I created this herbal tea for male health and performance several years ago for my husband. I’ve updated it to include scientific and clinical studies to support my choice of plants included in this recipe. If you need energy, are looking for general male wellness and help for the reproductive areas, this is a wonderful tonic tea to drink daily! Note: Women can enjoy it too!
One day my husband asked me to make him an herbal tea that would help him with his hormone balance, give him some energy,support his prostate gland, and other reproductive organs and general performance. I was only too happy to oblige in creating this herbal tea blend recipe.
It has been one of his favorites for a long time, both for the taste and the health benefits and was also a popular herbal tea many years ago when I had a tea and herb shop.
When used as a daily tonic drink,this tea may help improve or support prostate health, helps the body deal with stress overload with adaptogen herbs, and improves energy levels.This is my Manly Man Tea recipe. My husband loves the taste, and he drinks it every day!
In case you've never made herbal loose leaf tea before, here is a post on how to infuse your blended tea .If you love making your own herbal teas, or are interested in learning how to blend herbs for taste and medicinal purposes, check out my eBook, Creating and Preparing Herbal Teas for Pleasure and Health or my course, The Art of Herbal Tea. You might also enjoy my YouTube channel for more herbal info. Please subscribe!
FTC Disclosure: There may be affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you happen to click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! All opinions are my own.
Manly Man Herbal Tea Blend Recipe:
I’ve included the actual recipe early on in this article. However, if you are interested in the science backing up the reasons for the herb being included, just continue reading below! I’ve included links to sources for clinical studies for you, as well as traditional Western herbal literature sources. A list of other sources is included at the end, as well.
Now, here is the tea blend recipe!
4 parts Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium grandiflorum)
3 parts Eleuthero Root (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
3 parts Star Anise (Illicium verum) ...Optional (The stars are quite large, so this is less than it seems. Also, my husband loves this herb---feel free to cut back if you like.)
3 parts Hawthorn Leaves or Berries (Crataegus spp)
2 parts Ashwagandha Rt. (Withania somnifera)
2 parts Saw Palmetto berries (Serenoa repens)
2 parts Nettle Leaves (Urtica dioica)
2 parts Dandelion Leaves (Taraxacum officinale)
2 parts Cinnamon bark, cut and sifted (Cinnamomum verum)
2 parts Ginger Root, cut and sifted (Zingiber officinale)
1 part Sarsaparilla Rt. (Smilax ornata) …Optional, but it has a great taste for this tea
1/2 part Wild Yam Rt. (Dioscorea villosa)…Optional, this is a wonderful herb for supporting hormone balance in middle age for both women and men
1/2 part Clove Buds (Syzigium aromaticum)
1/2 part Cardamom (Elletaria cardamomum)
**If you want an extra spicy kick, add a pinch of Cayenne. Not too much though! A little goes a long way, but it will also help with circulation.
**This tea does not have caffeine. If you would like a little extra energy boost, feel free to add 1 to 3 parts organic Black Tea or Green Tea. Guarana is another option for caffeinated energy, but I recommend using a very small amount to start as it is very stimulating and not recommended for those with hypertension.It's pretty powerful, so please use judiciously. You can find all of these herbs at Starwest.
A note about the "parts" method:
This is the way traditional herbalists measure out their herbs. Basically, a part can be any measure you want! So if you want a small amount of blended tea, use a small “part” like a teaspoon.In the case of this tea blend, for example, I simply used a scoop from some collagen powder I had, which yielded about a quart of tea!
If you would like to know how I infuse my herbal teas, check out this article!
You can find out more about formulation and the parts method here.
Store your blended tea in a Mason jar with a tight lid. Keep it in a dark cupboard to preserve the herbs from light.
You might be wondering:
Where do I get my herbs?
I purchase any herbs I don't grow or forage myself from Starwest Botanicals. They have practically everything, and their prices and quality are excellent! You can also purchase ready made tea blends from them!If you have an herbal business, it’s also pretty simple to start a wholesale account.
NOTE: The links in the recipe above are for Amazon, and I’ve had good results buying from them most of the time. But my favorite place to shop online for my herbs is Starwest Botanicals, as mentioned above.
The Science Behind the Herbs for Male Health and Performance:
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Saw Palmetto is a very well-known herb for men. Specifically, it targets the male reproductive system by toning the prostate gland and helping keep hormone levels in balance. It may also help with impotence. (Tierra) Saw Palmetto has a spicy, warm and pungent taste that's very pleasant.
