Impotency

Impotency has come to be identified as erectile dysfunction. It is the inability to attain or sustain a penile erection in order to have sexual intercourse, or to ejaculate intravaginally.

The usual reasons for impotency are stress (mental and physical), fatigue, depression and anxiety regarding sexual performance, excessive consumption of alcohol and/or tobacco, and drugs. Impotency may even lead to hormonal imbalances, and diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease. In fact, a study conducted by the School of Medicine of Boston University, after observing and studying the medical history of 1300 men, whose ages were between 40 and 70, found that 52% of the male impotence problems they faced were related to health.

How Ayurvedic Principles Will Help You

Like infertility problems, the causes for impotency are:

• Eating spicy, salty and hot foods, which increase pitta and destroys shukra (semen);
• Overindulgence in sexual activities;
• Controlling sexual urges for long durations (practicing extended abstinence);

Viagra is seen as a valid cure for male impotency, but though helps with sustaining an erection; it does little to treat the actual medical problem itself so that the male can function without the assistance of Viagra. Furthermore, quite a number of worrying incidents and side effects have been associated with the taking of Viagra (i.e. death), because of the presence of an active ingredient in Viagra, called sidenafil citrate; the substance is not suitable for men facing heart problems, hypertension, low blood pressure and other health complication. This is why Viagra can only be obtained through a doctor's prescription.

Therefore, Ayurveda advises in favour of a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits (mangoes, apples, grapes and jack fruit) and vegetables, whole-grain bread products, and protein-rich foods: eggs, milk, butter, yogurt, ghee, butter, soybean, urad-ki-dal, and almonds. Pumpkin seeds, brazilian nuts and almonds are rich in amino acid, which boost levels of blood to the genitals and work as 'naturalized Viagra'. Oysters, very rich sources of zinc, nourish the prostate gland and boost testosterone production.

Ayurveda also recommends:

• The consumption of herbal preparations designed to treat and target the reproductive organs.
• Massages, which relieve stress, and using oils known to have aphrodisiac qualities.
• Getting enough sleep and regular exercise.
• Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

Some Ayurvedic remedies for impotency are:

• Premature ejaculation, or unsatisfactory erections or sexual deficiency: The root cause for this is often psychological; so it is better to go for psychological treatment, or massages that help to relieve one of physical and mental stress. Herbal remedies such as swarna bhasma and lakshadi oil can also be used.
• Diminished (below fertility level) sperm count: Herbal remedies taken with milk or butter.
• Nocturnal emissions: Herbal remedies such as chandraprabha bati and aswagandharishta.

Treatments

There also treatments available that can help with impotency: Podikizhi, Navarakizhi, Sarvanga Dhara, and Tantric massages.