Dr. Mike Jansen
Dr. Mike JansenCurious… is ecdysterone safe?
Do you wonder if a legal steroid alternative like ecdysterone is safe to consume, or if it has any dangerous side effects?
Then you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we detail exactly what this over-the-counter supplement is and why athletes love it – while also detailing side effects and any safety concerns.
We also answer your most important questions, including:
- What is ecdysterone?
- Is ecdysterone dangerous?
- What benefits does ecdysterone have?
- Where can I purchase ecdysterone?
…And much more!
In this article, our team has conducted a serious investigation to uncover all the information related to the safety profile of the naturally occurring plant steroid, ecdysterone.
We’ve brought you the data on how people can take it responsibly, and what the research has to say about proper ecdysterone usage.
In other words, this guide is a “one-stop shop” for everything you MUST know about ecdysterone.
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What is Ecdysterone?
Taking a critical look at all the scientific literature, data, and anecdotal evidence regarding any supplement is crucial.
Otherwise, marketing messages can often confuse the public about the efficacy and use of supplements that are in the media spotlight, like ecdysterone.
Ecdysterone is a naturally occurring hormone in plants, fungi, and arthropod insects, which belongs to a large family of over 200 similar substances called phytoecdysteroids [1, 2].
Ecdysterone supplements are currently sold as an over the counter under various names, such as beta-ecdysterone, 20-beta-hydroxyecdysterone, and beta-ecdysone [3]. Research on ecdysterone and its effects on humans started back in the 1960s in Russia [4].
Over the years, research has revealed more and more evidence that ecdysterone can be used as a potent alternative to anabolic androgenic steroids for bodybuilders, powerlifters, and endurance athletes.
This is chiefly due to the fact that ecdysterone can confer benefits like increased stamina, strength, muscular hypertrophy, and enhanced recovery – all without the side effects commonly associated with anabolic steroid use [2].
In fact, ecdysterone supplements have been shown to produce a level of overall improvement in athletic performance comparable to steroids like dianabol or trenbolone.
Even though ecdysterone can produce such anabolic effects, and its molecular structure is similar to anabolic steroids, it doesn’t actually bind to the exact same steroid receptors found in vertebrates [2].
This is another reason why ecdysterone supplements have experienced such a recent surge in popularity, since the use of drugs like Clomid or Nolvadex aren’t required to recalibrate hormonal levels.
Is Ecdysterone Safe?
The choice to start taking any sort of bodybuilding supplement often comes with many factors to consider. Namely, is this compound safe to take?
First off, as mentioned above, ecdysterone is a naturally-occurring substance. It belongs to a category of hormones called phytoecdysteroids, of which there are over 200 different varieties [1, 2].
After having closely examined several studies on ecdysterone and its risk profile, we found that there hasn’t been one that deemed ecdysterone harmful to humans. More specifically, ecdysterone’s level of liver toxicity for mammals is about 7 grams per kilogram of bodyweight, which would be practically impossible to ingest at one time [2, 5].
With that said, the conclusion can be drawn that ecdysterone is generally safe.
Compared with commonly used steroids like dianabol and trenbolone, ecdysterone has a drastically lower risk profile, because it does not cause hormonal changes in humans.
Especially when it comes to males, ecdysterone use won’t cause a massive decrease in testosterone levels or rise in estrogen once a cycle is over, which basically removes the need for a post-cycle therapy, or PCT [6].
Why is that?
Because ecdysterone does not actually attach to steroid receptors in vertebrates.
It possesses anabolic properties, but it is not anabolic, nor does it fall into the category of being an illegal steroid. This is one of the crucial advantages of ecdysterone that has also invited a lot of scrutiny.
Ecdysterone Side Effects and Safety Concerns
When considering whether or not to take a supplement, one of the primary concerns people have, is the potential for adverse side effects.
For instance, even members of the general public who don’t have experience with anabolic steroids are aware that such compounds can produce unpleasant and even deadly side effects, depending on how often they’re used, the level of dosage, and how the body is able to tolerate them.
Some of the less serious side effects from steroids can be tolerable, such as irritability or an increased appetite.
However, if one isn’t careful, a whole slew of adverse effects can surface.
