fivemonkeys

Triathlete magazine had an article a few months back that featured various products worth checking out. One of these products was an herbal supplement called ARX (Atheletic Recovery X-ccelerator).

I don’t typically believe the hype surrounding these types of products but I was somehow drawn to its “unique blend of all natural ingredients” and promise of alleviating my muscle soreness and fatigue.

Since I often suffer from DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) I thought it was worth a shot. So after a quick check from my nurse practitioning wife to make sure it won’t inadvertently cause me to grow a finger on my head or make me turn blue, I placed my order.

What is ARX? Here is what they say ARX does. You can read more at their website.

In a nutshell, the ARX endurance supplement combination does two things to increase performance and stamina:

First, ARX increases microcirculation in the muscles, improving the distribution of oxygen to the body (to keep the energy processes in the body going) while also removing waste products, such as lactate, and redistributing it so it can be utilized for fuel. This is where the triple mushroom blend comes into the formula—cordyceps*, reishi, and enoki. It’s important to understand that you can’t simply add the mushrooms to your diet and expect results. You need the precise balance of specific extracts from these mushrooms. And only ARX gives you this balance.

Second, ARX enhances the immune system, which is key to having good energy. This is where the eleuthero and tangerine come into play.
Eleuthero is an adaptogen that helps your body overcome the effects of stress. Tangerine is one of the key supportive ingredients in the formula. It removes stagnation in the digestive system, which often happens when people exercise. This explains the stomach cramping that can happen when we exercise vigorously. Only orange tangerine peel is used, not the green which has a complete different effect in the body.

ARX also helps you recover faster and reduces soreness. By taking ARX, it allows your body to use the fuels it prefers—glucose and lactate— and in turn, reduces the break down of your muscles for energy. This means less soreness even after an exerting workout, allowing you to recover faster and minimize your down time.

Does it work?

So, as I said before, I am a very skeptical person when it comes to these types of things. I’ll post later down the road about my long term personal results but I can say this. I’ve been taking ARX for about 2 weeks now and I feel like it may be working. I had just started back up on regular training a couple weeks before starting ARX and was already having some muscle soreness. Since I’ve been taking ARX, my workouts have increased but the soreness has decreased. It may be coincidence; It may be the result of some other factor. But for now, I’m going to continue taking ARX. Stay tuned…