{"id":51485,"date":"2019-11-22T15:28:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-22T23:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=51485"},"modified":"2021-09-20T09:19:56","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T16:19:56","slug":"bulbine-natalensis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/bulbine-natalensis\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulbine Natalensis Benefits + Side Effects &#038; Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the testosterone-boosting industry, various compounds get periodic attention from the media. <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> is one of them, rapidly capturing interest from bodybuilders as a supplement for supposedly increasing testosterone levels. But, did you know that it may also help in wound healing according to animal research? Keep reading to discover the health benefits, side effects, and reviews of<em> Bulbine natalensis<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_Is_Bulbine_Natalensis\"><a id=\"post-51485-_o6ytv9v73or9\"><\/a><strong>What Is <em>Bulbine Natalensis<\/em>?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> is a plant from the <em>Asphodelaceae <\/em>family, which is mainly found in Southern Africa. It is known by various names, including <em>ibhucu<\/em>, <em>ingcelwane<\/em>, and <em>rooiwortel <\/em>[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/20645801\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Its leaf sap is used as a traditional remedy for wounds, burns, and rashes. A root infusion is used to manage vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, sexual infections, <a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/glucose\/#What_Is_Diabetes\">diabetes<\/a>, and rheumatism. However, none of these effects has been investigated [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.3109\/13880200903207094#\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Although <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> has been used in Africa for years, only recently has it become popular as a supplement in Western medicine.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Components\"><a id=\"post-51485-_mndcmr4juaf9\"><\/a><strong>Components<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A watery stem extract from <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> contains the following compounds [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/18710410\">R<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thieme-connect.com\/products\/ejournals\/abstract\/10.1055\/s-0036-1578715\">R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tannins<\/li>\n<li>Anthraquinones<\/li>\n<li>Cardiac glycosides<\/li>\n<li>Saponins<\/li>\n<li>Alkaloids<\/li>\n<li>Naphthalene derivative<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"How_It_Works\"><a id=\"post-51485-_jrjgi8h6mic7\"><\/a><strong>How It Works<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The precise mechanism of action of <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> in humans has not been established. However, according to studies in rats, it is thought to act via the following mechanisms [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/18710410\">R<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/20645801\">R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Increases testosterone levels in the testes and blood<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Increases the size of testes<\/strong> as a result of increased testosterone levels and in turn, the testes secrete more testosterone<\/li>\n<li><strong>Boosts the activity of a testicular enzyme (<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/alkaline-phosphatase\/\"><strong>alkaline phosphatase<\/strong><\/a><strong>)<\/strong>, which is involved in maintaining healthy sperm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Raises levels of compounds in the testes,<\/strong> which are responsible for making testosterone (<a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/cholesterol\/\">cholesterol<\/a>), maturing and maintaining healthy sperm (glycogen, sialic acid, testicular proteins)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Boosts levels of reproductive hormones<\/strong> (follicle-stimulating and<a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/luteinizing-hormone\/\"> luteinizing hormone<\/a>), which stimulate cells (Leydig cells) to produce testosterone<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Health_Benefits_of_Bulbine_Natalensis\"><a id=\"post-51485-_hqu3so5ipt42\"><\/a><strong>Health Benefits of <em>Bulbine Natalensis<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Animal_and_Cell_Research_Lack_of_Evidence\"><a id=\"post-51485-_n0x5ye75ur8n\"><\/a><strong>Animal and Cell Research (Lack of Evidence)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>No clinical evidence supports the use of <em>Bulbine natalensis <\/em>for any conditions<\/strong>. Below is a summary of the existing animal and cell-based research, which should guide further investigational efforts. However, the studies listed should not be interpreted as supportive of any health benefit.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"1_Sexual_Health\"><a id=\"post-51485-_n9w081fwklom\"><\/a><strong>1) Sexual Health<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>High testosterone levels improve libido, mood, and overall sexual health in humans [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2686330\/\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>A watery extract of <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> raised testosterone levels in the testes and blood in rats. It also increased sexual behavior and was more effective than Viagra at a dose of 25-50 mg\/body weight. This suggests its potential to be used in the management of disorders of libido, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction in men [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/20645801\">R<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/18710410\">R<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/19410284\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> extract enhanced the success of mating and fertility in rats as a result of the increased libido and increased reproductive hormones (testosterone, <a href=\"http:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/top-21-science-based-health-benefits-progesterone-4-drawbacks\/\">progesterone<\/a>, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone). However, it did not alter other parameters of sexual health, such as sperm motility, shape, viscosity, and count [<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/19410284\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"2_Wound_Healing\"><a id=\"post-51485-_8ro6k4om3w79\"><\/a><strong>2) Wound Healing<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In pigs, <strong><em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> leaf gel extracts healed wounds faster and better than untreated wounds.