Turkesterone, otherwise known as Ajuga Turkestanica Extract, belongs to the group of ecdysteroids (1).
Ecdysteroids are naturally occurring steroid hormones of plants and arthropods. Research has shown them to be highly effective at building muscle and enhancing performance (2).
These ecdysteroids are naturally found in food sources like quinoa, spinach, and yams. However, the amount in these food sources is way too low to be effective.
Out of all the different ecdysteroids, the most common and biologically active ones are 20-Hydroxyecdysone (Ecdysterone) and Turkesterone.
Because of their unique mechanism and the fact that they may positively impact muscle growth, they’ve become popular amongst bodybuilders, athletes, and gym rats.
Even though there isn’t a whole lot of scientific data available on ecdysteroids, you’ll find plenty of positive anecdotal experiences online of users that have taken them.
I’ve even tried the two most potent ecdysteroids myself, which I’ll discuss later in this article. If you want to find out what happened during my cycles, don’t go anywhere.
Does Turkesterone Have Benefits? There’s still a lot we have to learn about ecdysteroids. However, based on the data available, you may experience the following benefits.
Increased Lean Muscle Gains The main reason many users turn to Turkesterone is that it’s a powerful muscle building supplement. There are not many natural supplements that can effectively build muscle, which is what makes this ecdysteroid different.
Ecdysteroids such as Turkesterone are said to improve muscle mass by increasing muscle protein synthesis.
Nonetheless, many users will vouch for Turkesterone’s muscle-building capabilities. Ask anyone that has taken it and they’ll point out that they gained at least a few lbs of lean muscle, which is impressive as a natural lifter.
Accelerated Muscle Recovery Since ecdysteroids, including Turkesterone, may have the ability to raise muscle protein synthesis (MPS), you’re also likely to recover faster.
Recovery is crucial for multiple aspects of your performance, meaning it will be highly beneficial for this process to improve.
Many users point out that you’ll be able to handle more workload and intensity when taking it.
Increased Strength Besides helping you increase lean muscle mass, this ecdysteroid is also said to help improve your strength and power.
During your cycle, you can expect to increase the weight on your compound lifts continuously.
It’s not unheard of to increase your lifts by between 20 to 30lbs. With that said, you will still need to eat and train properly in order to progress.
Turkesterone Dosage & Cycle Information If you’re planning to take Turkesterone, you, of course, want to make sure you’re getting the most out of the cycle.
Most manufacturers recommend a Turkesterone dosage of between 250 to 500mg per day spread into two doses. I’ve also followed this protocol, and it worked well.
If it’s your first run, it’s a good idea to start with a low dose such as 250mg and go from there to see how you respond to the compound.
Most users take it for a cycle of between 6 to 12 weeks, depending on their goals.
Many claim that running it for longer seems to be more effective, as it takes some time for it to build up in the system.
Please note that this compound isn’t a magical pill; you’ll still need to eat right and train heavy to increase performance and muscle mass.
Should You Use A Turkesterone Supplement? Many of you will think to yourself - should I start taking a Turkesterone supplement?
It’s up to you whether or not you should start taking it. The majority of the users that have taken it are convinced it can be beneficial.
Like many others, I have also put Turkesterone (Ajuga Turkestanica Extract) to the test. After running a cycle with it, I was pretty satisfied with the outcome.
When choosing a Turk supplement, it’s essential to look at the percentage of the active ingredient. Some products may have a meager amount of the active ingredient in them, making it almost not worth taking.
But with that said, I have also taken Ecdysterone (20-Hydroxyecdysone), another potent ecdysteroid. That compound ended up surprising me even more.
Compared to Turkesterone, I found Ecdysterone to work even better.
It’s also worth mentioning that Ecdysterone does have human research behind it. One study shows that it’s capable of significantly increasing lean muscle mass and strength (1).
I also found it to be a lot easier to find a good, high-quality Ecdysterone supplement.
