Erectile Dysfunction and Ayurveda

One in four men over the age of 50, or some 20 million American men, experience some form of impotence. It strikes up to half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 (according to Dismoor, Robert Scott, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine: Impotence).

From Ayurvedic point of view Erectile Dysfunction in caused by a disorder in Apana Vata, which controls the downward moving energy in the pelvic area. For centuries, Ayurveda has used Vajikarana (rejuvenating) therapies to treat this disorder.

There are a variety of herbal remedies available, but they will work much more effectively when supported by proper lifestyle.

Ten lifestyle tips for erectile dysfunction:
1. Go to bed no later when at 10-11 p.m. , get up no later when at 6-7 a.m.
2. Say no to alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
3. A daily oil massage (see Abhyanga) is very helpful in relieving stress.
4. Practice yoga and meditation to manage stress.
5. Avoid hot, pungent, and bitter foods.
6. Eat sattvic food: organic milk products, almonds, rice, urid or mung dahl, kitchary (see Kitchary-your body’s reset button).
6. Ghee, clarified butter, is well known for its rejuvenating properties (see recipe).
7. Get proper amount of exercise. Make sure not to over – exercise.
8. Slow down. Relax.
9. Use appropriate herbal preparations.
10.See also: Ritucharya-seasonal routine; and Dinacharya-daily routine).
11. Love your partner.

Remember, Ayurveda doesn’t promise quick-fix remedies. The results though, when supported by diet and lifestyle, are long lasting and have no side effects.

Herbs for Impotence and Erectile Dysfunction:

SHILAJIT, Silajatu (Asphaltum)* is one of the prime herbs used to treat impotence. It is black or brown bitumen – like tar that seeps out of certain rocks in the Himalayas during the hot summer. Shilajit is extracted from the rocks by boiling them, and then it is stained off and cooked with Triphala (see Triphala). It is most often used in rejuvenating formulas (such as Shilajit Vati), although it may be purchased in a tar-like form. The Charaka Samhita (the ancient Ayurvedic text) states, that a person must use Shilajit for a minimum of one month for regeneration to start.
Dose: 1 to 2 grams two or three times per day with milk for several months (See Atreya, Practical Ayurveda: Secrets of Physical, Sexual, & Spiritual Health).

SAFED MUSALI* is sweet, hot and heavy, so it is good for Vata and Pitta and aggravates Kapha dosha. It is taken at a dose of 1-2 grams per day cooked in milk ( Dr. K. M. Nadkarni’s Indian Materia Medica).

PIPALI (PIPPLI)* (Piper longum) is a powerful rasayana (rejuvenating) remedy. It moistens the tissues and offsets the drying action of the other herbs. It is often combined with black pepper (Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Michael Tierra, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World’s Oldest Healing System).

ASHWAGANDA* is a sexual tonic which increases the production of sex hormones and sperm and improves the cardiovascular aspects of erectile dysfunction. In the long run, it can increase Pitta, so it should be combined with cooling herbs and foods, such as licorice, ghee (see Ghee recipe), raw sugar, milk, and rice (Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Michael Tierra, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World’s Oldest Healing System).

GOKSHURA* is especially good for the Pitta dosha. Use equal parts of powdered gokshura, sesame seed, kapi kachu, and ashwaganda. Take 6 grams of this mixture with honey, ghee, or milk (Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Michael Tierra, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World’s Oldest Healing System).

AMLA* is the basis of Chyavanprash, the most famous Ayurvedic rejuvenation jelly (see Old new secrets of Chyavanprash). For sexual rejuvenation, consume 1 – 2 tablespoons every day with warm milk or spread on toast (Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Michael Tierra, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World’s Oldest Healing System).

KAPI KACHU* seed is considered to be one of the best male reproductive tonics. It increases libido and erectile function. For impotence, 2 grams of kapi kachu powder are taken with warm milk at bedtime (Karta Purkh Signh Khalsa and Michael Tierra, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World’s Oldest Healing System).

*All above mentioned tonics must be used after the body is cleaned of toxins and digests food correctly. Failure to do that will lower your immunity and do harm rather than good. The easiest way to see if your body is toxic is to look at your tongue. If it is coated, you have toxins. Other signs of toxic accumulation are bad breath, pimples, skin rashes, constipation, diarrhea, congestion, excess mucus, very smelly stools, smelly sweat, smelly or yellow urine, chronic low energy, allergies, frequent colds and fevers, low-grade fevers, and low immune response.

Before treating acute symptoms (such as impotence) the level of toxins should be determined and addressed. Sometimes simple changes in diet are enough to lower the level of toxins (see Ayurvedic diet and eating habits). Mild fasting works well for the Pitta and Kapha doshas (see Ayurveda and Fasting). Pancha karma therapy cleanses the body from the toxic ama (see Pancha karma – 5 actions; and Simple home purification- Pancha karma).

TRIPHALA is good for gentle, slow detoxification of the digestive tract and then the deep tissues. Prolonged use of Triphala is safe and non habit – forming. Taken in dose of 2 – 4 grams per day at bedtime, it has a cleansing and detoxifying action. Lower doses taken with meals, have a building and rejuvenating effect (See Atreya, Practical Ayurveda: Secrets of Physical, Sexual, & Spiritual Health). You can read more about Triphala in my previous articles: Triphala- Ayurvedic panacea and Triphala eye treatment.

TODAY’S TIP: Happiness, in all areas of your life, including the bedroom, is your birthright.