Healing Herbs for Erectile Dysfunction

A few weeks ago we talked about nutrients that could help increase sex drive and increase the likelihood of a longer lasting erection. I’d like to add to that discussion by adding a few popular herbs that are known to have the same effects.

Ashwagandha (or, Indian Winter Cherry) – The roots of this Indian shrub are used in Ayurvedic medicine and offers numerous health benefits, including anti-stress, rejuvenation, anti-inflammation. It’s also traditionally used as to enhance sexual performance.

Gingko – There’s a lot of research right now being poured into the herb gingko bilboa and all its miraculous healing properties. Gingko improves blood flow throughout the body and can increase the amount of blood that gets sent to the penis, especially at the time of an erection. Be careful not to take too much Gingko, though, especially if you also take aspirin – gingko is a blood thinner and could cause bleeding if taken in excess.

Ginseng – Ginseng is a popular herb used in Chinese medicine and in tea. Studies have shown that it helps men with erectile dysfunction perform sexually.

Maca – This is a root-like vegetable from the Andes Mountains and is used to increase energy, vitality, fertility, and sexual virility.

Yohimbe – This is not actually an herb, but is actually an extract that comes from the bark of the African yohimbe tree. If your ED has possible psychological causes, then yohimbe might be a good option for you. Yohimbe may cause a few side effects, so speak to you doctor before you try this herb, especially if you have high blood pressure.

Epimediurn – Also known as horny goat weed, this herb has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and will raise low testosterone and thyroid levels.All of these herbs can be purchased and used on their own and many can be found in herbal supplements that are marketed to increase your sex drive, sexual performance, and sexual pleasure.

About the Author
Looking to improve your sex life - spice things up a bit? Have a couple of kinks to work out and need some practical advice? Youll find it here at http://www.vsuisrr.org.

Tribulus terrestris- ayurveda synonyms

Tribulus terrestris is used to boost libido and sexual performance. It is widely used in China and India.Tribulus enhances testosteron level, boosts libido and helps in Erectile dysfunction.This herb is used as vajikara (aphrodesiac) in ayurvedic preparations.It is found useful in conditions like kidney stones, piles and cystitis. Ayurveda acharyas have coined numerous names based on its physical appearence. Few of them have been given here.

Gokshura- As it hurts the animals which help in farming

shwadamshtra- Has sharp teeth like structures (like canines of dogs)

Sadukantaka - Its thorns are sweet to taste.

trikantaka - Has three thorns

chanadhruma- Has leaves like chickpea plant

Ikshugandhika - has fragrance like sugarcane

Ayurveda definition of Vajikarana Therapy.

Vajikaranamanvichhet satatam vishayee puman |
Tushtihi pushtirapatyam cha gunavattatra samshritam |
Apatyasantaanakaram yatsadhyaha sampraharshanam ||

Vaajeevatibalo yena yaatyaapratihatoanganaha |
Bhavatyatipriyaha sthreenam yena yenopachiyate |
Tadvaajikaranam taddi dehasyaujaskaram param ||

According to ayurveda texts - men who are very active in sex are at a greater risk of losing energy and nutrients. Loss of energy and nutrients may lead to erectile dysfunction, low libido and poor semen quality and quantity. (Low sperm count and motility). These men need preparations which can replenish the lost nutrients. Such preparations which increase hardness, duration of hard erection, libido, sexual energy and semen of excellent quality are called vajikarana preparations. The treatment method is called as “vajikarana therapy”.

“Vajikarana Therapy” increases sexual energy and strength like a horse. The person who undergoes vajikarana therapy becomes dearer to women as he performs like a strong horse. His energy never gets reduced even with repeated sexual acts. He will be able to produce healthy sperms which will help in procreation of healthy offspring. Vajikarana therapy also boosts general health and strength.

Ati Krishatva Dosha ( What happens when body fat reduces below normal level? )

Ati Krishatva Dosha ( What happens when body fat reduces below normal level? )

According to ayurveda a person who has very low body fat or less medho dhatu experiances the following problems

1. His body immunity reduces. He is susceptible to infections.
2. He experiances erectile dysfunction.
3. The quality and quantity of semen reduces.
4. His libido decreases
5. The quantity of semen reduces
6. He feels diificult to breath.
7. He suffers from piles, pleeha vriddhi (enlargement of spleen) and grahani roga (IBS)

Increase libido with Nature’s gift

The following natural herbs are used as aphrodisiacs in ayurveda

Safed Musli (Asparagus Adscendens):- Known as Shweta musali in ayurveda , is used to increase shukra (semen). It helps to increase sperm count and sperm motility.