The Science Regarding Saw Palmetto and Prostate Health:
There have not been many clinical studies on saw palmetto, and it appears from my research that medical claims can’t be made with complete certainty.
However, saw palmetto is used for prostate health in many other countries, and “is an effective treatment for the symptoms of BPH” (benign prostatic hyperplasia), which is the enlargement of the prostate that may affect urinary continence.
“It appears to be as effective as finasteride and is better tolerated, less expensive, and less likely to decrease PSA levels.” Source
Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium grandiflorum)
Horny Goat Weed is full of nutrition, especially minerals.The story behind the name goes like this: A goat herder in the hills noticed his male goats being particularly lusty after eating this weed! Epimedium a.k.a. Horny Goat Weed helps to strengthen kidney function, aids with hypertension, and improves impotence.
"It specifically stimulates the production of androgen hormones with no effect on estrogen. Therefore it is ideal for treating male impotence and promoting sperm production." (Tierra)
The Science Behind Horny Goat Weed:
According to the medical website Kaiser-Permanente, “horny goat weed has long been used in traditional Asian medicine for people with sexual difficulties. It has been shown in at least one study to increase libido.” Source
Like saw palmetto, there is not a great deal of clinical evidence, however, anecdotal results suggest it’s a wonderful herb to include in men’s health formulas.
However, according to a clinical study funded by the California Urological Foundation, the chemical constituent “icariin” found heavily in Epimedium spp. was isolated and injected into rats. The findings of the study suggest improved hemodynamic and tissue effects.
The “findings are of interest not just as a validation of this traditional treatment for erectile problems but also as a new and potentially important means to study and treat nerve injuries in human patients.”
You can read more about this study here.
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Eleuthero is a sweet herb native to Russia and China that is mainly used for increasing energy over time. It is often used by athletes to help improve endurance and many studies out of Russia uphold this statement.
Eleuthero is an adaptogenic herb and helps regulate and support the entire body. This is a completely different species that American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng)
As an adaptogen and energy enhancing herb, it should be noted that you will not feel a caffeine like effect (there is no caffeine from any of the herbs in this tea at all), but the energy balance and increase will come with tonic (daily) use as your body is better able to adapt to stress, both physical and mental.
The Science Behind Siberian Ginseng:
In one clinical study regarding adaptogenic herbs specific to energy and stress levels (eleuthero, rhodiola, and schisandra), “a number of clinical trials demonstrate that adaptogens exert an anti-fatigue effect that increases mental work capacity against a background of stress and fatigue, particularly in tolerance to mental exhaustion and enhanced attention. Indeed, recent pharmacological studies of a number of adaptogens have provided a rationale for these effects also at the molecular level.” Source
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Ashwagandha is another adaptogen herb (like eleuthero, above) well known for its ability to help build energy in the body. It has also been used to support the reproductive system, especially in terms of impotence, sexual dysfunction, low sperm count, sexual energy. It is thought to be an aphrodisiac as well. It is an adaptogenic herb and also helps the nervous system in terms of concentration and focus. It's really a great all-around herb. (Cech)
Note: The root only should be used.
The Science Behind Ashwagandha:
According to a clinical study in 2011, ashwagandha has positive effects on energy levels, fertility and sperm count, memory improvement, and inflammation, among other benefits. You can read more about this study here.
Wild Yam (Dioscorea paniculata)
Wild Yam contains compounds that are hormone precursors. This means that they help support and stimulate proper hormone function, especially of progesterone. Wild Yam is also great for your digestive system and helps with flatulence (gas). (Tierra) Wild Yam is a wonderful tonic herb with antispasmodic properties. (Cech)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn is part of the rose family. Specifically, Hawthorn is known as the premier heart herb by many herbalists. It tones and strengthens the heart, helps regulate blood pressure, and is excellent for heart weaknesses and irregular heart beats.
Hawthorn is also thought to emotionally promote a "sense of open-hearted well-being." (Cech) I use Hawthorn daily in a tincture form. See how to make a tincture.
Sarsaparilla (Smilax medica)
Sarsaparilla is a sweet, spicy herb and is great for enhancing the liver. Because of its actions on the liver, it's a wonderful herb for the skin. It's also known for its ability to help vanquish venereal diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis---not that it's needed for that here!