Skin rashes, shrinking of the gonads, excessive organ growth, heart complications, high blood pressure, and even permanent liver damage are just some of the issues that have been documented several times as a result of steroid abuse [7, 8].
Ecdysterone Side Effects
What side effects does ecdysterone have?
You’ll be happy to hear that nearly all studies regarding the efficacy of Ecdysterone to date have not revealed any adverse effects from taking it. In particular, we can refer to two studies providing ample evidence of this:
A 2006 study was conducted to observe the effects of ecdysterone on men who already had an athletic lifestyle. 45 male participants were divided into three groups and instructed to take a daily dose of a compound while carrying out their weekly training regimen.
One of those groups took just 30 milligrams of Ecdysterone once per day.
Ultimately, the study found that the men were significantly stronger on mainly two lifts – the bench press, and the leg press. No adverse side effects were reported [9].
Is Ecdysterone Toxic?
A second study conducted on male and female subjects in their 50s also showed that Ecdysterone is not toxic for humans, and produced no adverse effects.
For 12 weeks, a daily dose of 2000 milligrams of ecdysterone was administered to 51 subjects, split in two – one serving of 1000 milligrams in the morning with breakfast, and the next serving of 1000 milligrams with lunch.
They followed a strict training protocol three times a week, for an hour each time.
Upon analyzing their data, the researchers concluded that the participants in the group taking Ecdysterone showed a significant increase in strength and muscle mass, without any harmful side effects [10].
It should be pointed out that the data regarding ecdysterone’s effects on humans is still fairly limited.
There’s also no universally accepted dosing protocol. However, overdosing on ecdysterone is almost physically impossible. It’s been found that ecdysterone isn’t toxic to humans until a dose of 6400 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight is reached [2].
Ecdysterone Dosage and Cycle
The set dosage for ecdysterone has yet to be standardized, as there isn’t enough research available to determine what would be optimal.
When it specifically comes to how ecdysterone should be dosed, we wouldn’t recommend exceeding more than two cycles of ecdysterone per year.
By approaching the ecdysterone dosing protocol in this way, the effects can still be noticed, while adverse side effects can be mitigated. An ecdysterone dosage can normally be taken once per day, or split up into two doses – one in the morning, and one in the evening [2, 6].
We’d also recommend keeping cycles within the range of 8-12 weeks.
Due to the fact that ecdysterone is still being studied, a proper dosing protocol would require considering available data, as well as how one’s body reacts to it.
Determining the right amount of ecdysterone dose in order to boost athletic progress will depend on individual physicality, as well as how an individual’s body processes anabolic effects.
The generally established dosage guideline is as follows:
- Starter Dose: 250mg/day
- Intermediate Dose: 500mg/day
- Advanced Dose: 1,000mg/day and over
Almost all the studies referenced in this guide have based their data on cycles lasting between 8-10 weeks. However, one study conducted in 2021 monitored the effects of an Ecdysterone dosage of 2 g per day for a total period of 12 weeks.
Data from this study showed that not only were there no adverse effects, but there was also a marked gain among the participants in lean muscle mass and strength [2].
Since most Ecdysterone supplements for bodybuilding are dosed at 500 mg per capsule, we would suggest not exceeding 1000 mg per day.
Ecdysterone and Bodybuilding
The bodybuilding and fitness community, and even the mainstream media, has been teeming with talk about ecdysterone supplements [11].
Marketing for this ‘natural plant steroid’ typically paints it as a convenient alternative to traditional anabolic steroids, SARMs, and pro-hormones, mainly due to it posing little to no side effects, while still accelerating muscle growth and strength gains.
One of the major advantages of dosing ecdysterone as opposed to anabolic steroids, is that the use of a hypodermic needle is not required.
While extremely dedicated athletes and bodybuilders may not have an issue with taking injections, others may not be so enthusiastic about it.
At the time this article was written, in early 2023, ecdysterone is only commercially available in the form of capsules and powders, meaning it can be conveniently taken along with a meal or beverage, such as a protein shake.
Ultimately, ecdysterone is an ideal supplement for individuals looking to make accelerated progress in the gym, without having to be concerned about managing side effects that would typically arise with the use of anabolic steroids.
New research is always being carried out, and so experimenting with a relatively new supplement like Ecdysterone should be done responsibly.
Is Ecdysterone Legal?
The legal status of ecdysterone may not be particularly clear to many, especially due to the fact that it’s often marketed to produce ‘steroid-like gains’, and may be erroneously associated with anabolic steroids.
As of early 2023, when this article was written, ecdysterone is indeed legal and available to buy as an over-the-counter supplement from various online vendors. This is a key distinction to note between ecdysterone and traditional anabolic and androgenic steroids.
As mentioned in this guide, ecdysterone is not classified as an anabolic steroid, and is therefore completely legal to purchase, possess, or consume in the United States [12].
Ecdysterone’s legal status may change soon, however. WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) has recently placed ecdysterone on their Monitoring List, which may eventually lead to this natural steroid alternative being banned from use in professional sports [13].
Should ecdysterone be added to the list of banned substances by WADA, the result would be that only athletes competing in professional sports would be prohibited from using ecdysterone or beta-ecdysterone.
Additionally, individuals using ecdysterone for recreational purposes in the gym or for sports wouldn’t be subject to arrest or penalties, since WADA’s ruling would not directly result in ecdysterone being added to the list of controlled substances in the United States.
Best Ecdysterone Supplements | 2023 Edition
If you’ve been wondering where to buy ecdysterone, then rest assured – our team has searched high and low for reliable, legitimate ecdysterone supplement vendors that offer the best value.
Our first recommendation for a trusted source to buy Ecdysterone from would be Huge Supplements. Here’s why:
- Superior quality products. Their products, like Huge Ecdysterone, are manufactured in an FDA-approved facility in the United States. Other vendors may use cheaper means of producing their supplements, or even purchase their inventory from locations with manufacturing regulations that are not strictly enforced, which could result in low-quality products.
- Free shipping. Huge Supplements offers free domestic shipping within the U.S. is offered for orders over $100, as well as worldwide shipping options (except for countries within the European Union). On top of that, Huge Supplements’ customer service was phenomenal.
- Great customer service. No matter what, when we had an issue or question, we were always able to speak to a knowledgeable representative without a lengthy waiting period.
- Superior product absorption. The ecdysterone sold at Huge Supplements contains an ingredient called cyclodextrin – a polysaccharide which expedites and enhances absorption of the ingested Ecdysterone into the body.
You can visit Huge Supplements here to learn more about their products, and to purchase a bottle of 98% pure ecdysterone capsules:
Apart from Huge Supplements, we also recommended Intelligent Elephant.
Despite being a relatively new company, Intelligent Elephant has already amassed several positive reviews on their products, like Intelligent Ecdysterone.
Also, good news for cryptocurrency enthusiasts: you can pay for your orders with different coins, such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, or Ethereum. Shipping is offered worldwide. Intelligent Ecdysterone also contains cyclodextrin, in order to speed up and increase the efficacy of their ecdysterone supplements.
Interested in learning more about Intelligent Ecdysterone? You can visit Intelligent Elephant by clicking this link:
Is Beta-Ecdysterone Safe? | Verdict
In conclusion…
Ecdysterone is one of the hottest “legal steroid alternatives” on the market today. Millions of people are using this breakthrough supplement with extremely promising results.
But is ecdysterone really safe?
The latest scientific studies show that ecdysteorne is perfectly safe, with virtually zero side effects – especially when taken at the recommended dosage of 500 mg per day.
Don’t worry – ecdsyterone is extremely effective at this modest dose. Human studies show that 500 mg of ecdysterone may provide greater muscle-building effects than many steroids, including dianabol!
Best of all, buying, consuming, possessing, and selling ecdysterone is completely legal, while traditional anabolic steroids are regulated as part of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
If you are ready to get started with ecdysterone, then we strongly recommend the brand Huge Supplements. They manufacture all of their products right here in the United States under FDA-regulated facilities, so you know you are getting a premium quality product.
So what are you waiting for?
Pick up a bottle of Huge Supplements ecdysterone today and watch your gains safely shoot through the roof!