Mucuna Pruriens Gynecomastia
Written by Ben Bunting: BA, PGCert. (Sport & Exercise Nutrition) // British Army Physical Training Instructor // S&C Coach.
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Gynecomastia (Gyno) is a condition where the male breast tissue grows in size. It can be caused by hormone disruption and other factors, such as ageing and alcohol consumption.
Men with gynecomastia often notice that they feel more self-conscious about their appearance. It may also cause anxiety and stress. If you are suffering from gynecomastia, it is important to consult a doctor for treatment.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition that causes excess breast tissue to develop in men. It can be a minor condition, or a more serious one that needs medical treatment.
The cause is usually a hormone imbalance between the two sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. But certain drugs, treatments and health issues can also cause gynecomastia.
Causes
Gynecomastia is caused by an imbalance of the male and female hormones testosterone and estrogen. All men and women naturally produce some of these hormones, but if their levels are out of balance, they can cause changes in the way a person looks.
Infants, adolescent boys and older men are more likely to get gynecomastia because their levels of hormones change during these stages of life. Usually, gynecomastia goes away on its own.
In some cases, gynecomastia may be linked to an underlying health condition or use of certain drugs. If the cause is found, it can be treated.
Symptoms
Gynecomastia is a condition in which breast tissue grows above average, usually under one or both nipples. This enlargement isn't uncommon in boys during puberty, and almost always goes away on its own after a few months to a couple of years.
Medications and certain health conditions can also cause gynecomastia, especially if you are taking steroids or other medicines that affect your hormone levels. These drugs include antidepressants, antibiotics, prostate cancer medications, cardiovascular medicines, and some anti-ulcer medicines.
Males who are very young and newborn babies may develop a temporary form of gynecomastia, called neonatal gynecomastia. This is usually caused by high fetal blood levels of estrogen that stimulate the development of breast tissue in the baby.
This kind of gynecomastia usually goes away when the baby's body receives normal nutrition, which normally occurs after birth. Other causes of gynecomastia include a hormone imbalance and malnutrition or starvation.
Treatment
Gynecomastia is a common condition that affects both boys and men. It causes extra breast gland tissue to develop under the nipple and spread across the chest. It may feel tender or painful to touch.
It can be caused by medical conditions, hormone problems or by anabolic steroid use. It usually resolves on its own between six months and two years.
Treatment options include surgery to remove excess breast tissue, supplements that increase testosterone levels and counseling. Some men with gynecomastia find that these treatments help them feel more confident and decrease their feelings of self-consciousness.
If a man has persistent gynecomastia, surgery is the best option for reducing the size of the breasts. This procedure removes excess glandular and fatty tissue, leaving a smaller chest and a less-dense appearance. It can improve self-esteem and make a person more comfortable with their body.
Prevention
Gynecomastia is caused by a change in the balance of hormones. Normally, boys' bodies make the hormone testosterone, which guides their sexual growth during puberty.
But some boys' bodies make too much estrogen — the hormone that steers sexual growth in girls. This causes breast tissue to swell.
Most gynecomastia that happens during puberty resolves without treatment within six months to two years. However, if it occurs during adulthood, the condition may persist for a year or more.
Treatments include anti-estrogen therapy, or hormone replacement if a test shows a deficiency of testosterone. Surgery (liposuction or mammoplasty) is also used to remove the extra breast tissue.
Men who have a history of gynecomastia should discuss with their doctor what drugs they are taking and any other exposures or illnesses that could contribute to the problem. They should also be screened for underlying cancer, kidney or liver disease.
The reality is that in most cases it is the result of hormonal changes which in most cases are normal, and generally happen around a time that your body is going through natural changes. As such it will normally return back to a 'normal' state on its own accord.
However, if you are taking drugs that can change your hormonal status, such as androgenic anabolic steroids without prescription, you should refrain from using them.
Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna pruriens is a plant that has been used in India for thousands of years as a natural product to promote male virility and improve sexual health. The plant contains a variety of vitamins and minerals that are important for boosting testosterone levels.
