Traditional Chinese Medicine for
Men's Health
Sexual function, Erectile dysfunction, Premature ejaculation
Sexual health and sexual function exist on a spectrum, and individual goals and situations vary widely. TCM treatment is appropriate both in cases of significant dysfunction and in cases where men without significant dysfunction want to improve sexual health and function. Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are loaded and pathologized terms, and the desire to avoid these labels can prevent men from getting treatment in the earlier stages when treatment is most successful and rapid. The reality is that most men experience variation in sexual function throughout their lives, including times of sub-optimal erection strength and duration, or sub-optimal stamina. TCM herbal medicine is a very effective and safe tool for improving sexual health.
Treatment duration and success rate of erectile dysfunction varies based on age and severity, along with underlying medical conditions and medications. Some men can see significant improvements in 2-4 weeks, while it may take 12 weeks in others to see improvement. Erectile function is not possible with some medical conditions and medications, and sometimes other medical conditions need to be treated with TCM first.
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Premature ejaculation is frequently a result of low grade prostatitis (prostate inflammation) and when this is treated it improves significantly. It can also result from pelvic floor tension and stagnation, from serotonin imbalance, or from deficiency of hormonal vitality. Treatment with TCM herbal medicines can be very effective in treating premature ejaculation. Treatment timeline is 6 to 12 weeks, with office visits every 2 to 4 weeks.
Prostatitis, Prostate Enlargement, BPH
Prostatitis can affect men of all ages and can vary from mild and barely noticeable to severe and painful. Treatment can vary from 2 weeks in acute cases to 12 weeks in chronic, protracted cases.
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Prostate enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) generally happens gradually over a long period of time. As the prostate tissue grows, the space for the urethra shrinks and urination becomes more difficult. Prostate enlargement can eventually lead to complete inability to void the bladder without catheterization. Western treatment options for prostate enlargement include drugs that block androgen production which tends to reduce sex drive and energy levels, or surgical resection (cutting out) of the prostate which can result in permanent loss of sensation and erectile function due to damaged nerves and blood vessels. The side effects of both of these options are undesirable to most men. TCM herbal medicine treatment can be very successful at slowing and in some cases reversing prostate enlargement, as well as lowering PSA. However, early treatment is most successful. Treatment timeline is 3 to 6 months, more in severe cases.
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