Hey friend,

My total testosterone dropped to a depressing low of 223 in my early twenties.

Chronic fatigue. Brain fog. Muscle loss. Fat gain. Low mood. Hair thinning.

I was tempted by TRT. Who wouldn’t be?

Mainstream and even functional medicine pushed it hard. But no one stopped to ask why my testosterone was crashing at an age it should’ve been peaking.

Unfortunately, asking that question doesn’t make money… treating symptoms does. That’s why men’s clinics are everywhere, selling a shortcut.

But that “shortcut” often becomes a trap.

The problem with TRT

Yes, TRT will raise your testosterone. And yes, you’ll feel the effects.

But it comes at a cost—your body stops making its own.

The signal it gets is: “We’re good here.” So it shuts down production.

And once your system goes offline, turning it back on isn’t easy. That’s why so many men end up on TRT for life.

That’s the trap. It doesn’t heal the root issue—it overrides it.

I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to depend on a prescription just to feel like myself. I believed my body could heal—if I removed what was blocking it.

We’re designed to regenerate; you just have to give your system a chance.

Foundations of men's hormonal health

To truly restore testosterone, you have to cut out the kryptonites—the hidden hormone saboteurs silently wrecking men’s health.

For me, it was mold toxicity.

For others, it could be:

• Chronic stress
• Endocrine disruptors (plastics, fragrances, pesticides)
• Seed oils and processed junk
• Poor sleep
• Medications (SSRIs, opioids, statins)
• Low vitamin D
• Alcohol
• Overtraining—or doing nothing
• High-sugar or low-fat diets
• Porn and dopamine dysregulation

Or some messy mix of all of them; it’s different for everyone.

That’s why modern medicine fumbles—it treats humans like machines. One-size-fits-all doesn’t heal what’s bio-individual.

I put together a full protocol that walks you through the core principles to restore healthy hormone function, starting with removing the testosterone kryptonites [you can find that here].

The solution

Getting my T back to average (and eventually above) didn’t come from injections. It came from rebooting the system.

Nature holds the key. Not by forcing testosterone into the body but by healing the broken feedback loops that regulate it.

Adaptogenic herbs and natural compounds played a huge role in that process. And we’ll break them down today—so you can tap into nature’s pharmacy, repair your endocrine system, and reclaim your vitality.

T-boosting botanicals & supplements

Like I said, mastering the basics is step one. But sometimes your endocrine system needs a push to get your testosterone (and energy) back online.

Here are a few of my favorite tools for that boost:

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), originally known in Hindi as Asgandh—meaning “the smell of a horse”—was named for its distinct horse-like odor and the belief that it imparts the strength, stamina, and vitality of a stallion.

Ashwagandha relieves stress (due to its adaptogenic properties), anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue while enhancing cognitive performance.

For men with low testosterone, it tackles both the root causes and the symptoms—making it a foundational herb for full-spectrum hormonal support.

​A 2022 trial found it increased testosterone by 15% in healthy adult males (imagine what that could do for a man struggling with low T).

Shilajit

Shilajit, a tar-like substance found in the Himalayas, is packed with minerals, humus, and organic acids.

Its origins remain debated, but legend says Himalayan villagers discovered it by watching strong, long-lived monkeys eating the dark resin oozing from the mountain cracks.

​A 2016 study found that men aged 45–55 who took purified Shilajit for 90 days experienced significant increases in total and free testosterone, as well as DHEA levels, compared to the placebo group.

Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a botanical medicine from Southeast Asian rainforests, cherished by indigenous communities for centuries.

It was traditionally used as an aphrodisiac, a stimulant, and for various other ailments.

Modern research proves Tongkat Ali stimulates the release of free testosterone, improves libido, and reduces fatigue and stress.

​Clinical trials and meta-analyses confirm its testosterone-boosting effects in healthy men, both young and old, as well as in those with low T.

Rhaponticum

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Maral root) was once a closely guarded Soviet secret:

Used by its athletes to enhance performance and by its workers, like sailors, miners, and military personnel, to increase resilience in extreme conditions.

Native to Siberia, this adaptogenic herb doesn’t directly raise testosterone, but it creates an ideal anabolic environment for muscle growth and recovery.

Men with low testosterone often struggle with fatigue, poor recovery, muscle loss, and elevated stress.

This creates a negative feedback loop: low T leads to muscle loss, and less muscle further suppresses testosterone.

Rhaponticum helps break that cycle by promoting a pro-growth, anti-catabolic state through two key mechanisms:

• It contains ecdysteroids, like 20-hydroxyecdysone, which enhance muscle protein synthesis, nitrogen retention, and muscle growth.
• ​Adaptogenic properties, which lower cortisol (a catabolic hormone) and help regulate the body’s stress response.

Research shows ecdysteroids deliver anabolic effects comparable to low-dose steroids, without the side effects.

For men with low T, Rhaponticum supports the metabolic foundation needed to rebuild strength, energy, and vitality.

The bottom line

You can take one herb or stack a few for synergy.

But remember: taking these testosterone-boosting botanicals alone without addressing testosterone kryptonites won't get you nearly as far.

True healing is holistic.

And know this:

You don’t need to be another patient funneled through the mainstream medical machine or the hip men’s health clinics popping up everywhere.

When you remove the blocks to vitality, your body—shaped by hundreds of thousands of years of evolution—knows how to heal. That wisdom can’t be replicated in a lab.

Same goes for the plants. They've evolved over millennia to produce compounds that support your biology.

I'm curious—if you’re a man struggling with low T, have you tried TRT or considered a holistic approach?

And if this hits home, please share it; it could help someone feel understood and begin their healing journey.

This one goes out to my men out there!

Onjae