This seems very interesting, the new sustain alpha has volatile oils in it, and I can honestly say that I feel it makes it a better product. There are many other oils though, that could possibly serve a purpose, here is a little article written by the founder of primordial performance:
Aromatherapy in Testosterone Stimulation
By Eric M. Potratz
We all know that Testosterone is the king of building a lean physique, giving us sexual desire, and making us real men. When you think about boosting testosterone, you probably think about supplements with Tribulus, Fadogia, or Tongkat. However, I’m about to present to you a long forgotten practice for manipulating your hormones. This method has been clinically practiced in Europe for ages and is now hitting the bodybuilding community as a new method for testosterone stimulation – Aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy has been practiced for hundreds of years, and has been used to treat all kinds of infections, disorders, and ailments. But instead of exploring the long history and medicinal use of essential oils (which would take years to learn, and probably make you fall asleep), I’m going to give you a sneak peek on how these oils can be useful for an athlete or bodybuilder looking to enhance their well being, virility and testosterone production.
In a nutshell, aromatherapy is the inhalation of essential oils distilled from plants. What is special about these essential oils is that they are volatile, which means they rapidly evaporate and travel into the body by the lungs and nasal cavity. Since the oils are inhaled, they produce a very quick and powerful effect on the body. What’s most exciting is that there are hundreds of different oils from different plants that have an array of biological influence on the body. With proper knowledge and experience, different volatile oils can be combined for a unique effect. (Keep in mind, these volatile oils are very powerful and can be flat-out dangerous if used incorrectly, so please do NOT start inhaling your grandma’s collection of volatile oils!)
The basic action of aromatherapy is smelling certain aromas to stimulate certain physiological processes in your body. Aromatherapy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of boosting testosterone, or enhancing sexual performance. That’s because the practice of using aromatherapy for enhancing male virility is a relatively new practice not yet acknowledged by mainstream Western medicine. Perhaps the reason for this is the complex, and almost mysterious mechanism, by which volatile oils exert their action. However, research is beginning to uncover a bit of the mystery. For instance, studies done in Europe have shown that inhaling certain essential oils (such as Clary sage) will oxygenate and stimulate the brain to release LH (luteinizing hormone) for testosterone production. That’s right; volatile oils are drawn up into the nasal cavity, carried through the nasal mucosa, and taken directly to the hypothalamus and pituitary for instant stimulation of the gonadotropes. Further in-vitro research has lead researchers to believe that one of the primary mechanisms for stimulation and release of LH is caused by up-regulation of cAMP (Cyclic adenosine monophosphate) in the pituitary.
Aromatherapists well versed in the practice have used a variety of volatile oils to enhance male sexual energy & fertility. Aphrodisiac combinations often include sandalwood, rose, geranium, ginger, ylang ylang, and patchouli volatile oils. An interesting property of the sandalwood essential oil is ability to sexually excite a female partner due to its close resemblance to the male pheromone androsterone. Many of these aphrodisiac oils are also combined with citrus based oils to uplift the mood and social confidence (an interesting practice found in aroma-psychotherapy). These are the same powerful tools that have been used in women to encourage pregnancy, and have even been used in place of prescription drugs such as Clomid for inducing fertility (you guys can make your own implications here).
Now you’re probably wondering, “how do I use these essential oils and how much will it boost my Testosterone?”
Well the answer to that is not so simple, yet. You see, there is no clinically proven universal “dose of smell” that has been established to produce a certain increase in testosterone production. Aromatherapy is a circumstantial practice, where the effectiveness is influenced by many factors. For instance, the effectiveness of essential oils has a lot to do with the quality of the oil. Unfortunately, a lot of the oils on the market are low grade oils contaminated with harsh solvents that may cause adverse side-effects upon over exposure. Even if you find quality oils, overexposure is still a common problem that will easily cause dizziness and/or nausea.
For application, essential oils are either directly inhaled or diluted and messaged into the body as an oil or lotion (such as with Sustain Alpha). If you decide to experiment on your own with volatile oils, it’s important to take precaution by limiting the amount of exposure to these oils. For example, take a brief whiff of an oil and wait about 20 minutes before trying another. This way you can put each oil through the test, and narrow down a specific oil and/or combination that contributes to a desired effect. If applying the oils to the skin, remember to dilute them prior to application with a carrier such as almond oil or olive oil (5-10 drops per 1 oz of oil).
Have fun and remember, nothing kills a bird like a stone.
Eric M. Potratz has developed his education in the field of endocrinology and performance enhancement through years of research, counseling, and real world experience. Over the past five years he has been a private consultant for hundreds of athletes and bodybuilders alike, and is the founder & President of Primordial Performance. Recently, Primordial Performance has released the testosterone booster Sustain Alpha as their first product enhanced with aromatherapy.
Here is a link to the thread in anabolic minds where some other oils are discussed: