Natural DHT Blockers
“Natural DHT blockers” is a loose umbrella term for supplements marketed for hair loss or prostate symptoms because they may reduce DHT signaling—most commonly by inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase (the enzyme that converts testosterone → DHT) or by affecting related androgen pathways. Examples often discussed include reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) (reported 5-alpha-reductase–inhibitory activity in lab research and anti-androgen–type effects in some animal models), pumpkin seed oil (studied for hair loss, including a 24-week randomized trial in men with androgenetic alopecia), and stinging nettle root (used for urinary/prostate complaints, with literature discussing possible hormonal mechanisms, though the specifics remain debated and appear extract-dependent).
In PFS/PSSD/PAS communities, these “natural anti-androgen” supplements are often approached with heightened caution because even mild shifts in androgen/DHT signaling are viewed as potentially destabilizing in sensitized individuals. While these supplements are not established to “cause” PFS/PSSD/PAS, some community members report symptom flares after use, and a smaller number describe more prolonged worsening, particularly when stacking multiple “DHT blockers” or using higher doses/extracts. A common framing in these communities is that the risk is less about any single ingredient being universally harmful and more about the uncertainty of potency, extract variability, and individual sensitivity to androgen-pathway modulation.
(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16029938/
(2) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4017725/
(3) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711307000542
(4) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7231981/
Crash Anecdotes (Community Reports):
https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/1b7pzo9/can_any_of_these_cause_pssd/
https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/1fg8mk6/hey_folks_have_any_of_you_tried_stinging_nettle/
How to Interpret This Page
This page summarizes anecdotal reports and community observations, not medical evidence. “Risk” here refers to how frequently severe or prolonged symptom worsening is reported, not to proven causation or population-wide probability. Individual responses vary widely, and absence of issues in some users does not rule out significant reactions in others.
Risk Signal Based on User Reports
Reports of Severe and Sometimes Lasting Worsening (for PFS/PSSD/PAS):
Among individuals who already have PFS/PSSD/PAS, “natural DHT blockers” (including reishi, pumpkin seed oil, and stinging nettle root) are commonly discussed in community reports as potential triggers for symptom flares, sometimes described as prolonged. Because these products vary widely by extract type, dose, and stacking with other androgen-modulating ingredients, outcomes appear highly variable. For this reason, many in these communities consider avoidance—or very cautious, one-variable-at-a-time testing—a more conservative approach, especially during unstable periods.
For individuals without these conditions, these supplements are widely used and tolerated by many, but there are still reports of sexual, mood, or energy-related side effects in a subset of users. Given the uncertainty around potency and individual sensitivity, some people judge careful risk–benefit consideration to be prudent.
Evidence basis: Anecdotal reports (online forums, self-reports); mechanistic and clinical literature on specific ingredients; no controlled studies examining PFS/PSSD/PAS-specific outcomes for these supplements as a category.