Urad: (Black Gram) – Ayurveda mentions it as Masha and is used to increase sexual energy , sexual stamina and libido. Masha is recommended for persons who suffer from Erectile dysfunction..

Gokshura ( Tribulus Terrestris) – This plant is widely used in ayurveda to help people suffering from low testosterone levels, Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and low libido
Kapi kacchu: ( Mucuna Pruriens)- Strongly recommended in ayurvedic texts for low libido, low sperm count, low sperm motility and erectile dysfunction

Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) – Used in ayurveda to rejuvenate male reproductive system, calm mind and as an aphrodisiac.

Drum Stick, garlic, ginger: A best home remedy for sexual disorders

1 In 10 Men Suffer From Erectile Dysfunction Due To Work Related Stress

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112046.php
New research has shown that 1 in 10 men experience erectile dysfunction (ED) and as many as 1 in 5 men suffer a loss of libido, as a result of work-related stress.

These latest figures suggest that 90% of men have shown at least one clinical feature of stress due to work but only 54% of men know that stress from work may be the cause of their ED. Stress, either at work or home, is a known cause of ED and prolonged stress is associated with low testosterone levels.

Unfortunately 44% of men would not go to their GP if they experience erection problems, and those who do go to their GP about their ED wait on average 17 months before going for a consultation

Symptomatic Testosterone Deficiency Relatively Rare In Men

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/81764.php

A new study reveals that relatively few men, only 5.6 percent of the male population, actually suffer from low testosterone accompanied by clinical symptoms. That percentage, however, rises substantially with age.

Low testosterone levels are typically defined as less than 300 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter) of total testosterone and less than 5 ng/dL of free testosterone. Free testosterone is the amount of the hormone unbound to other proteins and is "free" to work inside the body. "Low levels of testosterone impact many aspects of male physiology," said Andre B. Araujo, Ph.D., a research scientist at the New England Research

Institutes in Watertown, Mass., and lead author of the study. "This is particularly significant because the ongoing aging of the U.S. male population is likely to cause the number of men suffering from androgen deficiency to increase appreciably."

Consistent with a recently issued Clinical Practice Guideline from the Endocrine Society, symptomatic androgen deficiency in the study by Araujo and colleagues is defined as low total and free testosterone plus the presence of low libido, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis or facture, or two or more of the following symptoms: sleep disturbance, depressed mood, lethargy, or diminished physical performance.

Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Smoking

Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Smoking
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070727153458.htm
A team of researchers led by Jiang He, Professor of Epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, examined the association between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction in a 2000-2001 study in China involving 7,684 men.

The team found that there was a significant statistical link between the number of cigarettes that men smoked and the likelihood they would experience erectile dysfunction. The association between smoking and erectile dysfunction was even stronger in participants with diabetes. An estimated 22.7 percent of erectile dysfunction cases among Chinese men might be attributable to cigarette smoking, says the study.

Although erectile dysfunction is not a life-threatening condition, it compromises well-being and quality of life. The Tulane study results suggest that smoking prevention should be an important approach for reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Posted By Dr.Savitha Suri Ayurveda help through ayurveda consultations

Erectile Dysfunction From Bike Riding: New Report From Harvard Medical School Explains How To Protect Yourself

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/62639.php

Research suggests that riding a bike for long periods can cause temporary erectile difficulties, explains "What to Do about Erectile Dysfunction," a new report from Harvard Medical School. The risk appears highest among men who cycle more than three hours a week.

Sitting on a bicycle for a long time puts pressure on the perineum, the area between the genitals and anus. This pressure can harm nerves and temporarily impede blood flow, causing tingling or numbness in the penis and, eventually, erectile dysfunction. However, one study showed that while a conventional bicycle caused a dramatic (though temporary) drop in oxygen supply to the penis, a recumbent bicycle did not.

If you don't want to switch to a recumbent bike, these precautions may help you prevent cycling-related erectile problems:

-- Wear padded biking shorts.

-- Raise the handlebars so that you're sitting relatively upright. This shifts pressure from the perineum to the buttocks.

-- Use a wide, well-padded or gel-filled seat instead a narrow seat, which places more pressure on the perineum.

-- Position the seat to reduce pressure: Make sure it is not so high that your legs are fully extended at the bottom of your pedal stroke, and don't tilt the seat up.

-- Change your position and take breaks during long rides.

-- If you feel tingling or numbness in the penis, stop riding for a week or two.

