Evidence supporting the use of: Proprietary Blend (Herb/Botanical)
For the health condition: Body Building
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
"Proprietary Blend (Herb/Botanical)" is a broad term that refers to a mixture of various herbal and botanical ingredients whose specific contents and amounts are not always disclosed. The use of herbal blends in bodybuilding is justified primarily by traditional practices and anecdotal reports rather than robust scientific validation. Traditional medicine systems—such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western herbalism—have long used herbs like ashwagandha, tribulus terrestris, fenugreek, and ginseng for their purported benefits on strength, stamina, and recovery. These herbs are often included in proprietary blends for their adaptogenic, energy-boosting, or hormone-modulating effects, which are believed to support muscle growth and exercise performance.
However, scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of most herbal blends for bodybuilding is limited and often of low quality. While some individual herbs have shown modest effects in small studies (e.g., ashwagandha for strength and recovery, fenugreek for testosterone support), the results are inconsistent, and there is little high-quality research on the effects of multi-ingredient proprietary blends as a whole. Furthermore, the lack of transparency in ingredient doses complicates the assessment of both efficacy and safety. Overall, while the use of proprietary herbal blends in bodybuilding has roots in traditional practice, their benefits remain insufficiently verified by rigorous scientific research.
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Other ingredients used for Body Building
7-Keto-DHEAacetyl l-carnitine
adenosine 5-triphosphate disodium (ATP)
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
amino acids
anchovies
ashwagandha
aspartic acid
beta-alanine
bovine
branched-chain amino acids
caffeine
capsaicinoids
coleus forskohlii
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
creatine monohydrate
curcumin
gelatin
ginseng
greens blend (proprietary)
hydroxycitric acid
l-isoleucine
iron
l-cysteine
l-glutamine
l-glycine
l-leucine
l-methionine
l-ornithine
l-valine
magnesium
maltodextrin
milk
omega-3 fatty acids
ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate
protein
almond fruit
vitamin D
whey protein
zinc
wheat germ
algae
chickpea protein
brown rice protein
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
19-NorAndrost-4ene-3b-ol,17-one
17a-di methyl-bol
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
2, 17a-dimethyl-17b-hydroxy-5a-androst-2-ene
2a,3a-epithio-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17b-ol
2, 17a-dimethyl-17b-hydroxy-5a-androstan-1-ene-3-one
2a, 17a-dimethyl-17b-hydroxy-5a-androstan-3-one
4-DHEA
Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate
Arachidonic Acid
Arginine malate
Alpha glyceryl
Alpha-ketoisocaproic acid
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Algal protein
Alpha hydroxyisocaproic acid
Anti-aromatase
Animal protein
Beef Protein
Beef
Beef liver
Bovine Protein
beta-lactoglobulin
Ba Ji Tian
banana
Chia seed
Casein
Cardarine
Citrus
Capsaicin
Capsiate
Chicken
D-Aspartic Acid
Dihydrocapsiate
Deer Velvet
D-Ribose
Dextrose
Egg
Ecdysteroids
Elthyl-Alpha-Guanido-Methyl-Ethanoate
Ecdysterone
Egg protein
glucose
Isoleucine
Milk Protein
yohimbine
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by Proprietary Blend (Herb/Botanical)
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Acne
Addictions (general remedies for)
Addictions (tobacco smoking or chewing)
Alcoholism
Allergies (respiratory)
Amenorrhea
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Asthma
Backache
Bladder Infection
Bleeding (external)
Body Building
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)