. Though I'd try to get something purer in the coumarin department, reishi also contains psycho-actives that will be dangerous long before you reach dangerous levels of coumarin from reishi.