<\/strong> There was an increase in <a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/health-benefits-collagen\/\">collagen<\/a>, proteins, and DNA in the <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em>-treated wounds, meaning that cells were dividing rapidly, resulting in a faster recovery [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/20937372\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> leaf gel extract <strong>enhanced the progress of wound healing<\/strong> in weaning pigs by forming new fibrous tissue, muscles, and connective tissues along with increasing collagen storage and maturation [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/23078885\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<aside class=\"sh-partner shp-form sponsored sh-et-7388fa\">\n  <div>\n          <div class=\"partner-heading\">Get the Regimen of A Top Biohacker<\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"partner-content\">\n      <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Joe Cohen is well-known for his work as a successful entrepreneur in the health field after he overcame his many health issues using a personalized regimen. Find out exactly which supplements he takes and what lifestyle changes Joe has made to maintain optimal health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"subscribe-form-container\">\n      <form method=\"POST\" action=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51485\" class=\"sh-subscribe-form\">\n        <input type=\"email\" name=\"subscribe_form_data[email]\"\n            pattern=\"^[a-zA-Z0-9.!#$%&\u2019*+\/=?^_`{|}~-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9-]+(?:\\.[a-zA-Z0-9-]+)*$\" required\n            placeholder=\"Enter your email\">\n                  <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"subscribe_form_data[tags][]\" value=\"SH Optin: PartnerAd Joes Regimen\">\n                  <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"subscribe_form_data[tags][]\" value=\"SH Optin: Joes Regimen\">\n                  <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"subscribe_form_data[tags][]\" value=\"PartnerAd\">\n                <button type=\"submit\" class=\"btn btn-primary subscribe-submit\">Get The Regimen<\/button>\n      <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n          <style>aside.sponsored.sh-et-7388fa::before{content:\"Advertisement\"}<\/style>\n<\/aside>\n<h3><span id=\"3_Fungal_Infections\"><a id=\"post-51485-_nb5zp4tuulf7\"><\/a><strong>3) Fungal Infections<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A class of naturally occurring chemicals (phytosterols) found in <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> <strong>blocked the growth of one of the most toxic fungi <\/strong>(<em>Aspergillus flavus<\/em>) [<a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.co.in\/scholar?q=Antifungal+activity+of+stigmasterol,+sitosterol+and+ergosterol+from+Bulbine+natalensis+Baker+(Asphodelaceae)&amp;hl=en&amp;as_sdt=0&amp;as_vis=1&amp;oi=scholart\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><strong>A watery extract of <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> from the plant tuber completely blocked the growth of the fungi <em>Aspergillus<\/em><\/strong> (<em>niger and flavus<\/em>) at all tested doses. <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> alcohol extract also had similar effects on the growth of these fungi [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3746651\/\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Note, however, that these are very preliminary results that haven\u2019t been replicated in humans and even in animals. Further research is needed to establish if <em>Bulbine natalensis <\/em>has any potential in treating the diseases caused by these fungi.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"4_Bacterial_Infections\"><a id=\"post-51485-_86cza3st52ym\"><\/a><strong>4) Bacterial Infections<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Extracts of <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> in different types of alcohol blocked the growth of the following bacterial species [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3746651\/\">R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Staphylococcus aereus, <\/em>a bacteria resistant to many antibiotics, which commonly causes <strong>skin and respiratory infections<\/strong> and food poisoning<\/li>\n<li><em>Streptococcus faecalis<\/em>, a frequent cause of <strong>urinary tract infections (UTIs), heart, and wound infections<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em>Bacillus <\/em>(<em>cereus<\/em>, <em>pumilus<\/em>), which may cause<strong> food poisoning<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em>Escherichia coli<\/em>, which causes <strong>UTIs, diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa<\/em>, a bacteria resistant to most antibiotics that can cause <strong>life-threatening drug-resistant infections<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em>Klebsiella pneumoniae<\/em>, which may cause <strong>respiratory infections<\/strong> such as bronchitis and pneumonia<\/li>\n<li><em>Serratia marcescens<\/em>, which causes difficult-to-treat <strong>hospital infections<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em>Proteus vulgaris<\/em>, which can cause <strong>UTIs<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em>Enterobacter cloacae<\/em>, which can cause many <strong>serious infections<\/strong> affecting the urinary tract, skin, lungs, and heart<\/li>\n<li><em>Shigella flexneri<\/em>, which causes <strong>food poisoning<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong><em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> extract in ethyl acetate was the most effective at blocking bacterial growth <\/strong>compared to other alcohol extracts [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3746651\/\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Again, these studies only tested the ability of <em>Bulbine natalensis <\/em>to inhibit these bacterial species in test tubes but not to fight the infections caused by them.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Limitations_and_Caveats\"><a id=\"post-51485-_uo1quy9gtbgq\"><\/a><strong>Limitations and Caveats<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There is <strong>only one human study examining the effects of <em>Bulbine natalensis.<\/em><\/strong> Most studies were done on animals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More scientific studies are required<\/strong> to know how and if <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> use impacts the body, short- and long-term safety, and if it interacts with other drugs\/compounds in the body.