Unlike the synthetic ingredients commonly found in bodybuilding supplements, mucuna pruriens contains no chemical stimulants or artificial ingredients. It is safe for most people and has few side effects. It is an effective aphrodisiac that can help with menstrual problems and infertility.
It is also a natural source of levodopa, which is converted to dopamine in the body. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that increases the feeling of well-being and motivation.
In addition, the seeds contain an amino acid called L-theanine that can help to improve focus and reduce stress. It is a natural mood enhancer and can be taken in capsule form or as an extract.
The plant is a member of the legume family and is native to Africa and Asia. It is also cultivated in North America and Europe.
Ayurvedic practitioners utilise it as a natural fertility stimulant and for menstrual problems. It also has positive effects on mental health and can improve memory.
Anti-Androgens
Gynecomastia is a common condition that affects 40-60% of men at some point in their lives. It usually goes away on its own, but some men experience it longer than others. This is most often because they are taking some type of medication that affects their hormonal balance.
A number of prescribed medications can cause gynecomastia, including anti-androgens used to treat prostate enlargement or cancer (flutamide, finasteride, cyproterone and spironolactone), and some AIDS medications, including highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and Efavirenz. It is also possible for a woman to develop this condition while pregnant or nursing.
The herb mucuna pruriens is considered an effective treatment for gynecomastia. It contains levodopa (L-DOPA), which suppresses the production of prolactin and helps increase testosterone levels.
This is because mucuna pruriens acts on the brain to alter the chemistry of the neurotransmitters, which is similar to the effects that some prescribed medications have on the brain, such as anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs. This can help you feel more confident and improve your self-esteem.
Mucuna pruriens can also help lower your blood pressure. However, it should be noted that mucuna pruriens has the potential to produce a hypotension effect if you are taking any other medication that lowers your blood pressure, such as an antihypertensive drug. Therefore, if you are using any blood pressure lowering medications, it would be best to take it at a lower dose than you normally do.
Does Prolactin cause Gynecomastia?
A hormone produced by the pituitary gland called prolactin plays an important role in regulating menstrual and sexual cycles. It also affects a woman’s fertility by suppressing the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone.
There are a number of causes of high prolactin levels, including thyroid disease, pituitary disorders, and drugs that increase the production of prolactin. If the reason is a problem with your thyroid gland, treatment with thyroid hormone supplements should help return your prolactin to normal.
If your doctor thinks that your high prolactin level is caused by a pituitary tumor, they will want to check it with an MRI scan. If a tumor is found, it may be treated with medicine that helps lower prolactin levels.
In women, high levels of prolactin can also cause symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding or weight gain. In addition, it can interfere with ovulation, which can make it difficult to get pregnant.
Other causes include autoimmune diseases like scleroderma, SLE, and rheumatoid arthritis. Other endocrine conditions that can raise prolactin levels are acromegaly, lymphocytic hypophysitis, and Rathke’s cyst.
In a normal physiologic state, the pituitary gland releases prolactin in the bloodstream, along with a wide range of other hormones. These include oestrogen, dopamine and thyroid hormones. The secretion of prolactin is regulated by the hypothalamus, which sits directly above the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus produces dopamine, which inhibits the production of prolactin.
Some medications can cause the glands in your breasts to make more prolactin. These drugs include estrogen, H2 blockers and certain antidepressants. If you have gynecomastia that is caused by taking one of these medications, the first step is to stop using it. Then, your doctor may prescribe a medication that lowers the amount of prolactin in your body.
The hormones produced by the endocrine system are necessary for your body to function normally. They control the growth and development of the body and help your immune system fight off infections and cancers.
A number of conditions can cause you to have high levels of prolactin, including some types of tumors in the pituitary gland (prolactinomas). Some other causes of higher than usual prolactin levels are medical problems like diabetes and heart disease.
Medications can also cause hyperprolactinemia, which is a condition in which the pituitary gland makes more than normal amounts of prolactin. These medications include some antidepressants, opioids and some drugs that affect the thyroid gland.
