[spanky (aka Lola)]

This thread is quite long, but if you go back to the pages in the mid-to-late 30 range, you will see discussion about the anti-androgen effect and inhibition of 5 alpha reductase --> DHT effect of reishi, as well as possible anti-prostate cancer benefits.

I've been taking reishi in caps for about 3 months but would like to try extract. Is there a brand that is recommended? Also, for significant AA effect and 5a-r inhibition, what dosage would be required?

[elainecd]

I use Host Defense brand, both caps and extracts.
I buy at local health food store, its also direct and many other sellers.

Very high quality

http://www.hostdefense.com/products/mush...hi-extract

[Lotus]

Thanks spanky and Elaine, and yes lol this thread is long. We've covered relish quite a bit, so there's plenty of info on it. Choosing a quality product needs more investigation, here's just some examples of the products that look interesting. They range in price and quality, many more to choose from. Feel free to add.

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-s...mg-90-caps

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/natures-w...g-100-caps

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-p...-ml-liquid

Host Defense (looks good, thanks Elaine)
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=reishi+host+defense&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=25915117597&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=s&hvrand=3297491365091305128&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_1eqgf0jpn7_b

https://www.herb-pharm.com/products/prod...ail/reishi

http://www.znaturalfoods.com/Red-Reishi-...act-Powder

Reishi info
Anti-androgen effects of extracts and compounds from Ganoderma lucidum
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19235153

Anti-androgenic activities of Ganoderma lucidum
http://reishi.setamed.com/articulos/art20.pdf

Guide to Reishi Mushrooms
Red Reishi / Ganoderma lucidum / Ling
http://reishi.com/FAQ.htm

http://www.adaptixtea.com/Red-Reishi


The highest concentration (maybe?)
http://www.amazon.com/Reishi-Extract-Pol...B00N50KT9Y

______________________________

When the ratio of the extract is listed on the label 1:1 or 1:5 it's referring to the weight of the herb/plant and volume of the solvent used (alcohol/water).

Manufacturers use different extraction processes, some might use solvents (alcohol) or high pressured cold water. Or some will go with CO2 extraction or Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE). You'll also get different explanations on how these results are obtained. For instance, this one comes from herb inc.

Liquid Extract Strength

The strength ratio listed on liquid extracts is a weight to volume ratio (gram:ml)

1:1 = 1 gram (1000 mg) per 1 ml (20 drops)
1:2 = .5 grams (500 mg) per 1 ml (20 drops)
1:4 = .25 grams (250 mg) per 1 ml (20 drops)
1:5 = .2 grams (200 mg) per 1 ml (20 drops)
2:1 = 2 grams (2000 mg) per 1 ml (20 drops)

Note: Simply because a company used 1 gram of plant to 1 ml of alcohol does not mean you are necessarily getting 1 gram worth of plant matter per 20 drop dose - this depends on how readily the active constituents of a plant dissolve in alcohol.

Also, Fresh Extract and Dry Extract strengths cannot be compared. Fresh Extracts will often appear to have a stronger ratio because the company must compensate for the water mass of a fresh plant by adding more of the plant. Thus, a 1:5 Dry Extract is frequently stronger than a 1:1 Fresh Extract, depending on the plant in question. Herb Pharm extracts tend to follow Pharmacopoeia guidelines for selecting fresh or dried plant, Gaia tends to follow a "fresh is better" approach; there is most likely validity to both arguments.

Gaia brand extracts use a method known as "double maceration" - a 1:1 extract from Gaia is a 1:2 extract in which the plant material is replaced with fresh plant material after the first extraction. This may or may not make an extract stronger depending on the plant and the solubility of the plant's active constituents.
In summary, it is nearly impossible to tell how strong an extract will be until you try it yourself. "Standardized" extracts, in which a company tells you the concentration of active constituents (most companies will only test their product once despite seasonal crop variations), are not necessarily stronger than a normal extract. The best advice we can offer is to find a brand you like and stick with it.

[spanky (aka Lola)]

Thanks, Lotus. I have many bottles of Reshi caps on hand right now, but think I may give extract a try when the currently opened bottle runs out.

[Naomiko]

Hi everyone. I had started with SP (Nature's Bounty 450mg) about 2 weeks ago, should I switch to red reishi or white peony? Which would be best suited for starting out on NBE?

My goal is, not only breast growth, but full feminization as well.

I had logged on to originally ask about the brand of SP I was using, but it seems it's recommended that I change herbs completely.

Thank you for your time and guidance.

[elainecd]

Well, SP generally isn't used anymore.
The mainstay for most of us is Pueraria Mirafica
The reishi and peony are anti androgens.

Check out what they all do in the fAQ section.
I know it's a little overwhelming but, everything you want to know
has been researched and compiled by Lotus.

in short, pull the sp.
I use PM, Reishi caps and peony root extract.

[Dianna1395]

So, its like shrimp?
Pull the head and eat the tail?

So, ummm...

"Natural Harvest" cookbook?
Recipes for Sea Men.... (think about it).

[Candace]

So, its like shrimp?
Pull the head and eat the tail?

So, ummm...

"Natural Harvest" cookbook?
Recipes for Sea Men.... (think about it).

Aromatase is too large a molecule to survive digestion and be absorbed from the intestine, so I would think that only the spermine and spermidine content would be relevant. They enhance estrogen signaling (including cancer growth), and the concentration fluctuates in sync with estrogen in GGs so they should probably be cycled like estrogenic supplements. I have not done a dose estimation. According to this study, the spermine content increases with the frequency of harvesting, so it would be best to use a standardized product.

[Naomiko]

Only found two suppliers so far. Anyone know if the Ebay "Stakich" liquid extract is a good quality for use?

HawaiiPharm and Ebay.

[Lotus]

Thank you for the info. Been having difficulty finding a supplier of White Peony extract. So far, I've only found HawaiiPharm which charges a lot for shipping...the other on ebay..but not sure about the quality. Any opinions?

HawaiiPharm - ($33 express shipping or $44 with tracking)

VS

Ebay White Peony Extract (good quality???)

For dosage as a genetic male, I read somewhere that doubling the dosage is sometimes necessary to receive the desired effects? Is this true or should I stick to bottle recommendation?

Thank you again.

Hi L.A,

If you can't find WP, there are alternative's in the meantime. Genistien which is found in quite a few phytoestrogens is one source of an Aromatase converting Herb. I believe a newer technique holds promise and that's using Fatty Acids, and yes you'll find them in unsaturated fats, GLA's (borage oil, EPO). Here's some more, vitamin C also helps in making oral estrogens more effective. The genistien can be found in higher concentrations with the supplement Soy Isoflavone. Ethanol is another source of aromatase, which will be found in some extracts, tequilas, but I ruled that out for oblivious reasons.


In extracts 1:1 ratio is ideal, otherwise it's a less potent content and not worth the expense.

This is what I've used. You could also try local health food shops if available.

http://www.amazon.com/White-Peony-Root-Extract-4oz/dp/B000OAXVK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1420247589&sr=1-1&keywords=White+Peony+extract