Erectile Dysfunction And Yoga
Health articles > Erectile Dysfunction And Yoga
Erectile Dysfunction And Yoga
Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, means that a man's penis doesn't get hard enough to have intercourse. The man cannot get or maintain an erection (Erectile dysfunction is not the same as premature ejaculation, retarded ejaculation or infertility.)
The major causes of erectile
dysfunction include:
Vascular (blood
vessel) disease - Because erections are caused by the buildup of
blood in the shaft of the penis, poor blood flow in the penis
can result in problems with erections. Damage to blood vessels
can be caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) or
damage to blood vessels from trauma. Vascular disease is
believed to be the most common medical cause of
erectile
dysfunction.
Nerve damage (neuropathy) - Nerves
must be working normally for a man to be able to get and keep an
erection. Nerve damage can result from
diabetes, multiple sclerosis, prostate surgery or damage to
the spinal cord.
Psychological factors - Sexual
problems sometimes are caused by psychological issues such as
depression, anxiety, guilt or fear. At one time, psychological
factors were thought to be the major cause of
erectile
dysfunction. Doctors now know that physical factors are present
in most men. However, embarrassment or "performance anxiety" can
make a physical problem worse. Erectile dysfunction caused only
by psychological causes is found most commonly in young men.
Medications - Many medications
cause problems with sexual function, including drugs prescribed
for high blood pressure, depression, heart disease and
prostate cancer.
Hormonal problems - Abnormal levels
of certain hormones, such as
testosterone,
thyroid hormone and a pituitary hormone known as prolactin, can
interfere with erections and sex drive (libido).
This is an uncommon cause of erectile dysfunction.
Symptoms
A man with erectile dysfunction has either a problem getting an
erection or difficulty maintaining one. This usually interferes
with sexual activity by preventing penetration during
intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction can occur suddenly or gradually. Some
men slowly lose the firmness of their erections or how long the
erections last. In other men, especially those whose impotence
is largely caused by psychological factors, the problem may
occur unpredictably and can improve at any time. Despite their
difficulties with erections, men with impotence often continue
to have normal orgasm and ejaculation.
Your doctor will perform a general physical examination,
including an examination of your penis and testes, to look for
evidence of underlying medical problems. Your blood may be
tested for blood sugar (to rule out diabetes), cholesterol and
levels of certain hormones.
Occasionally, a doctor may order additional tests, such as a
nocturnal penile tumescence study. This is a way to assess how
often you get erections while you sleep. A Doppler ultrasound of
the blood vessels in the penis is another test that will
occasionally show a cause for poor erections.
There are many effective treatments for erectile dysfunction.
Yoga considers that most diseases are due to insufficient life
force, either in the body as a whole, or a blockage of life
force to one part of the body.
When the whole body has lowered life force, the result is a
lowered vitality level, poor health and susceptibility to
infection. Yoga
provides one of the best means of self-improvement and attaining
one's full potential
KHANDASANA
- Kanda means a bulbous root, a knot. The Kundalini sleeps above kanda (the place near the navel where the nadis unite and separate). It gives Mukti (emancipation) to the yogins and bondage to the fools. He who knows her knows yoga.
- Sit on the floor with the legs stretched straight in front. Bend the knees, widen the thighs, bring the feet towards the trunk until the heels are close to the perineum and keep the knees on the floor. The position is similar to Baddhakonasana.
- Hold the right foot with the right palm and the left foot with the left palm.
- With the help of the hands, draw the feet up towards the trunk, invert the ankle, pull the knees and thighs, and place the heels and the outer sides of the feet against the navel and chest. To start with the feet are likely to slip down. Practice the pose for a few weeks, holding the feet firmly against the chest.
- Release the hands, and either stretch the arms straight and rest the back of the hands on the knees or join the palms in front of the chest. Keep the back erect and stay I n the pose for about 30 seconds with deep breathing.
- Advanced pupils may raise the hands, palms together, above the head. Then try to join the palms behind the back and balance: this is the most difficult part of the asana.
- Hold the feet with the hands, lower them to the floor
and rest.
As the pelvic and other joints of the legs are rotated it takes a long time to master the pose.
Effect
Every muscle below the navel is exercised. The pose cures stiffness
in the hip, knee and ankle joints. It restores sexual energy and
controls sexual desires. The asana also exercises the Svadhisthana
Chakra (the hypo gastric plexus) and the Manipuraka Chakra (the
solar plexus), thus helping proper digestion.
This article has been written by Dr. R. Nagarathna, Dean, Division
of Yoga & Life-sciences, SVYASA
Courtesy: http://www.healthandyoga.com A popular website that helps
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