PCT Cycle: Natural Alternatives To Cycle Off Steroids & Keep Your Gains

If you’ve been lifting a lot, you’ve probably thought about using an anabolic steroid at one point or another. The harmful effects of anabolic steroid abuse by healthy adults needs no longer to be emphasized. Even normal usage may result in PCC (post cycle crash). PCT Cycle is simply running a regimen of supplements that make sure that the hard work you put on during your steroid cycle doesn’t go to waste while also minimizing the damage.

It’s no wonder that many medical practitioners and sports organizations speak against steroid usage. However, it’s understandable to desire to improve your strength and build your body though. We at Anabolic Health don't agree with steroid use and recommend against its use except in cases of chronic disease. If you still want to pursue steroids despite the risks involved, the logical thing is to find natural alternatives where possible to make this a safer endeavor.

​Using anabolic steroids should not be taken lightly. Research and extensive blood testing needs to be done all through the cycle, as well as after, to monitor your health and recovery:

The Dynamics of Anabolic Steroids Use

The use of anabolic steroids alters the body’s natural hormone levels. Many steroids in particular tend to reduce natural testosterone production in the body and enable estrogen levels to skyrocket.

The supplementation of testosterone injections during an anabolic steroid cycle suppresses the HPTA function. The HPTA (hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal) is the multi-gland axis that regulates your natural testosterone production, and this suppression or “shutdown” is sometimes referred to as the “post cycle crash”.

The main hormones involved in the natural testosterone production are the LH, FSH, and GnRH. These are endogenous steroids, or steroids that are naturally produced by the body.

When the HPTA senses a low testosterone level, the pituitary gland releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH), which in turn, secretes the LH and the FSH. The LH and FSH are the hormones that signal the Leydig cell in the testes to produce more testosterone.

When there is enough testosterone circulating, a negative feedback loop happens. The presence of excess testosterone in the body is a negative signal for the HPTA to temporarily cease its natural testosterone production.

When the production of testosterone has stopped and the HPTA senses this too low testosterone levels, the HPTA function begins again. This is how the stable equilibrium of hormones in your endocrine system is maintained.

Now, the primary reason why steroid users inject more testosterone is to override the effects of the negative feedback loop. They want more testosterone in the body even while the HPTA function is momentarily shut down.

That’s why during anabolic steroids use, the HPTA function is continually suppressed. After the (anabolic androgenic steroids) AAS phase of the cycle, your artificially elevated testosterone levels begins to fade away and your body desperately tries to reconfigure itself to start its natural processes again.

This natural recovery may take around 1 to 4 months, even longer sometimes. It may take longer because the interdependent natural processes in your body have been disrupted and your overall hormonal balance is thrown off. There is also the possibility that your HPTA function have been partially shut down forever as well, which is why using anabolic steroids is almost always a bad idea in the first place.

This hormonal imbalance is the reason that common problems such as gynecomastia (breast development), testicular atrophy, and hypogonadism are encountered after anabolic steroid use. This is where the importance of a PCT cycle comes in.

The PCT length or period of one’s recovery may vary for each user. That’s why if you’re planning to go on anabolic steroids, a PCT protocol for your first steroid cycle must be planned ahead as well.

PCT steroids are typically a combination of pharmaceutical drugs and supplements that work synergistically to aid in your recovery. 

However, the use of synthetic PCT drugs has its own side effects as well. These can adverse effects such as for example mood swings, high blood pressure, kidney failure and sleep apnea.

With each PCT protocol, there are all-natural alternatives that may lessen these risks. These natural compounds from plant-based sources have been and are continually being scientifically studied for their potential in both men and women’s health.​

SERMs in The PCT Cycle

SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) are a class of drugs that interact with estrogen receptors to produce some estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects, depending on their respective activities.

​Some of the most common SERMs are used as estrogen-blockers in the bodybuilding world, are Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) and Clomid (clomiphene citrate):

• Nolvadex PCT or Nolva works by binding to the estrogen receptors, thus preventing estrogen hormones from performing some of its functions in the body. It is used as protection during PCT to prevent you from developing gynecomastia.​
• Clomid is weaker than Nolva but it can significantly stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete LH-releasing hormones. A Clomid PCT is beneficial to individuals after a steroid cycle when testosterone levels are low and you want to kickstart natural production.
• Enclomiphene Citrate, a derivative of Clomid, is another hormone-stimulating drug that is probably stronger than Clomid. It can be taken orally. But its manufacture as an off-label drug for men’s use and has been disapproved by the FDA recently.

If you want to go the natural way to reduce estrogen levels during your PCT cycle, there are still some options for you such as ellagic acid.

Natural Alternatives to Pharmaceuticals:

Ellagic Acid and Euchoma Cottonii as a Natural SERM Alternative

Studies confirm that ellagic acid is a natural substitute for SERMs, which is why it became widely-used as an alternative treatment therapy for menopause. Its mechanisms of action are similar to that of synthetic tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox) and raloxifen (Evista).

Even at low concentrations, ellagic acid exhibits significant estrogenic activities and interaction with estrogen receptors.

Ellagic acid is a dietary polyphenol abundant in berries such as raspberries and strawberries. It can also be found in walnuts, pecans, and grapes.

Its other proven benefits include:​

Fadogia Agrestis as a Natural HCG Alternative

HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is actually an exclusively female LH-releasing hormone because it is produced in the placenta when a woman is pregnant.

HCG injections mimic the functions of LH, enabling the Leydig cells to produce more testosterone. Thus, HCG in PCT is also run to address the issue of testicular atrophy or sunken testicles, as well as to keep natural testosterone production going and prevent shutdown.

Aphrodisiacs tend to enhance one’s sex drive often because they modulate the levels of testosterone in the body. Fadogia can help keep your testicles naturally producing testosterone even while on steroids. The ability of Fadogia Agrestis to prolong one’s sexual endurance, which is not common in aphrodisiacs, also makes this herb one of a kind.​

This is interesting because, while the pharmaceutical industry is quite focused on addressing impotence or erectile dysfunction, not much attention is lavished on many of the other male problems such as premature ejaculation.

Arimistane as a Natural Aromatase Inhibitor (AI)

When the body senses that its estrogen level decreases, the aromatase enzymes are activated to convert testosterone into estrogen. During steroid cycles and PCT, excess testosterone levels can convert into too much estrogen which is often the driving force of most of the side effects of anabolic steroids other than toxicity.

Aromatase inhibitors can lower estrogen levels and help low and normal estrogen levels stay that way, even while increasing testosterone levels. Oxo-6 is a popular anti aromatase supplement because it doesn’t only bind to the aromatase enzyme but it also permanently deactivates it. However, oxo-6 has now been banned and is not readily available on the market anymore.

Acacetin is considered to be one of the best plant based aromatase inhibitor because it is derived from natural plant sources such as birch tree and damiana shrubs. It is a compound that is often combined with other ingredients in men’s health supplements to produce a more masculine physique. 

Epicatechin is a class of flavanoids, a plant pigment which is known for its low toxicity. High quantities of epicathechin are present in cocoa, grapes and tea.

Consuming some of these natural sources or food products (e.g. dark chocolate) in large amounts may of course give you some of the health benefits of epicatechin. But for the purposes of promoting muscle growth, daily supplementation of epicatechin during your anabolic steroid cycle and/or after in your post cycle therapy may help you retain the muscle mass you’ve worked so hard to gain during cycle.

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