Harvard Health Publications
http://www.health.harvard.edu/ED

POsted By Dr.Savitha Suri http://www.ayurhelp.com Ayurveda help through ayurveda consultations

When Stress Gets You Down

When Stress Gets You Down

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51148

Worried about your sex life? Ease up. You don't have to let stress get in the way of a good erection

When trouble strikes men below the belt, it often comes as a surprise -- not to mention the shock. And whether it's erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, one of the main culprits is stress -- even if you don't realize that the torment in your brain is the cause of distress down below. But understanding the inner workings of erections can help get you back on track.

To understand how erections work, here's a crash course.

Erections 101

Most of the neural communications from our brain down to our spinal cord are involved in everyday voluntary tasks -- activities you normally can control -- such as coordinating the muscles for shaking hands, signing checks, or dancing. However, one set of communications, controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), regulates all sorts of the good, visceral stuff such as blushing, gooseflesh, and orgasms.

The ANS has two parts. The sympathetic nervous system mediates sexual arousal, reaction to emergencies, and vigilance by increasing your heart rate, boosting your blood pressure, and speeding your breathing. It's responsible for the classic "fight-or-flight" response, which is mediated by two main chemical messengers, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine.

The parasympathetic nervous system, in contrast, primarily counters the sympathetic one by mediating the body's calm and vegetative functions. Eat a big meal, take a nap, meditate, and the parasympathetics kick in, slowing down your heart rate, breathing, and so on.

Like most other organs in the body, the penis receives both sympathetic and parasympathetic messages, and proper sexual function requires an impressive amount of choreography between these two branches of the ANS. To begin with, the parasympathetics need to modify blood flow to the spongy tissues of the penis so that they fill up and an erection can occur. That's simply how the organ works. Terrific. So far, so good.

And what may happen next? Well, for social reasons that may have had something to do with, er, getting that erection in the first place, a guy might just begin to feel -- how should I say this -- a little less calm and vegetative. He begins to breathe faster. His blood pressure goes up. In short, the sympathetic system kicks in throughout the body. With more and more sexual arousal, activation of the sympathetics increases and he holds on to (figuratively speaking) the parasympathetic aspect of the situation as long as he can. Finally, he can control things no longer. The sympathetic system reaches its height of stimulation, he ejaculates, and the parasympathetics are inhibited, resulting in the loss of the erection, usually within a short period of time.

Erections Gone Awry

During significant stress, one of two things may occur. In the first scenario, the male becomes too anxious to establish enough parasympathetic input to the penis to get the erection in the first place. The result is stress-induced impotence.

In the other scenario, the guy has managed to get an erection but then becomes anxious about something -- say, Alan Greenspan and the prime lending rate -- and shazzam, his ANS rapidly shifts from calm, vegetative parasympathetic to adrenaline-surge sympathetic. Things have gone too fast, and he suffers from either loss of erection or premature ejaculation (or both).

Interestingly, it requires remarkably little stress for the autonomic system to produce erectile dysfunction. And more than a few men are affected. Although statistics are, as you might imagine, difficult to compile, the National Institutes of Health estimates that 5% of 40-year-olds and 15%-25% of those 65 years and up have this problem. Causes can be broadly classified as "psychogenic" (the result of psychological factors) or "organic" (the result of such conditions as blockage of the blood vessels supplying the penis, as can occur in atherosclerosis or diabetes); or nervous system abnormalities that limit the ability to direct blood to the penis (as can occur after a stroke or in multiple sclerosis).

Stress vs. Disease

So, how does the average guy tell the difference between erection problems due to stress (psychogenic) and those due to physical problems (organic)? It's simple, really. He needs to figure out what his penis is doing while he is asleep. Human males, like most other primates, normally have erections at that time, particularly during the rapid eye movement stage, when dreaming occurs. If a man has normal nocturnal (while sleeping) erections, the inability to perform is almost certainly psychogenic. If the nocturnal erections are disrupted, there's a high likelihood of underlying organic problems.

Health care professionals check for nocturnal erections by using a high-tech, electronic pressure cuff transducer. They attach the device to the base of the guy's penis, wire it up to satellite relays, 24-hour operators -- the works -- and by the next morning they have an answer: thumbs up or down on the erection. A drawback of this, of course, is that you may be so convinced that the damned thing is going to electrocute you during the night that it becomes a stressor in and of itself.


The Postage Stamp Test

A great low-tech alternative that you can try at home is to take a strip of postage stamps, loop it snugly around the base of the flaccid penis, overlapping the ends by one stamp (moistening the overlapping stamp) to make a sealed loop. If the stamp roll is broken in the morning, there was a nocturnal erection. (Alcohol, sedatives, or sleep-inducing medications should be avoided for two days prior to the test, to help ensure you're in peak condition.)

