Pine pollen powder is among the most potent of all known plant sources of testosterone. The pollen comes from the male pine cones of Pinus massoniana or Pinus tabulaeformis.
While all pine tree species produce pine pollen, these two are among the most commonly used when it comes to making supplements. Likewise, they’re the usual choice in traditional Chinese medicine.
What Is Pine Pollen Powder?
Pine pollen is widely used in Asia. It was first mentioned by Shen Nong in The Pandects of Materia Medica—an ancient handbook that covers the healing properties of herbs.
The pollen itself is found abundantly during spring, when the yellow fine powder settles on everything. It’s believed that the spread of pollen helps boost the energy levels and libido of wild animals after the winter slump.
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that pine pollen can enter the human body through the five major meridians, namely the kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, and heart.
Traditional Healing Practices
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that pine pollen can enter the human body through the five major meridians, namely the kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, and heart.
This characteristic gives pine pollen (often prepared as a tonic in traditional Chinese medicine) the ability to help strengthen the body, as well as prevent and treat problems of specific organs connected to these meridians.
- Lung Tonic
The lung system is believed to control the skin and the immune system. As a lung tonic, pine pollen helps boost immunity and beautify the skin.
- Kidney Tonic
The kidney system is considered to be responsible for the endocrine system, bones, hair, and brain. A kidney tonic rejuvenates these organs.
- Liver Tonic
A liver tonic facilitates the organ’s regeneration, allowing for better liver health and function. The tonic also regulates the secretion of bile for better digestion.
- Heart Tonic
This helps improve cardiovascular function. It helps with cholesterol reduction, superoxide dismutase blood levels increase and cardiovascular endurance improvements.
- Spleen Tonic
The spleen regulates metabolism and muscle function. And so, a spleen tonic increases metabolism while providing nourishment to the muscles.
Chinese medicine also believes that this pollen powder serves as an androgenic product. It can function in a way similar toanabolic-androgenic steroids.
What About Modern Medicine?
Some of the latest findings in mainstream medical science essentially prove the views of experts in traditional Chinese medicine. This is quite encouraging, especially for those having problems with their hormones.
As an androgenic agent, pine pollen has a stimulatory effect on anabolic endocrine activities. As a nutritive agent, on the other hand, it helps enhance energy and health without building up toxicity with long-term use.
Pine pollen is also considered a natural aphrodisiac—which isn’t surprising at all given that it’s loaded with freetestosterone. It even has superoxide dismutase, which helps in treating oxidation-related erectile dysfunction.
Just to cover everything, here are the other benefits of pine pollen:
Are There Adverse Reactions?
Truth be told, there’s no established side effect in taking this supplement. However, there are some instances when it may be more prudent to exercise caution.
Those under 20 are advised NOT to take this supplement.
At this age, men are just starting to increase their hormonal production, especially testosterone. Taking pine pollen at this period could interfere with the body’s normal process of balancing its hormone levels later in life.
Another potential issue is with people who have pollen allergies. In relation to this, people who have allergies to bee stings are advised to take this supplement carefully.
Start with a very small amount of powder and check for any allergic reactions. To do that, just place a tiny amount of pine pollen under your tongue and monitor closely for adverse effects.
Is It Only in Powder Form?
The answer is no. Despite usually being sold as a powder (either raw or barely processed), pine pollen can be purchased as a tincture or in convenient capsules.
Raw pine pollenis harvested within a specific timeframe. Only those gathered during the three-day peak potency period can provide the expected health benefits.
This contains all the nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals in the most active state. It’s also loaded with high potency androgens that can help boost testosterone levels.
Raw pine pollen has all the other beneficial compounds intact, including a full spectrum of essential amino acids. Remember that some of these compounds are susceptible to heat, which is a common part of processing.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the tincture form is an inferior choice. Tinctures have a high dose of isolated androgen hormones such as DHEA and testosterone.
Capsules, on the other hand, should provide the same perks as powder. As you’d expect, capsules merely offer a more convenient way of taking the supplement—the contents are generally the same.
By the way, if you’re thinking of getting pine pollen powder, pay attention to details regarding the cell wall. The cell wall must be broken so that the nutrients inside are more readily absorbed.
SurThrival Pine Pollen, for instance, is marketed to have cracked cell walls. This manufacturer breaks the walls but keeps the structure of the phytochemicals intact—though it’s safe to say that many others do this, too.
If you’re into tinctures, there’s no need to think about this matter. The process which pine pollen goes through guarantees that the cell walls are opened up.
Pine tree pollen is a natural source of vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, and other beneficial compounds. Some of these remove free radicals and have anti-inflammatory effects, while others balance the sex hormones.
A Few Important Reminders
Keep in mind though, quality does matter when it comes to the potency of pine pollen supplements. Go for those sold by a reputable supplement manufacturer and has garnered positive reviews.
One last thing though, regardless of how potent pine pollen powder is, you shouldn’t rely solely on it. If you’re after having more testosterone, for example, don’t forget to eat foods that naturally boost the hormone.
