Impotence

Summary

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is a condition in which men cannot achieve or sustain an erection. As many as thirty million males in the United States are estimated to suffer from impotence to some extent. Although impotence is often viewed as a natural consequence of aging, this isn’t the case. In fact, numerous healing traditions, such as Ayurveda, a traditional treatment in India, and traditional Chinese Medicine, see impotence as a sign overall health is declining.

Caution: Impotence, particularly in men 60 years and older, can often be an indication of undiagnosed heart disease. If you suffer from impotence and are unsure of its cause, seek prompt medical attention.

Types of Impotence

There are two types of impotence—primary and secondary impotence. Primary erectile dysfunction is rare and is almost always psychological, leaving men incapable of engaging in sexual intercourse. Secondary impotence can also be mental in nature, but tends to be situational, meaning that men who suffer from it may be able to engage in intercourse on a few occasions, but not always, based on various elements, such as time, place, and their emotional connection to their partner.

Causes of Impotence

Causes of impotence are split into two categories: Physical and psychological.

Causes: The main physical cause of impotence is chronic tension, lack of exercise, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and poor diet. Cigarette smoking can also be a factor because nicotine can reduce overall circulation, resulting in diminished blood flow to the penis. Environmental contaminants, especially heavy metals, are also likely involved.

Many pharmaceutical drugs can also cause or contribute to impotence. These include Anafranil Capsules, Lupron Depot, Lupron Injection, Normodyne Injection and Tablets, Paxil, Pepcid AC, Proscar, Prozac, Roferon, Tagament, Wellbutrin, Xanax, and Zantac. Antacids, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, diuretics, nicotine, psychotropic drugs, and most cold and flu medications are commonly associated with erectile dysfunction.

Impotence can also be attributed to additional health conditions, including alcohol and drug addiction, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, reduced pituitary function, and neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s illness.

Psychological Causes: Psychological causes of impotence include anxiety, depression, fear of intimacy and/or intercourse, and extreme feelings of guilt or shame. Boredom in a person’s relationship can also be a factor, as can self-esteem and performance anxiety (fears that you won’t be able to fulfill your partner).

To find out if your impotence stems from psychological elements, physicians will frequently perform what is called a, “paper test.” This requires placing a ring of paper around the penis before going to sleep. During rapid eye motion (REM) sleep, or dreaming, healthy men typically experience some degree of erection. If this occurs throughout the night, the ring of paper will become displaced, indicating that psychological factors are most likely the cause of impotence.

Note: Failure to achieve an erection during sleep can be a sign of a deeper fundamental health problem and may require medical assistance.

Potential Problems with Impotence Drugs

In 1988, Viagra® (sildenafil) was introduced to the marketplace as a remedy for impotence, with large amounts of male consumers in the United States and overseas. More recently, Cialis is also used as a primary option for dealing with impotency. Impotence drugs work by calming the muscle tissue in the penis that encircles arteries which deliver important blood flow to the corpus cavernosum, which comprises the base of the penis, thus making it easier for erections to be achieved and sustained. Although both drugs are usually successful when treating impotence related to physical problems, neither drug is completely safe, especially for men with heart disease who also use nitroglycerin or other nitrate-based drugs, because the mixture of these medicines can cause dangerously low blood pressure levels. Additionally, impotence drugs can also cause other dangerous side effects, such as vision difficulties, diarrhea, heartburn, severe headaches, cold-like signs and symptoms, and urinary system problems.

Avoidance

Prevention is the best approach for dealing with impotence, and all other health conditions associated with the male sexual organs. This includes having a regular (yearly) physical examination with both a digital rectal examination (DRE) and a blood test to determine your PSA (prostate gland specific antigen) score, which screens for signs of prostate enlargement. (Note: The actual PSA check is also commonly used to screen for cancer of the prostate, but recently has been found to become ineffective for this function, to the point where its creator no longer recommends that it be used as a test for prostate cancer.) Other useful diagnostic tests you can consider, depending on your symptoms, include urinalysis, ultrasound, and other blood tests that can help determine you immune status. Hormone testing should also be considered for those men over 40 years old.

Other preventive measures include consuming a healthy diet, correct nutritional supplementation, and regular (at least 3 times per week) exercise. In addition, practice safe sex, using a condom to avoid an infection.

Natural Remedies

Aromatherapy: The following essential oils can help to decrease symptoms of impotence: Sandalwood, jasmine, rose, clary sage, and ylang ylang.

Ayurveda: Ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic herb, will help restore strength and relieve impotence related to persistent stress.