About the Nutritive Herbs in Manly Man Tea
The herbs above have lots of nutritional value, and the following herbs contain especially high levels of vitamins and minerals.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) & Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Both of these herbs are extremely nutrient and mineral dense. Both are good for purifying the blood, especially Dandelion, because of its actions on the kidneys. Nettles in particular, help the prostate gland. Both help support the entire body.
About the Stimulating Herbs in Manly Man Tea
I've used several warming and stimulating herbs in this tea to enhance the actions of the primary herbs. You can find out more about formulation here.Here they are:
Cinnamon, Star Anise, Clove, Cardamom, & Ginger
I'm not going to go into all of the health benefits of each of these warming and stimulating powerhouse herbs. However, I'll say that they help with circulation, blood sugar levels, the digestion, and strengthening the heart (anise).
For this tea, they enhance the medicinal herbs above with their warming, sweet tastes. The addition of these herbs makes it almost Chai-like.
Final Thoughts on Manly Man Herbal Tea
I love creating tea blends for pleasure and health! It's a beautiful creative process, and you can be sure you and your family will reap the benefits of your efforts! There are many herbal tea recipes on my blog. Some others you might enjoy are:
Herbal Chai Teas for Yumminess or Gift Giving
Sensuous Skin & Healthy Hair, an Herbal Tea Recipe
Nerve Tonic Tea....Helpful for Headaches and Possibly Reduction in Migraine
And here are some videos you might also enjoy:
Herbal Sleep Remedy that Really Works!
Two Essential Oil Remedies for Congestion: One for Adults and One Safe for Young Children
And seriously….there are literally hundreds of articles on my website, and my YouTube channel is growing too! Join me there!
Do you want to learn to be a Confident Family Home Herbalist? My foundational course will give you the knowledge to be able to make your own plant remedies at home with safety, confidence, and effectiveness! You can find out more here.
Do you create your own teas? I'd love to know more about your herbal experiences! Let me know if you give this a try, or if you have any questions or comments!
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance!
Heidi
P.S. If you haven't already done so, I hope you'll sign up for our newsletter and never miss a thing! When you do, you'll get access to the free Resource Library, which contains all kinds of awesomeness like this eBook, How to Use Herbs to Relax! Enjoy!
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Online Resources:
ANDREA E. GORDON, M.D., and ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY, PHARM.D, Harrisburg Family Practice Residency, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Am Fam Physician.2003Mar15;67(06):1281-1283 https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0315/p1281.html . (Retrieved 2/26/2020.)
Panossian, A. and Wikman, G.; “Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity.” Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2010 Jan; 3(1): 188–224. Retrieved 2/26/2020 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3991026/
Published online 2010 Jan 19.doi:10.3390/ph3010188
Shindell, A.; et. al.; “Erectogenic and Neurotrophic Effects of Icariin, a Purified Extract of Horny Goat Weed (Epimediumspp.) In Vitro and In Vivo.” J Sex Med. 2010 Apr; 7(4 Pt 1): 1518–1528. Published online 2010 Feb 5.doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01699.x Retrieved 2/26/2020.
Singh, N., et. al.; “An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda.” Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011; 8(5 Suppl): 208–213. Published online 2011 Jul 3.doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9 Retrieved 2/26/2020 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/
Health Notes and Kaiser-Permanente, “Horny Goat Weed Uses”. Retrieved 2/26/2020 from https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-4391000
Book Sources:
Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech
The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra
**And Rosemary Gladstar is a foundational herbal teacher in my education and experience, although no specific source was used for this article. Here is one of my very favorite books authored by Rosemary Gladstar: Medicinal Herbs.
Disclaimer: The information in this article, elsewhere on my blog, in my shop sites, in conversations, and on labels is for informational purposes only and not meant to cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent any medical condition. Please see a medical professional for concerns. I simply provide my own personal advice based on experience and study for ways to live a healthy and natural way of life. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. NOTE: If you are taking medications, please be sure to discuss using herbs with your doctor.
Heidi Villegas, MA, CA, Herbalist
impotence, erectile dysfunction, herbs for men, herbs for prostate, male reproductive system, herbs for male reproductive system, herbs to support men, aphrodisiac herbs, herbal tea blend for men, manly man tea, herbal loose leaf tea, herbal tea, loose leaf tea
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