| Erectile Dysfunction - ED. | | | | from the saddle of an upright bicycle. |
| Impotence or Erectile Dysfunction is a consistent | | | | Injury to the spinal cord, bladder, prostate, pelvis or |
| inability to either attain or sustain an erection, which is | | | | penis can cause impotence by damage to the nerves, |
| sufficient for sexual intercourse. Impotence is different | | | | smooth muscle arteries and fibrous tissues of the |
| from other problems that interfere with sexual | | | | corpora cavernosa. Also the surgery in pelvic area |
| intercourse, for e.g. Lack of desire or difficulties with | | | | can damage nerves or blood vessels, results in |
| ejaculation or orgasm.It roughly affects about 15-20 | | | | impotence. |
| million Americans in the age group of 40-50. | | | | About 30 - 35% of the cases of impotence are |
| How do men get an Erection? | | | | because of psychological reasons. These includes |
| The Penis contains two chambers, made of spongy | | | | depression, anxiety, stress, guilt, fear of being caught, |
| tissue, which run the length of the penis. This tissue | | | | fear of failure, lack of correct sex knowledge, myths |
| contsists of smooth muscles, fibrous tissue, spaces, | | | | and misconceptions regarding sex. These factors are |
| Veins and arteries. These chambers (called corpora | | | | generally associated with more than 80% of the |
| cavernosa) are surrounded by a membrane. The | | | | cases of Impotence. |
| Urethra, which is a common passage for urine and | | | | A better and simple way to isolate between |
| Semen, runs along the underside of this chamber. | | | | physiological and psychological impotence is to check if |
| When stimuli from the brain and other local nerves | | | | the patient ever had an erection. If it is more then it is |
| causes the smooth muscles of the chambers to relax | | | | likely to be psychological while less means physiological. |
| blood flows in to flood the open spaces and gets | | | | Home Remedies and Dietary Recommendations that |
| trapped, creating a pressure in the chambers hardening | | | | are effective in Impotence |
| the penis.When these muscles contract, blood trapped | | | | There are natural Remedies for ED as well which can |
| is allowed to low out, relaxing the penis. | | | | be recommended for a treatment without much |
| Causes of Impotency | | | | side-effect. |
| To achieve and sustain an Erection, all events | | | | L-arginine is an amino acid that is abundant in meat, |
| described above must happen in a sequence. If any of | | | | poultry, fish and dairy products. The body uses arginine |
| them is skipped, erection may not occur or may not be | | | | to make nitric oxide, which aids in relaxing the blood |
| sustained. The brain must generate nerve impulses | | | | vessels. It should however be taken only in moderation |
| that are transmitted via spinal cord down to the penis. | | | | as high intake will be responsible for increase in |
| As a response to these impulses muscles, fibrous | | | | stomach acid and consequently ulcer. |
| tissues, veins and arteries in and around the corpora | | | | Ashwagandha or "Indian Ginseng" is a tonic herb |
| cavernosa are filled with blood. | | | | believed to be capable of strengthening the body and |
| The most common cause of impotence is damage to | | | | more traditionally used to increase the sexual capacity |
| the fibrous tissues, veins, arteries smooth muscles etc. | | | | as an aphrodisiac. |
| Many diseases can cause this damage. Amongst | | | | Damiana used traditionally in Mexico as a male |
| these, the most common are: | | | | aphrodisiac. It has a mild effect. |
| 1. Atherosclerosis | | | | Siberian ginseng is believed to be an aphrodisiac which |
| 2. Diabetes | | | | affects the system of the body that is in need of |
| 3. Chronic smoking or Tobacco | | | | support. It is considered one of the superior remedies |
| 4. Alcoholism | | | | for impotence. |
| 5. Multiple Sclerosis, an Auto Immune Disease | | | | Traditionally Chinese practitioners used lyceum berries |
| 6. Kidney Ailments | | | | and lotus seeds to help cure impotence while |
| 7. Psychological Disorders - Stress, Depression, | | | | enhancing kidney and liver energy. |
| Performance Pressure | | | | Saw Palmetto is used to treat Erectile Dysfunction, |
| 8. Long Term Use of certain Drugs - Long term use of | | | | especially when mixed with other herbs. It basically |
| certain antihistamines, anti depressants,drugs for | | | | reduces the conversion of testosterone into |
| treating high blood pressure, antidepressants, | | | | dihydrotestosterone. |
| tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, antacids may result | | | | The bark from a Yohimbe tree found in West Africa is |
| in impotence. | | | | a traditional aphrodisiac and also forms the source of |
| Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries and | | | | yohimbine, a prescription drug for Erectile Dysfunction. It |
| vascular diseases generally responsible for about 65 - | | | | increases the libido as well as decreases the period |
| 70% of cases of impotence.Almost 35 - 50% of men | | | | between ejaculations. This is not recommended |
| suffering from diabetes, develop impotence. | | | | because of the dosage range. Too high a dose of this |
| A study in the recent past found that the Erectile | | | | herb may be toxic and too low a dose may have no |
| Dysfunction to also be associated with bicycling. The | | | | effect. They should hence be taken with caution. |
| number of hours on a bike put pressure on the penis | | | | |