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Side_Effects_Safety\"><a id=\"post-51485-_im0zi9vy2oal\"><\/a><strong>Side Effects &amp; Safety<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Keep in mind that the safety profile of <em>Bulbine natalensis <\/em>is practically unknown, given the lack of well-designed clinical studies. The list of side effects below is not a definite one and you should consult your doctor about other potential side effects based on your health condition and possible drug or supplement interactions<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In one study, 36 healthy men took a <em>Bulbine natalensis <\/em>supplement daily for 28 days. <strong>The supplement was safe as measured by blood, kidney, liver, and general markers of health<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/resting-heart-rate\/\">heart rate<\/a>, blood pressure, ECG) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3500755\/\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>In rats, a watery extract of <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> stem increased blood levels of cholesterol and <a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/triglycerides\/\">triglycerides<\/a> and decreased levels of \u2018good\u2019 cholesterol (<a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/hdl-cholesterol\/\">HDL<\/a>) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/19382725\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>In another study in rats, <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> stem extract increased liver enzymes (<a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/elevated-ggt\/\">GGT<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/alanine-aminotransferase\/\">ALT<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/aspartate-aminotransferase-ast\/\">AST<\/a>) and the size of the liver (lobules) and kidney (proximal and convoluted tubules). <strong>These changes suggest liver and kidney damage from <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> use<\/strong> [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/19735182\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bulbine_Natalensis_Supplements\"><a id=\"post-51485-_rc9a4b89i7w8\"><\/a><strong><em>Bulbine Natalensis<\/em> Supplements<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> extracts are available in capsules, tablets, bulk powders, and liquid form. It\u2019s sometimes combined with other testosterone boosters or added to protein powders.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Dosage\"><a id=\"post-51485-_m7srr4w35ic9\"><\/a><strong>Dosage<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Because <em>Bulbine natalensis <\/em>is not approved by the FDA for any conditions, there is no official dose. Users and supplement manufacturers have established unofficial doses based on trial and error. Discuss with your doctor if <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> may be useful as a complementary strategy in your case and which dose you should take.<\/p>\n<p>In the only human study with <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em>, it was consumed at <strong>a dosage of 325 mg twice a day <\/strong>[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3500755\/\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>A dosage of 50 mg\/kg was established as optimal in rat studies. This can be converted into an <strong>estimated 8 mg\/kg for a 60 kg human<\/strong> according to the Body Surface Area Conversions standards laid down by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/downloads\/Drugs\/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation\/Guidances\/ucm078932.pdf\">R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>In other words, based on animal studies, <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> extract may be taken at an estimated dosage of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>360 mg for a 100 lb. person<\/li>\n<li>550 mg for a 150 lb. person<\/li>\n<li>730 mg for a 200 lb. person<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> dose may be higher if the raw form of the plant is consumed without any extraction.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"User_Experiences\"><a id=\"post-51485-_li7r8n9scec4\"><\/a><strong>User Experiences<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>The opinions expressed in this section are solely those of Bulbine natalensis users, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. Their reviews do not represent the opinions of SelfHacked. SelfHacked does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Do not consider user experiences as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers because of something you have read on SelfHacked. We understand that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Many users reported an <strong>increase in libido, mental, and physical energy<\/strong> after <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> consumption. The testosterone-boosting effects took some time to be noticeable for some users.<\/p>\n<p>A few users reported <strong>not feeling any effects after taking <em>the supplement.<\/em><\/strong> However, some claim they noticed effects after doubling the dosage.<\/p>\n<p>One user said that the supplement helped him <a href=\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/health-benefits-sleep\/\"><strong>sleep<\/strong><\/a><strong> better <\/strong>but he also experienced<strong> heart palpitations<\/strong>, which subsided after stopping its consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the testosterone-boosting industry, various compounds get periodic attention from the media. <em>Bulbine natalensis<\/em> is one of them, rapidly capturing interest from bodybuilders as a supplement for supposedly increasing testosterone levels. But, did you know that it may also help in wound healing according to animal research? Keep reading to discover the health benefits, side effects, and reviews of<em> Bulbine natalensis<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14687,"featured_media":51487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[347],"tags":[279],"yst_prominent_words":[9539,9531,9529,9534,9541,9533,9543,27663,9537,9544,9540,9530,9542,511,598,1075,9535,9536,9532,1914],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51485"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14687"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51485"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":114789,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51485\/revisions\/114789"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51485"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=51485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}