Mucuna Lowers Prolatin
Mucuna's main benefit comes from its high L-DOPA content, which is a precursor to dopamine and has been found to have a wide range of neurotransmitter and hormonal effects. This includes its ability to boost dopamine levels, increase testosterone synthesis, suppress prolactin and stimulate GnRH release in the hypothalamus.
It's been shown to combat a variety of factors that can negatively impact male fertility, such as high estrogen levels and stress.
It also increases serotonin, norepinephrine, and growth hormone levels. These neurotransmitters are responsible for the arousal state of our brain, and help us feel happy and alert. They are also involved in memory and learning.
It's thought that mucuna's ability to inhibit dopamine decarboxylase might have a protective role against side effects associated with standard levodopa therapy, such as dyskinesia. A single dose of mucuna may reduce symptoms of PD, but regular use can lead to more serious side effects and decreased motor function.
This makes it an ideal supplement for those with Parkinson's and similar neurological disorders, as well as other neurologic disorders such as depression. The plant has a high L-DOPA content, which means it quickly converts to active dopamine.
L-Dopa Supresses Prolactin Secretion
Dopamine (DA) has a significant effect on the regulation of prolactin secretion. It binds to D2 receptors on the surface of lactotrophs, which inhibit intracellular cyclic AMP, a key factor in prolactin release.
In a number of experiments, the effects of DA on prolactin release have been shown to be biphasic: very low doses are stimulatory, while higher concentrations are inhibitory. This has been demonstrated both in static monolayer cultures and in perifusion systems.
The agonistic and inhibitory effects of DA on PRL release are mediated through different G-proteins. Those involved in the stimulation of PRL release are G-proteins B1 and C1, whereas those responsible for inhibiting prolactin release are G-proteins F2 and G6.
There are many etiologies for hyperprolactinemia, including adenomas and tumors of the hypothalamus, granulomatous diseases, and medications such as neuropsychiatric drugs and oral contraceptives that have antidopaminergic activity. In most cases, a patient can be treated by withdrawal of the offending medication and normalization of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels.
Acute and chronic neuroleptic therapy can also increase serum prolactin levels. In these patients, the hormone should return to normal within a few months of discontinuation of therapy.
Other etiologies for hyperprolactinemia include thyroxine deficiency and post-menopausal replacement estrogen therapy. In the latter case, a patient should be treated with thyroxine and normalization of thyroid-stimulating level.
Conclusion
Many men are embarrassed by gynecomastia, and they refuse to seek medical help or discuss their symptoms. The condition is a serious issue, and it may require surgery to correct.
It’s important to know what causes gynecomastia, as it will affect your treatment plan and recovery. There are a number of factors that trigger this condition, including puberty, steroids, obesity, aging, alcohol, hormone imbalances, medications, and more.
The best way to treat gynecomastia is to make sure that your body is healthy and functioning properly. That’s why it’s important to eat well and exercise regularly.
Aside from the right diet, you can also take a few natural supplements to help reduce your male breast size. These supplements are designed to lower estrogen levels, increase testosterone production, and block the growth of aromatase - an enzyme that can contribute to male breast growth.
Testosterone Levels & Libido
Mucuna Pruriens has been shown to increase testosterone levels in men. This is thought to be due to its effects on luteinizing hormones (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH).
It can also increase the production of sperm cells by stimulating the growth of Sertoli cells in the testicles, which are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of sperm.
This is important for sperm health because the sperm must be able to survive in the body and reach the egg, if they are to be successful in fertilization.
The L-DOPA found in Mucuna Pruriens has been shown in studies to increase the activity of these receptor sites, which in turn uptake testosterone and DHT. This is why mucuna has such a positive effect on male fertility and libido.
L-DOPA reduces prolactin - a contrbutor to gynecomastia
Dopamine (DA) inhibits prolcatin secretion by binding to D2 receptors expressed on the cell membrane of the lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland.
This reduces prolactin exocytosis and gene expression by a variety of intracellular signalling mechanisms, which in turn decreases the basally high-secretory tone of the anterior pituitary lactotrophs.