Isn't that simple? Spending a paltry $2.22 (you do the math if you really want to know the average number of 37-cent stamps needed, although penny stamps would work just as well) gives you a result probably just as good as that from the more technological version (but insurance plans won't likely pay for it).

The Speed Problem

So much for the erection problem. What about that other dilemma: stress-inducted premature ejaculation? One solution would obviously be to figure out how to feel less stressed about whatever it may be that is wreaking penile havoc.

But a second strategy targets the wiring. To slow himself down, a man can just try taking slow, deep breaths. Simple stretching of the chest muscles triggers a relaxation reflex that results in parasympathetic stimulation throughout the body. This, in turn, helps to hold the sympathetic component at bay just a little longer -- and that might just save the day.

Robert Sapolsky is professor of biological sciences at Stanford University and of neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Among his books are Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: A Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases and Coping. In 1990, he won the Young Investigator of the Year Award from the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology for his research on testosterone and behavior in primates.

Posted By Dr.Savitha Suri
http://www.ayurhelp.com

25 per cent of infertility patients have sexual problems: survey

25 per cent of infertility patients have sexual problems: survey

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/13/stories/2006021315831000.htm

Sexual problems can be both the cause and the effect of infertility and infertility treatments themselves

can often cause sexual dysfunction in normal couples, a study by the Indian Institute of Sexual Medicine of

Aakash Institute of Fertility and Research, has shown.

Out of a total number of 5,728 infertility patients surveyed by the institute from 1996 to 2005, 20 to 25 per cent were found to have sexual problems. Among male patients, 89 per cent had erectile dysfunction, 20 per cent suffered from anejaculation, 32 per cent had extreme premature ejaculation, and three per cent reported lower libidos, K.S. Jeyarani Kamaraj, infertility specialist of the institute said while presenting

the results of the study during the First International Conference on Sexology organised by the institute here on Sunday.

Among sexual problems causing infertility, erectile dysfunction was found to be the main factor. While factors such as poor sex education, lack of sexual knowledge and conservatism were found to be the cause of unconsummated marriages, urban-life related stress, long working hours/working in shifts and lack of privacy were found to be the cause of infrequent intercourse between couples, she added.

In an interactive session devoted to lots of plain-talking on the myths and realities surrounding sex, renowned sexologist Prakash Kothari said sexual disorders were amongst the most common human disorders.

Anxiety over sexual performance bred a cycle of conflict, hostility, fear, shame and guilt and several myths and misconceptions paralysed sexual response. Masturbation was often found to be a safe sexual outlet as it could avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases and did not result, as was often believed, in impotency.

Conditions such as diabetes and alcoholism affected sexual performance as they resulted in lesser blood flow to the genital organs. Lack of semen did not affect sexual performance and it was a myth to state that celibacy led to increased physical strength.

Another misconception was that the hymen was a proof of a woman's virginity or that the size of genital organs mattered in sexual performance. Homosexuality and lesbianism were not aberrant sexual behaviour.

Aphrodisiacs may provoke desire but if overdosed, they could also affect performance, he said.


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http://ayur-help.blogspot.com/2008/03/stress-on-health.html
http://ayur-help.blogspot.com/2008/02/coffee-boosts-male-fertility.html

Stress on health

Stress on health

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/04/07/stories/2005040701500100.htm

THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD RADHA is your typical middle-class working mother. Mother of two children studying in the third and fifth standards, her worst fear in life is the milkman or the maid not showing up in the morning.

"I have so many things to do in the morning. Cook, clean, dress up the kids, pack lunchboxes, put the kids in the school van, send my husband to work and then myself go to work. I just lose it when something goes wrong," she says. That is if the milkman or the maid fails to show up, the utensils, the kids and the husband pay the price for it.

Twenty-two-year-old Richard passed out of college a year back. He now works on night shift in a call centre. After a long night dealing with irate credit card users, he longs to get some sleep in the morning. But morning is the time when his house is buzzing with activity.

"I just can't get sleep in the morning. There is so much noise. Everyone wants to do everything in the morning. So I end up sleeping just five hours a day," he complains. His workload and lack of sleep have ensured that his temper is always on a short fuse. But anger is the least of his problems; he suffers from everything, indigestion to anaemia.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Amit, an art director with an advertising agency, has problems of a different kind. Married for two years, his wife was unable to conceive. Worried, Amit and his wife went to a fertility clinic where doctors found that Amit had very low sperm count, coupled with erectile dysfunction.

All three mentioned above — Radha, Richard and Amit — suffer from excessive stress. And today on World Health Day, it is America's number one and Bangalore's growing healthcare problem.

