Best natural testosterone blockers and anti-androgens

Testosterone is a male sex hormone that’s produced in both male and female bodies, although it’s typically produced in much higher levels in male bodies. If people assigned female at birth produce excessive levels of testosterone, they may experience unwanted side effects, like facial hair, excessive body hair, male pattern hair growth, and acne outbreaks. To treat excess testosterone, doctors may prescribe testosterone blockers, also called anti-androgens. Examples include progestogens, spironolactone, and nonsteroidal antiandrogens such as flutamide and bicalutamide. 

However, not everyone wants to start with medication. Some people prefer to try a more natural route to try to lower their testosterone levels. Here’s what you need to know about natural anti-androgens that are purported to help reduce high testosterone levels. 

Best natural anti-androgens

Androgens are sex hormones partly responsible for reproductive health and body development. Males make more androgens than females, and testosterone is the most common androgen. Here are a few commonly used natural anti-androgens or testosterone blockers that may help decrease testosterone levels.

Spearmint tea

Reducing testosterone levels could be possible with a cup of a particular kind of herbal tea: spearmint tea. A randomized clinical trial compared the effects of a twice-daily cup of spearmint tea with a placebo herbal tea over 30 days in people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Researchers found that the spearmint tea drinkers experienced significant reductions in their free and total testosterone. 

However, the study wasn’t long enough for researchers to determine if the spearmint tea had any positive benefit to reducing the excessive hair growth, or hirsutism, that often affects women with high testosterone levels as the result of PCOS. 

Spearmint is generally well tolerated and considered safe for most people. However, experts caution that it can cause liver or kidney damage, especially in large amounts, which may be a concern for some people. Pregnant women should consult their healthcare provider before drinking it. 

Licorice extract

Licorice extract is known for a number of benefits, such as being antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant, as well as having anti-androgenic properties. According to research, the main bioactive component is a super-sweet substance called glycyrrhizin, which comes from the licorice root. 

Licorice extract is available in powdered form, tablets, capsules, and tea. 

People who consume licorice root or licorice extract should be aware that one potential side effect is a condition called hypokalemia, which is low levels of potassium in the body. The heart, nerves, muscles, and digestive tract all need potassium to function correctly. Another potential side effect of licorice extract is pseudoaldosteronism, which includes high blood pressure and low potassium levels. However, it usually will resolve if you stop taking the licorice extract. 

Some experts suggest not using licorice for more than a week without consulting a healthcare provider first. 

Green tea

Green tea is a popular drink and well-known for its powerful antioxidant properties. It also contains a chemical that may decrease androgen levels in the body. It’s generally considered safe to brew and sip two or three cups of green tea or take up to 750 mg of standardized green tea extract per day, although that can vary from person to person, according to Mount Sinai. 

Experts caution that consuming too much green tea could cause some side effects. Green tea contains caffeine, and large amounts of caffeine can cause symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations, and dizziness. Also, people who have heart problems, kidney or liver problems, or stomach ulcers may want to steer clear of green tea, according to Mount Sinai. 

Red reishi mushroom

Red reishi mushrooms may also decrease testosterone. Researchers found that this type of mushroom prevented the conversion of testosterone into a more potent form called DHT by reducing levels of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase.

You can use dried reishi mushrooms to make tea, broth, or soup or add dried reishi mushroom powder to coffee.

Zinc

If you take vitamins, you may already have zinc in your medicine cabinet. 

According to research, zinc may affect reproductive hormones, including androgens. In a study published in 2020, zinc had beneficial effects on rats that were induced with PCOS. Specifically, it worked by decreasing the insulin resistance that often accompanies PCOS and reducing the number of cysts that had developed in the rats’ ovaries. 

However, other research suggests that it’s actually a deficiency of zinc that tends to lower testosterone levels—and that zinc supplementation might actually raise them. Before taking zinc for hormone conditions, consult your doctor for expert advice. 

White peony

White peony root has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine, but this garden plant, which also has a well-established place in North American gardens, may be useful in combating the effects or symptoms of high testosterone levels. Research summarized in the International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that white peony may promote the activity of an enzyme called aromatase that converts testosterone into estrogen. However, more research is needed to confirm this benefit.

You can purchase capsules or tinctures, which you can also mix into water to make a type of herbal tea.

Side effects of white peony root are typically gastrointestinal and include mild diarrhea. 

Are natural androgen blockers safe?

Healthcare experts caution that anyone who’s interested in exploring a natural androgen blocker should consult with their doctor first. Even the natural androgen blockers that are generally considered safe may not be appropriate for long-term use or in high doses.

A natural androgen blocker may also have the potential to interact with other medications that you may be taking. For example, experts may caution people who are taking blood-thinning medications like Coumadin (warfarin) not to drink green tea since green tea’s vitamin K content might reduce the effectiveness of the blood thinner. Green tea is also not recommended for people who are taking benzodiazepines such as diazepam or lorazepam since the caffeine from green tea may counteract the sedative effect of those medications. 

How to choose the best natural testosterone blocker

When choosing a natural testosterone or androgen blocker, it’s important to consider a few basic factors that may influence your decision:

• Cost
• Availability of the product
• Side effects that could affect you—and your tolerance for them

Before you choose a natural testosterone blocker to try, however, consult your healthcare provider. It’s important to make sure that you actually have elevated testosterone levels before taking anything that might lower them. If you have symptoms that suggest that you may have elevated testosterone levels, make an appointment for an evaluation so your doctor can run some blood work to determine your testosterone levels. 

And some natural remedies lower testosterone in lab settings, but there aren’t studies to show if they actually improve symptoms. 

Your doctor may suggest trying a medication known for lowering testosterone levels. For example, women who have PCOS often try taking a combined oral contraceptive pill, a type of birth control pill. Other medications that are prescribed to lower testosterone levels include steroid hormones such as glucocorticosteroids and the anti-androgenic medication known as spironolactone. 

Some people may also find some benefit with metformin. Metformin is routinely used by people who have insulin resistance as a result of Type 2 diabetes. It may lower testosterone levels in women with PCOS, although it is used off-label for this purpose since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not formally approved it for the treatment of PCOS.

Bottom line

Before trying a natural product that is alleged to block or lower testosterone levels, it’s important to make sure that you actually have high testosterone levels—and that your doctor agrees that it’s a good idea to take some sort of action. 

“Higher testosterone is often just a symptom of something else going on,” notes Dr. Terri DeNui, a nurse practitioner with expertise in hormone replacement therapy and the founder of EVEXIAS Health Solutions.

The best course of action may also depend on whether the person attempting to lower their testosterone levels is male or female. For example, in women, the most likely culprit of high testosterone levels is PCOS, so treatments may need to start there. However, it’s rare that a man might need to take steps such as taking medication or using a supplement to lower his testosterone levels, according to Bruce Dorr, MD, a senior medical advisor for Biote. 

“The biggest reason that a man would need to lower his testosterone is the use of anabolic steroids,” Dr. Dorr says. “Stopping these drugs is the only way to avoid and lower abnormally high testosterone levels. Normal or high testosterone levels should be assessed on an individual basis, but rarely need to be lowered.”

Ultimately, it’s important to know what natural supplements and products, as well as other medications, may block the androgenic activity or lower testosterone levels so you can avoid the ones that might cause adverse effects.