Article 23: Negative Pressure Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction and Traditional Chinese Medicine Differentiation

◇A Guide to Caring for Your Husband's Health as a Good Wife◇

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Treatment and recuperation of common diseases

4. Negative pressure passive erection method: The vacuum negative pressure suction device, also known as a male erectile dysfunction aid, is a relatively popular tool for treating erectile dysfunction.

This device utilizes the principle of vacuum negative pressure to draw blood from around the penis into the corpora cavernosa, causing the penis to enlarge and erect. According to measurements, the penis can erect at its maximum speed when the negative pressure reaches -23.3 to -50.7 kPa.

In practical application, the effectiveness of vacuum negative pressure devices is not ideal. Many patients achieve a certain level of erection with this device, but the penis immediately softens upon removal. Others experience difficulty achieving a proper erection, or only experience penile enlargement in a semi-erect state. Therefore, before the penis fully softens after treatment, a rubber band must be placed at the base of the penis to reduce blood flow. Intercourse under these conditions can cause discomfort for the man, hinder ejaculation, and affect the quality of orgasm. Therefore, vacuum negative pressure devices are only an auxiliary treatment for erectile dysfunction, and expectations should not be too high. Vacuum negative pressure devices are contraindicated for patients with severe cardiovascular disease, severe phimosis or redundant foreskin, thrombotic lesions, local penile inflammation, or sexually transmitted diseases.

When using a vacuum negative pressure device for treatment, the negative pressure must be properly controlled; otherwise, complications such as penile congestion, pain, and foreskin edema may occur.

If this device causes difficulty in ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation, other treatment methods should be used instead.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine differentiate syndromes and treat diseases?

1. Yin deficiency with excessive fire type: This type is more common in young adults with a history of masturbation. Symptoms include penile erection, but loss of erection before intercourse, palpitations, sweating, nervousness, thirst, lower back pain, weak knees, heel pain, yellow urine, dry stools, red tongue with little or no coating, or peeling or cracking of the tongue coating, and a thready and rapid pulse.

Treatment principle: Nourish Yin and reduce internal heat.

Prescription: 10g Rehmannia glutinosa (raw), 10g Rehmannia glutinosa (processed), 10g Cuscuta chinensis, 10g Poria cocos, 10g Lycium barbarum, 6g Schisandra chinensis, 10g Rosa laevigata, 15g raw turtle shell (decocted first), 15g oyster shell (decocted first), 10g Paeonia suffruticosa, 10g Trichosanthes kirilowii, 10g Dipsacus asper, 10g Taxillus chinensis.

2. Deficiency of Kidney Fire Type: This type is commonly seen in the elderly, or those who have engaged in excessive sexual activity, or those who have masturbated in their youth, leading to depletion of essence and qi. Symptoms include inability to achieve an erection, cold and clear semen, dizziness and tinnitus, pale complexion, aversion to cold and preference for warmth, lethargy, weakness in the lower back and knees, thin white tongue coating, and a deep, thready, and weak pulse.

Treatment principle: Warm the kidneys and tonify Yang.

Prescription: 10g Rehmannia glutinosa, 10g Lycium barbarum, 10g Cynomorium songaricum, 12g Curculigo orchioides, 12g Epimedium brevicornu, 12g Yangqishi (a type of mineral), 10g Cornus officinalis, 10g Morinda officinalis, 6g Schisandra chinensis, 6g Acorus tatarinowii, 10g Cistanche deserticola, 10g Broussonetia papyrifera.

3. Heart and Spleen Deficiency Type: Commonly seen in mental laborers. Symptoms include erectile dysfunction, sallow complexion, loss of appetite, fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, loose stools, pale tongue with thin coating, and weak pulse.

Treatment principle: Nourish the heart and spleen.

Prescription: Codonopsis pilosula 10g, Astragalus membranaceus 10g, Atractylodes macrocephala 10g, Poria cocos 10g, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa 10g, Longan aril 7 pieces, Aucklandia lappa 6g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed) 3g, Angelica sinensis (processed) 10g, Polygala tenuifolia (processed) 10g, Psoralea corylifolia 10g, Cuscuta chinensis 10g.

4. Fear-induced kidney damage type: Often has a history of being frightened during sexual intercourse. Symptoms include penile atrophy before sexual activity, timidity and anxiety, palpitations and easy alarm, restless sleep, nocturnal emission and premature ejaculation, pale tongue with white coating, and wiry pulse.

Treatment principle: Tonify the kidneys and calm the mind.

Prescription: Cinnamon twig 6g, Dragon bone (decocted first) 15g, Oyster shell (decocted first) 15g, Prepared licorice root 3g, White peony root 10g, Codonopsis root 10g, Morinda root 10g, Acorus tatarinowii rhizome 6g, Prepared Polygala tenuifolia root 6g, Cuscuta seed 10g, Angelica sinensis root 10g, Poria cocos 10g.

5. Liver Qi Stagnation Type: Commonly seen in people with unhappiness. Symptoms include penile inability to achieve or maintain an erection, depression, decreased libido, chest tightness, abdominal distension and hypochondriac pain, dark red tongue, and wiry pulse.

Treatment principle: Soothe the liver and relieve depression.

Prescription: Cimicifuga rhizome 6g, Bupleurum root 6g, Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizome 6g, Cyperus rhizome 10g, Tribulus terrestris rhizome 12g, Citrus leaf 4g, Prepared Polygonum multiflorum root 10g, Lycium barbarum fruit 10g, Cistanche deserticola fruit 10g, Morinda officinalis root 10g, Citrus aurantium fruit 6g.

6. Damp-heat accumulation type: This is often seen in obese people or those who have a fondness for strong-flavored alcohol. Symptoms include penile flaccidity, damp scrotum, dribbling after urination or a foul odor, fatigue, dry or bitter mouth, dark yellow urine, yellow and greasy tongue coating, and a soft and rapid pulse.

Treatment principle: Clear away damp-heat.

Prescription: Bupleurum chinense 6g, Notopterygium incisum 6g, Poria cocos 15g, Alisma plantago-aquatica 10g, Coix lacryma-jobi 15g, Phellodendron chinense 6g, Gentiana scabra 6g, Angelica sinensis 10g, Stephania tetrandra 10g, Dioscorea hypoglauca 10g, Ephedra sinica root 6g, Atractylodes lancea 6g.

7. Blood stasis type: This is commonly seen in patients with vascular erectile dysfunction; it may be caused by falls, excessive weight-bearing, strenuous sexual activity, or injuries from sharp objects that damage the blood vessels; or even without a clear history of external injury, the disease has been present for a long time, leading to blood stasis and erectile dysfunction. The tongue is dark purple or has petechiae, and the pulse is choppy and weak.

Treatment principle: Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.

Prescription: Angelica sinensis (tail) 10g, Paeonia lactiflora (red) 10g, Prunus persica (kernel) 10g, Ligusticum chuanxiong (root) 6g, Sappanwood 10g, Paeonia suffruticosa (root bark) 10g, Salvia miltiorrhiza (root) 10g, Citrus aurantium (ripe fruit) 6g, Trichosanthes kirilowii (whole fruit) 10g, Areca catechu (nut) 10g, Bupleurum chinense (root) 6g, Rheum palmatum (processed) 6g, Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) 6g.