Sex and Ayurveda

Sex has always been an issue of dichotomy. An integral part of our lives and essential for the continuation of the species, it is far more than just a technical necessity. While social structures in India are quite strict on this, the study of sex - from both its physical and psychological perspectives - has been practiced here from ancient times. Unlike in the west, where this is a fairly recent phenomenon and they are yet to find the proper line of distinction between sex in general and pornography in particular.

On the other hand Maharishi Vatsayan's Kamasutra is yet unparalleled as the most comprehensive documentation ever on the practice of sex. Unfortunately, its classic treatment of the act and the art has often been misrepresented. The ancient Ayurvedic text of Charaka Samhita provided complete sexual solutions over 3000 years ago And the time-frozen, stone-carved, erotic sculptures in the temples at Khajuraho and Konarak leave millions of visitors utterly awe-struck by their sheer beauty, elegance and variety. An undying testimony to how intrinsic sex was to the daily lives of people in ancient India.

The importance of sex in our lives has remained quite unchanged. The crucial points to be kept in mind in relation to the same being:
· Sex is an integral part of our daily habits (Dinacharya).
· Night and after two hours of dinner is the ideal time for intimacy, as it is kapha time.
· An absolutely satisfying sexual union, when developed over time, bestows you and your partner with health and vitality.
· For best results, each of the partners should be physically, emotionally and spiritually involved with the other.
· Touch, smell, food, music and ambience play a vital role in developing, increasing and prolonging intimacy.
· Perverted or unsatisfying sex has adverse effects on your mental and physical health, as it aggravates your vital energies (doshas) and reduces immunity. An aggravated vata will make you more emotionally vulnerable
and fear-prone, increased pitta will move you to anger and even frustration and enhanced kapha will make you more possessive.
· The frequency of sex depends on your constitution and seasons - kapha types indulge in sex more frequently than your vata & pitta types thanks to the extra stamina they possess.
· vata types might find satisfaction in changing partners. While the difficult-to-quench-their-desires pitta types are usually in quest for more intensity.

For more and better sex therefore, one can practice Vajikaran therapy (virlification) - that part of Ayurveda which enhances male fertility and potency. However, any misuse of the same may open up a deluge of emotional and psychological complications. Use of similar medication (aphrodisiac supplements) instantly induces sexual pleasure and excitement, increases sexual stamina and promotes fertile seminal secretions.

For each of the most common types of problems that can occur the remedies have been listed below:

PREMATURE EJACULATION:

The most common problem of sexual dissatisfaction is premature ejaculation in males. Because it cut shorts the duration of intimacy and the couple cannot achieve full orgasm.

Herbal Remedy:
a) Shilajit - one tablet, twice daily, with milk / fruit juice or water for 3 to 4 months.
b) Stress Guard - one capsule, twice daily, with milk or fruits juice.
c) Sri Gopal Taila - for gentle massage on male organ except glans penis, before half an hour of intimacy.

UNSATISFACTORY ERECTIONS OR SEXUAL DEFICIENCY:

In most cases the root cause for this is very psychological. However, it is imperative to first check on all the pathological / physical causes. After treating them, the patients' self-confidence needs to be restored too.

Herbal Remedy:
a) Shilajit - one tablet, twice daily, with honey.
b) Stress Guard - one cap, twice daily, with milk or fruit juice.
c) Sri Gopal Taila - for gentle massage on genital organ.

LACK OF LIBIDO:

The hectic pace of ultra modern lifestyle causes severe tension and excessive fatigue within individuals. This is usually the prime cause for lack of libido and unsatisfactory sexual performance.

Herbal Remedy:
a) Vita Ex Gold - one capsule, twice daily, with milk or fruit juice.
b) Ashwagandharishta - four t.s.f, twice daily, with water after meal.
c) Sri Gopal Taila - for massaging gently on male genital organ fatigue Headache

OLIGOSPERMIA:

Male infertility is often due to the sperm count falling below the fertility level. A large number of sperms are not motile, viable or exhibit morphological abnormalities.

Herbal Remedy:
a) Shilajit - one or two tablets, twice daily, with milk or butter.
b) Dhatupaustic Churna - one t.s.f. twice daily, with milk.
c) Ashwagandharishta - four t.s.f. twice daily, after milk, with water. All of these must be followed for 3 - 4 months to obtain results.

SPERMATORRHOEA (NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS):

It is an involuntary discharge of semen without undergoing orgasm. A distressing symptom in many patients, it leads to psychosomatic complaints as lack of concentration, headaches, excessive sweating, giddiness etc. Usually happens during sleep.

Herbal Remedy:
a) Mehamudgar Bati - one tab, twice daily
b) Swapnadoshhari Bati - two pills, two to three times daily, with water.
c) Chandraprabha Bati - two tablets, twice daily, with water.

SEXUAL WEAKNESS IN THE ELDERLY:

With the hectic lifestyles of this age and advancing years, the male desire for sexual intercourse tends to taper off early and sexual intimacy tends to become unsatisfactory.

Herbal Remedy:
a) Vita Ex Gold - one capsule, twice or thrice daily, with milk or water.
b) Stress Guard - one capsule, twice daily, with milk / water.
c) Sri Gopal Taila - massage gently on male genital organ.

IMPOTENCY:

Mainly psychogenic in origin, it is directly related to anxiety regarding sexual performance.

Herbal Remedy:
a) Ashwagandha Churna - one tsp, twice daily, with warm milk.
b) Dhatupaustik Churna - 5 to 10 gm twice daily
c) Sri Gopal Taila - for massage on male genital organ.

In the west there was some initial therapeutic enthusiasm over use of testosterone in impotence. But it did not stand the test of time. According to
an article in The British Medical Journal testosterone is quite ineffective when impotence is the sole symptom and testosterone levels per se are largely irrelevant. Its rise in blood level is secondary to sexual arousal. The reduction
in the plasma testosterone level, which may be found in chronically impotent men, probably reflects sexual apathy rather than causes it. This is in accord with the generally disappointing results using androgen replacement. And the high incidence of impotence in old age is not hormonal in origin.

Alcohol addiction
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Almost any health-enhancing program of diet and exercise with basic dietary supplements can help the situation. It is also important to deal first with known medical and psychological problems. Even some of these may be helped with nutrition and dietary supplements. Remember to start by changing those harmful life habits. They will not only begin to improve your love life, but they will help to prevent the chronic and lethal degenerative diseases. An initial dietary supplement program that is likely to help is the following:

AMPMBasic Multiple Formula33Vitamin C 1000 mg22Magnesium aspartate 200 mg11GLA 240 mg (as borage oil)1Vitamin E 400 IU natural mixed11Coenzyme Q10 100 mg1 Ginkgo biloba extract 60 mg11If the cause of sexual dysfunction is diabetes, heart disease, or hormonal imbalances, this program is likely to provide some help, but it is only the beginning. There are more vigorous programs for these conditions which may also help restore your sexuality and help you regain your love life.

For women with specific hormonal needs, natural progesterone supplements or natural estrogens may be valuable. For men, testosterone replacement is often part of a total program. (Even for women, there are therapeutic uses of testosterone in the treatment of heart disease and sexual dysfunction.) Hormonal supplementation with DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is often of benefit to both men and women. These hormones are prescription medications, and there is a growing number of medical doctors with interest in these modern treatments.