[h=3]OTC PCT (Over the Counter Post Cycle Therapy)[/h]Disclaimer: Don't use these or any other supplements without first consulting with your physician.
The idea of PCT didn't become well know until Dan Duchaine wrote "The Underground Steroid Handbook". The purpose of PCT therapy is to:
There is some concern as to the purity of research chemicals, as well as legal and privacy issues. So what can a prohormone or steroid user use to recover [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]HPTA[/FONT] function that has no legal, purity or privacy issues?
There is growing evidence that a natural SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) has been found in the compound Trans-Resveratrol. Research is still being conducted, but early indications show it acts as an antagonist to estrogen when estrogen is present. Moreover, it is selective to breast tissue estrogen receptors. A SERM blocks estrogen from binding to estrogen receptors, which prevents gynecomastia after a cycle of steroids. The growth of breast tissue is one of the most feared side effects of prohormones and steroids. The major cause of gynecomastia is the sudden rise of estrogen in response to the increase in testosterone during the restoration of HPTA.
Recovering HPTA involves getting hormones back to normal levels. This involves boosting testosterone while reducing estrogen. Getting testosterone production back involves using many different pathways to tell the testes to get busy producing testosterone again.
Icarrin is a compound extracted from Horny Goat Weed. In one study it was determined Icarriin had testosterone mimetic properties and could be used to treat hypoandrogenism (lack of androgens). Icariin also is a PDE-5 inhibitor, which can help you get your libido back after a steroid cycle. Libido seems to be directly related to androgen levels which are a direct function ofHPTA.
Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) is another promising compound. I3C is found in leafy green, cruciferous vegetables such as green cabbage and broccoli. I3C has been purported to have cancer fighting abilities in addition to properties that control and metabolize estrogen. I3C also blocks estrogen receptors in breast tissue, so it adds to the SERM properties of Trans-Resveratrol.
It's also important to include something to inhibit the rise of SHBG. SHBG binds to sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) and renders them inactive. Many testosterone boosters work by freeing bound testosterone. Bound testosterone is testosterone that SHBG has has bound to and rendered inactive, meaning it can't bind to androgen receptors. Divanil is one such compound that has a higher affinity for SHBG than testosterone and consequently estrogen as well.
So the beginning of the OTC PCT protocol is to block the effects of estrogen on breast tissue and begin recovering testosterone. Three weeks into the OTC PCT protocol, we've blocked estrogen from effecting breast tissue, but as testosterone production increasees, so does estrogen production, especially with the effects of SHBG being inhibited. The next step is to inhibit estrogen effects.
To do this, an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) is used. However, estrogen is important for muscle generation as well as immune system function andbone health.
The idea of PCT didn't become well know until Dan Duchaine wrote "The Underground Steroid Handbook". The purpose of PCT therapy is to:
- Recover HPTA (hypothalamic pituitary testicular axis)
- Boost Testosterone
- Control Estrogen
- Inhibit the effects of SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)
- Aromatase Inhibition/Estrogen control
There is some concern as to the purity of research chemicals, as well as legal and privacy issues. So what can a prohormone or steroid user use to recover [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]HPTA[/FONT] function that has no legal, purity or privacy issues?
There is growing evidence that a natural SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) has been found in the compound Trans-Resveratrol. Research is still being conducted, but early indications show it acts as an antagonist to estrogen when estrogen is present. Moreover, it is selective to breast tissue estrogen receptors. A SERM blocks estrogen from binding to estrogen receptors, which prevents gynecomastia after a cycle of steroids. The growth of breast tissue is one of the most feared side effects of prohormones and steroids. The major cause of gynecomastia is the sudden rise of estrogen in response to the increase in testosterone during the restoration of HPTA.
Recovering HPTA involves getting hormones back to normal levels. This involves boosting testosterone while reducing estrogen. Getting testosterone production back involves using many different pathways to tell the testes to get busy producing testosterone again.
Icarrin is a compound extracted from Horny Goat Weed. In one study it was determined Icarriin had testosterone mimetic properties and could be used to treat hypoandrogenism (lack of androgens). Icariin also is a PDE-5 inhibitor, which can help you get your libido back after a steroid cycle. Libido seems to be directly related to androgen levels which are a direct function ofHPTA.
Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) is another promising compound. I3C is found in leafy green, cruciferous vegetables such as green cabbage and broccoli. I3C has been purported to have cancer fighting abilities in addition to properties that control and metabolize estrogen. I3C also blocks estrogen receptors in breast tissue, so it adds to the SERM properties of Trans-Resveratrol.
It's also important to include something to inhibit the rise of SHBG. SHBG binds to sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) and renders them inactive. Many testosterone boosters work by freeing bound testosterone. Bound testosterone is testosterone that SHBG has has bound to and rendered inactive, meaning it can't bind to androgen receptors. Divanil is one such compound that has a higher affinity for SHBG than testosterone and consequently estrogen as well.
So the beginning of the OTC PCT protocol is to block the effects of estrogen on breast tissue and begin recovering testosterone. Three weeks into the OTC PCT protocol, we've blocked estrogen from effecting breast tissue, but as testosterone production increasees, so does estrogen production, especially with the effects of SHBG being inhibited. The next step is to inhibit estrogen effects.
To do this, an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) is used. However, estrogen is important for muscle generation as well as immune system function andbone health.
