Acupuncture and herbs can be beneficial for supporting all of the unique and challenging changes that occur as men age. From supporting
cardiovascular health, addressing prostate inflammation, treating hormone imbalances, to supporting fertility, virility and sperm quality:
Chinese herbs and acupuncture are a great addition to any man’s health routine.
Primary health issues that affect men include:
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the leading men’s health threat, with heart disease and stroke topping the list as the first and second leading causes
of death worldwide. Acupuncture has been found to be particularly beneficial in lowering blood pressure, which also helps prevent
cardiovascular disease. Acupuncture stimulates the release of natural opioids in the body, which then decreases the heart’s activity and lowers
the need for excess oxygen. All of this lowers blood pressure and stress.
Prostate Health
The prostate is prone to enlargement and inflammation as men age, called prostatitis, affects about half of men in their sixties and up to 90 percent
of men in their seventies and eighties. If left untreated, benign prostate gland enlargement, which can cause urinary dysfunction, sexual dysfunction
and pain. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can be used to treat prostate problems to relieve the urinary symptoms and prevent more serious conditions
from occurring.
Reproductive Health
Infertility due to a male factor accounts for 40% of couples trying to conceive. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been shown in many studies to
help improve sperm count, motility, and morphology, as well as correcting some immune factors such as anti-sperm antibodies that can interfere
with conception. You can find more information o
n Acupuncture for Male Fertility here.
Low libido
It is estimated that 31% of men report issues with libido. Anxiety, stress, hormone imbalances and anatomical problems that affect libido are all
treatable with Acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
Aging and Andropause
Though often referred to as “male menopause”, andropause is more than the male equivalent of menopause, as it presents its own unique set of
symptoms, causes and patterns of onset. Just as women experience hormone imbalances with age, so do men. As men age, they experience
decreasing levels of testosterone that can throws everything off. Read more about Andropause symptoms and treatments here.
Depression and Mental Health
Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women, reports the Men’s Health Network, which attributes part of the problem to
underdiagnosed depression in men. It is now believed that the male tendency to hide feelings of depression and to not seek professional help
has skewed previously reported numbers. Depression in men does not present solely as extreme sadness. Depression in men may present as
anger, aggression, burnout, risk-taking behavior, mid-life crisis or alcohol and substance abuse.
When people are suffering from depression, brain chemicals and stress hormones are out of balance. Sleep, appetite and energy levels are all
disturbed. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can alleviate symptoms associated with depression and mental health issues by helping to re-
balance the body’s internal systems. The growing body of research supporting the positive effects of acupuncture on depression, anxiety and
insomnia is so strong that the military now uses acupuncture to treat troops with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat stress syndrome.
About The Author: Julee Miller
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