There are no reliable numbers available for people suffering from high stress levels in the city, but it is believed that over 75 per cent Americans have "great stress" once a week.

High stress levels lead to a range of health problems in addition to accompanying psychological problems. And the number one source remains job stress, though stress levels have increased in all sections of the society. "We cannot live without stress. Our body is always stressed but it is high levels of stress that lead to various problems. We are stressed while running, but the stress is anticipated. When you have emotional upsets or suppressed anger, then you start doing some real damage to the heart because the strain lasts for a longer time and is repeated over and over again. It hastens build-up of cholesterol in the coronary arteries and weakens the heart muscles," warns K.S.S. Bhat, Consultant Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, and President of the Indian College of Cardiology.

Though the heart is one of the first organs to be affected by excessive stress, symptoms are first noticed when the behaviour of a person changes. Classic symptoms include insomnia, low energy levels, feeling of inadequacy, decreased concentration levels, social withdrawal, excessive anger, self-pity and tearfulness. Marital relations are often the first to be affected by this drastic change in behaviour.

"Often people come back so tired from work they are reluctant to have sex. But it is interpreted as not liking the partner. Also, as stress levels increase, it leads to impotence. About one-third cases of erectile dysfunction are due to stress. So sex takes a backseat and the relationship suffers," says Vinod Chebbi, psychotherapist and sex and marriage counsellor.

He also points out to another interesting source of stress that prevents people from enjoying sex:

"In India, there is great stress to become pregnant after marriage. The pressure from relatives often becomes so unbearable that sex becomes an act for just having a child. If it fails, the couple go to the extent of even seeking donor semen or fertility treatment," says Dr. Chebbi.

Both Dr. Chebbi and Dr. Bhat prefer to relieve that extra stress without medication. Exercise, regular food habits and good time management is the mantra, they say.

"There is nothing like a brisk walk in the morning or evening," says Dr. Bhat.

And to solve marital stress, Dr. Chebbi advises: "The couple must spend time together. They must get used to each other and enjoy time together. About 95 to 97 per cent of stress-related sex can be treated with just non-drug therapy."


* * *
Fast lane to perdition

IF YOU'RE one of the lucky few who've coped well so far, here are some wicked tips to help you join mainstream society:

Never exercise

Eat anything you want

Gain weight

Take plenty of stimul-ants (nicotine, caffeine and alcohol)

Get rid of your social support system (friends)

Personalise all criticism

Throw out your sense of humour

Males and females alike — be macho

Become a workaholic

Discard good time-management skills

Procrastinate

Worry about things you can't control (tsunamis, earthquakes and Osama Bin Laden)

Become not only a perfectionist but also set impossibly high standards for yourself

Blame stress for shaky gums, common colds

Blame stress for shaky gums, common colds
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/ET_Cetera/Blame_stress_for_shaky_gums_common_colds/articleshow/2688354.cms

NEW YORK: Stress kills. Its potentially fatal effect on the heart is well documented. But new research suggests that it is probably the reason for everything from decaying gums to common colds.

An article in Observer, the monthly magazine of the Association for Psychological Science, cites new research across psychology, medicine, neuroscience and genetics to conclude that stress is at the root of a whole range of health problems.

Stress encompasses the strains experienced by living organisms in their struggles to adapt and cope with changing environments. When danger is perceived, a chain reaction of signals releases hormones like epinephrine (‘adrenaline’), norepinephrine and cortisol from the adrenal glands.

These hormones kick up the heart rate, increase respiration, and up the glucose levels in the blood — enabling the ‘fight or flight’ reaction. As these responses take a lot of energy, cortisol tells other physical processes — including digestion, reproduction, physical growth and some aspects of the immune system — to shut or slow down.

When the threat passes, the body’s stress thermostat adjusts accordingly.Cortisol levels return to normal and the body resumes its usual functions.

But problems occur when stresses don’t let up, or when, for various reasons, the brain continually perceives stress even if it isn’t really there.

This causes prolonged exposure to cortisol, which inhibits the growth of new neurons and can cause increased growth of the amygdala, the portion of the brain that controls fear and other emotional responses. It also affects the hippocampus, an area that helps form new memories.

Researchers now say these brain changes are at the heart of the link between stress and depression as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Besides heart disease, PTSD, and depression, chronic stress has been linked to ailments as diverse as intestinal problems, gum disease, erectile dysfunction, adult-onset diabetes, growth problems, and even cancer.

Chronic rises in stress hormones have been shown to accelerate the growth of pre-cancerous cells and tumours; they also lower the body’s resistance to HIV and cancer-causing viruses.