Men with sexual difficulties are usually not identified or treated as
often or as well as they should be due to several reasons. There may be
psychological barriers to sexual functioning, in which case the first
port of call should be seeking individual psychotherapy or couples
therapy with your partner or consulting a sex therapist.
Natural
medicine can offer a plethora of options when it comes to treating
sexual disorders in both men and women. My clinic has seen countless
success cases of individuals who have improved their sexual function
through the use of herbs, homeopathy and changes in diet. The questions
below were handpicked from literally hundreds of letters from men who
wrote to me for advice on what they consider a taboo subject matter. It
really is more common than people like to think. The beauty is that
there is a remedy.
Q. Dear
Natalie, I have a really embarrassing problem and suffer from premature
ejaculation. My doctor gave me topical anesthetic cream but it has not
helped. Can you suggest any herbal remedies? Thank you.
A. Premature
ejaculation is a very common complaint and most men are too embarrassed
to talk to their health care practitioners about it. It is essential to
check what the root cause might be. Treating holistically is key in
treating any imbalances and this may mean exploring any emotional fears
or issues with your partner.
Once all avenues have been
explored, I suggest you try using Winter Cherry (also referred to as
ashwagandha) one of India's most popular ayurvedic herbs used most
commonly to help men’s sexual problems. This herb is often prescribed
for increasing physical stamina, increasing libido, improving erections
and most importantly in treating premature ejaculation.
You can
also try applying Angelica Root oil. Angelica provides a similar numbing
effect to that of topical anesthetic creams. I have frequently
prescribed angelica root oil and have found it to be a very effective
treatment.
The homeopathic remedy Graphites taken in 12c potency
between two to four times daily is another option. With repeated use
this remedy can help stop premature ejaculation. Once the situation
improves you can discontinue use of this remedy.
I highly
recommend trying the wonderful flower essence of hibiscus. Drop between
3-4 drops of the essence into half a cup of water and sip. Hibiscus
works to relieve stress, performance anxiety and helps promote romantic
sexual feelings which in turn help to maintain the ability to control
ejaculation.
Cloves can also be crushed and made into oils and then applied to the penis.
Clove
oil gives a warming and slightly numbing effect. Research made at
Creighton University School of Medicine cites that clove oil applied to
the penises of rats significantly reduced premature ejaculation.
Finally,
I recommend taking 100 milligrams of kava before engaging in sexual
intercourse. You can take this in a pill form or even in powder form and
brewed as a tea. Kava helps to increase blood flow to the penis and
slows down the reaction to enhanced sexual stimulation. This will help
you maintain your erection for longer, therefore reducing the likelihood
of premature ejaculation.
Q.
Dear Natalie, I suffer from erectile dysfunction. I have a serious
partner now and the problem is becoming unbearable. Any natural advice
is greatly appreciated.
A.
This is another extremely common disorder amongst men and can be due to
underlying psychological or physiological reasons. I think it is
important to look at remedies that affect blood flow. Firstly, check
your diet. I suggest cutting down on alcohol.
Increasing
vitamins can improve blood flow throughout the body, including the
penis. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) strengthens nerve transmission and gives
energy to cells throughout the body, improving circulation and stamina.
Vitamin B3 also improves circulation.
Vitamin C is essential in
the production of hormones related to sexual activity and improves
symptoms of sexual dysfunctions in both men and women due to its ability
to improve the blood flow in the genital area. It increases sperm count
and reduces blood cholesterol whilst strengthening veins.
Many
men with erectile dysfunction often have low levels of zinc. The
prostate gland stores concentrated amounts of zinc; therefore by taking a
zinc supplement it can improve the development of sperm and increase
testosterone.
The amino acid, L-arginine helps to improve
erectile dysfunction by enhancing the function of nitric oxide, the
substance that increases blood flow. Ginkgo biloba is a popular herb
used to increase blood flow throughout the body and in the penis.
Finally,
the herb Ginseng - which has been used by Chinese medical practitioners
for centuries - is considered a reliable treatment for erectile
dysfunction. The herb corrects imbalances in the body that can cause
erectile dysfunction from any causes including inadequate testosterone
production, compromised immunity and psychological stress. I recommend
taking between 100 to 300 mg standardized extract one to two times
daily.
Q. Dear Natalie, I am
suffering from high stress at work and a low libido. Can you suggest any
foods which can help enhance my libido? Thank You.
A. Other
than trying to balance your work and your leisure time, I would
recommend including more bananas in your diet. Bananas are not only an
excellent source of fiber but they also increase the sex drive because
of their high level of bromelain, which boosts libido.
Include more avocados in your diet;they are high in potassium and Vitamin B6, which increase the output of male hormones.
Although
garlic may not give you a fresh smelling breath, it can definitely
increase your sex drive as it increases blood flow to the sexual organs.
Garlic can be taken in capsule form to avoid having any after taste.
Finally, figs can increase both stamina and libido.Either fresh or dried, try including these as part of your daily snack.
This
column is brought to you as general information only and unless stated
otherwise is not medical advice nor is it based on medical experiments.
This column is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for
specific medical conditions. For more information about specific
problems, please contact a doctor.
Natalie runs a clinic
both in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem offering a wide range of natural
treatment, including a women’s clinic every Wednesday. To make an
appointment please email nateopath@gmail.com.
Ask Natalie: If you have a health query and would like an alternative answer, email Natalie with your question at nateopath@gmail.com
Someone Once Said:“The
doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs,
but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition." – Thomas
Edison, inventor of the light-bulb
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