Hormones and Men’s Health
We all know that men and women are biologically different, but perhaps less different than you think. While there is limited evidence for a male monthly cycle, a man’s hormonal balance changes greatly throughout the span of a lifetime. These hormonal changes can affect mental state, mood, muscle mass and sexual function. A couple of key hormones to watch in men are testosterone and cortisol.
Testosterone affects male fertility, libido and aggression. Testosterone also declines as we age. Normally, testosterone production peaks in adolescence and early adulthood. Starting at around age thirty, men’s testosterone diminishes by about one percent a year. Diminished testosterone may contribute to reduced energy, strength, endurance, sex drive, erectile function, enjoyment of life, and performance at work.
Cortisol is the stress hormone. In crisis situations, (when you are about to be eaten by a tiger,) cortisol and adrenaline help us to respond with the fight – flight response. If stress becomes constant, which seems all too common in our modern times, cortisol levels can become chronically elevated. As Cortisol becomes elevated, testosterone drops. And a drop in testosterone can cause other things to drop. According to experts at The Cleveland Clinic, erectile dysfunction affects over 40% of men over the age of 40 and 70% of men over the age of 70%.
Acupuncture can be highly effective in helping to regulate hormonal imbalances and maintain healthy testosterone levels in men. Hormonal reflexes are palpated to reveal which hormonal systems are out of balance. For example, someone who has chronic exhaustion may have an adrenal imbalance. Chronic exhaustion could also be due to a thyroid imbalance.
Through palpation, I can pinpoint where the problem is, and monitor how the patient is responding to treatment. It is particularly important to tease out and treat the underlying issues that are creating the patient’s symptoms. The reproductive system works in concert with the heart – on both physical and emotional levels. When men are plagued by erectile dysfunction, a successful treatment utilizes a holistic approach to address the overall health.
Treatment is focused on the underlying cause or fundamental weakness within your constitution (your unique energetic makeup.) In Five Element Acupuncture, we call this weakness the Causative Factor (the one element which is most out of balance).
Think of each of the Five Elements as a member of a team (wood, fire, earth, metal, water.) If one of the players has a problem, the whole team has a problem. If the team member or element is supported well, she can overcome her problems and become stronger. Everyone on the team benefits from the renewed health of this player. By providing the appropriate support to the weakest element the whole system improves.
So, if you are experiencing hormonal problems, fear not. Acupuncture can help to reduce these imbalances and improve your overall health. As your hormonal balance improves, you can develop more strength, energy, endurance and sex drive.
Do you find yourself plagued by a constant sense of danger and doom? Or, are you someone who behaves recklessly without fear? Fear is the emotion associated with the Water Element. In excess, fear can be immobilizing and prevent us from living fully. When fear is in our way, we miss life’s challenges and opportunities. If you suffer from chronic apprehension, Acupuncture can help.
Avoiding Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are a significant health issue. This problem affects hundreds of millions of women around the world each year. On average, these infections tend to last six days.
Women’s UTIs tend to be recurrent. Chronic UTIs can lead to inflammation of the urinary bladder called cystitis. Is this problem inevitable? Not for most women.
First, let’s look at women’s anatomy and microbiology. The female bladder drains through the urethra, exiting the body in front of the vagina. Similarly, the uterus opens to the vaginal canal and into the vagina. The vagina is host to the healthy bacteria lactobacilli, more famously known as the friendly bacteria of the intestines. In the vagina and urethra, these bacteria provide protection against bacterial intruders. A healthy colony of lactobacilli in the vaginal region can not only prevent UTI’s and but also prevent yeast infections in the vaginal canal.
More than two thirds of all UTIs are caused by E-coli or staphylococcus saprophyticus bacteria. To complicate this picture, the antibiotics prescribed in the treatment of UTIs often destroy the lactobacilli colony. The E-coli or staph take up residence in place of the lactobacilli. Recurrence of infection almost becomes inevitable.
What can you do? For hundreds of years, women have used a folk remedy which today, is being shown to have a scientific basis. You can cultivate healthy bacteria in the vaginal region. This can be done in several ways. One simple method is to implant lactobacilli in the vaginal canal by using a tampon or sponge soaked in plain yogurt with an active culture. Alternatively, a lactobacillus suppository can be used to cultivate healthy flora in the vaginal region. These methods are sometimes used as treatment where antibiotics are not available. For those who do take antibiotics, lactobacillus implants can also be used to re-establish a healthy microbial environment and prevent the recurrence of UTIs.
In addition to the home remedies we listed, acupuncture is a powerful tool to assist the body to heal from infection. Unlike antibiotics, with acupuncture there are no rebound effects and the treatments will strengthen the immune system, helping you to prevent recurrence. A one year study in Norway of 100 women showed that acupuncture reduced the incidence of cystitis by more than half. Call us now (973) 509-8464 or schedule online for your next appointment.
The contents in this article are not meant to be diagnostic or prescriptive. Urinary tract infections are sometimes complex, and a physician should always be consulted before choosing a course of treatment.
By David Frome • Acupuncture • • Tags: acupuncture, bladder, cystitis, E-coli, Female Pelvis, folk remedy, healthy bacteria, immune system, implant lactobacilli, infection, lactobacilli, staphylococcus staprophyticus, urethra, vagina, vaginal canal, women's health