Taking a stand against erectile dysfunction

Having difficulty in achieving and maintaining an erection to allow sexual intercourse is described as erectile dysfunction or ED.

According to the National Institutes of Health, United States (US), most men experience occasional failure to achieve erection for a variety of reasons such as drinking too much alcohol or from being extremely tired. Failure to achieve erection less than 20 per cent of the time is not considered abnormal and treatment is not indicated. In the US, over 20 million men admit to some degree of ED. It affects 40 per cent of men in their 40s; over 50 per cent of men 40 to 70 and 70 per cent of men in their 70s.

However, according to research, ED may indicate a much larger problem than just ‘performance’ difficulties. It may be the first indication of common but serious diseases like diabetes, heart disease and various other circulatory disorders.

Medical studies demonstrate ED was often present before these other medical conditions were diagnosed. Experts now consider ED to be a very significant indicator of a man’s cardiovascular health and an early symptom of other vascular problems. Doctors are now advised to directly question all adult male patients about ED.

Viagra not ideal

Despite the huge popularity of the Viagra family of drugs and the massive advertising campaign they enjoy, men need to realise merely popping a pill like Viagra is not the ideal solution to their sexual problems. They should also be concerned with the side effects of these drugs: colour blindness, headaches, flushing, heart problems, stroke and infertility. If you struggle with ED, consider a safer and more holistic approach to your condition.

Have a check-up:

ED is really a symptom, not a disease. There is a long list of causes of ED, and treating the underlying cause is the best approach to any health problem. Be aware ED may be a warning signal of a major underlying health condition like diabetes or heart disease and have a thorough medical check-up.

Circulation problem:

ED is often a circulatory problem so I will focus primarily on this aspect. The penis becomes erect when its sponge-like tissues are filled and engorged with blood. Commonly, ED is a reflection of a disturbance in blood flow and this is what we mean when we talk about a circulation problem.

Improve your circulation:

Improve your nutrition and correct obesity. Poor nutrition with excess fat around the waistline greatly contributes to poor circulation. Increase your intake of fresh vegetables, and less sweet fruits plus an adequate intake of healthy forms of protein while restricting your consumption of starch and sugar is the basic nutritional solution. The Cellular Nutrition Programme I usually recommend makes this easy.

1. Exercise regularly. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week has been shown to improve both the circulation and sexual performance.
2. Add fish oil and antioxidants. The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil as well as the antioxidants vitamin A, C, E and selenium significantly improve blood flow.
3. Take L-Arginine. Nobel Prize winner Dr Lois Ignaro proved that supplementing with the amino acid Arginine caused the cells lining the blood vessels to produce increased amounts of a molecule called nitric oxide. This results in increased blood flow to the tissues including the penis. The drug Viagra actually uses a similar mechanism.
4. Check your testosterone levels .

   This hormone is extremely important for the circulation, for sexual function as well as many other critical bodily functions. Unfortunately, from our mid-20s, men begin to experience a gradual decline in testosterone levels. A simple male hormonal profile blood test will tell if your free testosterone level is low. This can be readily corrected with bio-identical hormone replacement along with specific lifestyle strategies. The benefits of a healthy testosterone level can be life changing.

5. Use herbs. A long list of herbal supplements have been shown to improve erectile function. I would divide them into two groups. The first, I call the general tonic herbs, are used not just for sexual enhancement. These include Siberian ginseng, guarana, schizandra, sarsaparilla, green tea, Swiss (wild) oats and pycnogenol. The others are more specific sexual enhancers: yohimbe, tribulus terrestris, muira puama, other ginsengs, ginkgo biloba, saw palmetto, damiana, ginger, ashwagandha, St John’s wort and kava. This list is incomplete as I have included only those herbs that have been well documented.
6. Consider chelation therapy. Perhaps the most powerful therapy I have used to improve blood flow is intravenous chelation therapy. This should only be administered by a specially trained physician and involves an intravenous drip of a chelating agent called EDTA with a mixture of vitamins and minerals. Despite the disapproval of mainstream medicine, chelation therapy effectively reverses atherosclerosis and hardening of the arteries, conditions that contribute to ED.

Finally, avoid the long list of drugs that cause ED like the many anti-hypertensive and anti-depressant medications. Excess caffeine, alcohol and other recreational drugs may also contribute to ED.