Diet plan: Avoid foods that are high in unhealthy saturated fats and low in fiber. Additionally, avoid alcoholic beverages, caffeine, simple carbohydrates, processed sugar and sugar products, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fat and natural oils, margarine, shortening, and all prepared and industrial “junk” foods. Instead, emphasize a diet of natural whole foods, with plenty of clean, raw fruits and vegetables, oats, whole grains, and nuts and seeds especially pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Minimize your intake of red meat, but be sure to consume plenty of organic, free-range poultry, turkey, bison meat and wild-caught seafood. Throughout the day, drink plenty of pure, strained water, and steer clear of foods that are overly spicy.

Flower Essences: For erectile dysfunction caused by a lack of self-confidence or performance anxiety, Larch (Bach Flower Remedy) is usually helpful. Crab Apple and Pine may both be helpful for males who connect sex with shame or sin. Olive can help men recover from impotence caused by physical exhaustion.

Herbs: The following herbs can often significantly improve impotence symptoms: Ginkgo biloba and yohimbe, both of which can help stimulate blood flow to the penis; Panax and Siberian ginseng, both of which act as adaptogens and have aphrodisiac properties; saw palmetto extract, for impotence in conjunction with benign prostratic hypertprohy (BPH) and/or prostatitis; true unicorn root (Aletris farinosa), is effective for impotence issues in both men and women.

Additional useful herbs include Cordyceps sinensis, damiana, garlic, oat straw (Avena sativa), potency wood (Muira puama), and Tribulus terresteris.

Homeopathy: Strychnos nux-vomica is useful for impotence and other sexual dysfunctions brought on by excess alcohol consumption, cigarettes, and/or poor diet. Other useful homeopathic treatments include Agnus Castus, caladium, lycopodium, and staphysagria.

Extreme caution: Strychnos nux-vomica consists of small amounts of strychnine alkaloids, it should only be used under the guidance of a trained homeopathic physician.

Hydrotherapy: The contrast between cold and hot sitz baths 2-5 times per week can help to enhance blood flow to the penis and strengthen the entire health of the male reproductive organs.

-Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy remedy. Remedies for purifying bath water offer clear instructions and remedies.

Juice Therapy: Mix the juice of red cabbage, celery, and lettuce, and consume 8oz. twice per day.

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT): NHRT can quickly solve impotence problems related to endocrine deficiencies and imbalances. The most commonly used hormone for this purpose is natural testosterone, which works not only to enhance problems brought on by impotence, but can also improve overall mood.

NHRT should only be undertaken under the supervision of a physician trained in its use. Such professionals will first assess your testosterone and hormonal levels using either a blood or saliva test. Androgenic hormones or testosterone can then be boosted, if necessary, with weekly or biweekly injections of an androgenic hormone, such as testosterone cypionate (every week) or testosterone enanthate (biweekly) until your testosterone levels are renewed to those of a healthy 30 year-old male. Androgenic hormone or testosterone patches and oral lozenges can also be used instead of injections. Many holistic practitioners recommended androgenic hormone or testosterone skin lotions (transdermal creams) as the best treatment option, due to the fact that it is currently the safest known treatment method with little to no side effects.

The hormone DHEA, often called the, “master hormone,” may also be deficient in men with impotency problems. If so, the same treatment methods can be used to renew DHEA in the body.

Extreme caution: Should you choose to explore testosterone or DHEA replacement treatment, be sure that your personal doctor regularly screens your PSA (prostate specific antigen) amounts to safeguard yourself against BPH and prostate cancer. You should also be screened for liver poisoning, high blood pressure, elevated levels of red blood cells, testicle shrinking, and man breasts (abnormal mammary glands in men) during the course of your treatment. Additionally, men receiving testosterone replacement therapy are encouraged to consume health supplements with the herb saw palmetto, to ensure that testosterone does not get converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can lead to prostate cancer, as well as other health problems.

Nutritional Supplements: Useful nutritients for dealing with and stopping impotence include vitamin B3 (niacin), B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. The amino acid L-arginine is also suggested, as are leader-lipoic acids in a trace nutrient formula, omega-3 oils, evening primrose oil, and eicosapentaenoic acidity (EPA). Garlic clove capsules, acidophilus, and hydrochloric acid (HCl) can also be helpful, as can be Wobenzyme, to help protect against inflammation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): TCM practitioners consider impotence to be caused by a combination of stress, nutritional deficiencies, low hormonal levels, and reduced kidney perform. To resolve these problems, they recommend a treatment program that includes Acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbs, such as ginseng and lotus seed, meditation, and Tai chi and Qigong.

Alternative Professional Treatment

Other helpful therapies for treating and reducing impotence problems include: Acupressure, Biofeedback Training and Neurotherapy, Bodywork (Feldenkrais Method, Reflexology, Shiatsu), Chelation Therapy (to improve overall circulation and detoxify heavy metals), Chiropractic Medicine, Detoxification Therapy, Guided Symbolism and Visualization, Hypnotherapy, Magnetic Therapy, Mind/Body Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Yoga. (See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Treatments.)