Male sexuality is under assault. Here are some of the statistics that back up this assertion. The average man's sperm count is half what it was 70 years ago. Half of all American men have problems with impotency (the politically correct term now is erectile dysfunction).
Prostate cancer is the number one cancer among men (one in three men is expected to get it) and testicular cancer is on the rise. 60 percent of men over 40 have prostate problems.
Birth defects of the penis and undescended testicles are on the rise too, so the problems are not just affecting older men. Professor Skakkebaek at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, said: There is evidence that male reproductive function seems to have deteriorated considerably during the past 4 to 5 decades. Similar reproductive problems are on the rise in wild animals the causes are clearly environmental. The truth is that environmental toxins are disrupting the balance of male hormones and chemically "castrating" men.

The nutritional deficiencies caused by the modern diet are weakening men's bodies through chronic disease. Many men suffer from back problems, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and other chronic problems that reduce and inhibit their natural masculine strength.


Q. I know you often use products that are labeled for women to help men. War are some of the "female formula" you use for men and why do you use them?
I use formulas based on the results I want to accomplish- not what the label says. Many of the formulas designed to balance female hormones will also help to balance male hormones.
For example, C-X is typically used as a post-menopausal formula for women. I have used it for men that are having estrogen imbalances. C-X works well for men that tend to have breakouts of acne on the back It supports the adrenals and helps with congestion and depression in men. Since it helps with congestion in the cells, it can help the body recognize insulin and improve cellular communication. This can help the body control excess
cortisol levels more effectively. It also works for vasodilative headaches. Men that tend to be overheated and show signs of rosacea also benefit from C-X. However, C-X is contraindicated with high blood pressure.

Another "female" formula I have used for men is FCS II. FCS Il helps with addictive tendencies in both men and women, even if it is just a tendency to be a bit rigid. FCS II is helpful with edema in men, especially those with high blood pressure. It can help with congestion that puts stress on the kidneys. I have used FCS II for "damp spleen" conditions, where a person has poor digestion.

A single herb that is often considered a "female" remedy is red raspberry. Red raspberry helps men with an acid reflux condition by acting as an antacid, especially men without a gallbladder. It is a good remedy to use with diarrhea that is stress induced. I have used it for incontinence and elevated PSA counts in men. You can also make a mask out of it by mixing it with Nature's Fresh and applying it topically for rosacea.


Q. What's your protocol for helping men with BPH?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is nonmalignant (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland, a common occurrence in older men. It is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia and abbreviated as BPH.
Anytime you have something with inflammation involved, it will be affecting all areas of the body as well. I use a high quantity of IF Relief for most people since the underlying root cause of most diseases is inflammation.
Men's Formula is a good adjunct to this too. It helps with the feeling of frequent urination. Supplements like Saw Palmetto and KB-C are also helpful here.


Q. Do you have any suggestions for men with erectile dysfunction? What is your approach to this problem?
Fitly percent of men ages 40-70 experience some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED). There are two basic types.
Psychological ED is mentally and emotionally based, while physiological ED is due to some form of physical or medical problem.
The first type, psychological ED, can be related to many issues, such as depression, performance anxiety, marital stress or relationship problems, marital boredom, life crisis, financial difficulties, religious repression or some type of mental illness. This requires counseling or emotional healing work.
Physiological E. D. becomes more common as men get older. It has four major causes such as vascular, neural, hormonal and drug- induced. The appropriate approach will depend on the cause, so let's look at each of these causes and what to do about it.

1. Vascular causes of ED
This has to do with blood flow. It takes blood flow to the penis to get an erection, so any condition that impedes blood flow can cause ED. This includes arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), hypertension, inflammation of the blood vessels and diabetes. Other factors that impede blood flow could be injury or surgery to the pelvic or abdominal area and smoking. Smoking reduces genital blood flow. If circulation is the cause, the l-arginine found in Solstic Cardio can be helpful. L-arginine acts as a precursor for nitric oxide, which dilates arteries and small blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and increases blood flow to the genital area. A small 1994 study, in which men took 2.8 grams of arginine every day for two weeks, showed a significant improvement in ED.
Another study found that almost three-quarters of 178 men with low sperm counts had significantly higher counts after taking four grams of arginine daily for three months. Most recently, a study published in 1999 followed 50 men with erectile dysfunction for six weeks. Among those who took a high daily dose of l-arginine (5 grams), 31 percent reported significant subjective improvements in sexual function, compared to only 12 percent of those taking a placebo. Mega-Chel taken between meals can also be very helpful.

2. Neural causes of ED
Nerve damage from disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and strokes affect the brain's ability to respond to sexual stimulation and cause erectile dysfunction. ED is common in men undergoing surgical treatment for prostate enlargement or cancer. Essential fatty acids play a key role in nerve repair, so supplementation with good fats is essential. St. John's wort can stimulate nerve regeneration and repair. Adaptagens and nervines are very important, too. Nervous Fatigue Formula, Adaptamax and Suma Combination are a few of the remedies to consider.

3. Hormonal causes of ED
Low levels of androgens, such as testosterone, are sometimes a component of erectile dysfunction. Testosterone levels decline about 1 percent each year in men, which may contribute to erectile dysfunction with aging. Replacement of androgens can sometimes be helpful in those with age-related erectile dysfunction. Saliva hormone testing can help establish where hormone levels currently are so they can be brought into balance. Some of the remedies to consider include the following. DHEA converts into testosterone and can help with ED. Pregnenolone can also increase testosterone levels. X-A and X-Action have a positive influence on ED. Sarsaparilla helps with testosterone production. I also use Men's Formula, DHEA-M and liver cleansing to help balance androgens.

4. Drug or medication-induced erectile dysfunction
Drugs that interfere with erectile function include some varieties of anti-hypertensives, SSRIs (like Prozac), sedatives, and beta-blockers. Beta-blockers such as propranolol, atenolol, and others, are some of the most common medications that cause erectile dysfunction. SSRIs, used in the treatment of depression, cause erectile dysfunction mostly due to their effect on serotonin metabolism.

Serotonin has an inhibitory effect on erectile function and sexuality. Surprisingly, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen also cause erectile dysfunction. Regardless of the reason for taking them, painkillers classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) apparently increase the likelihood that middle aged and elderly men will develop erection difficulties.
In 1994, a thousand men, between 50 and 70 years of age, without erectile dysfunction participated in a survey regarding their erectile function and medication usage. When the questionnaire was re-administered five years later, the investigators found that the erectile dysfunction rate among NSAID users was nearly triple that of nonusers.

Alcohol's negative affect on sex drive increases with age. Researchers in India found that men being treated for alcoholism had lower testosterone levels and more sperm abnormalities than non-drinkers did. They also had a far higher rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) - 71 percent, versus seven percent of abstainers. Therefore, a natural remedy for erectile dysfunction is to reduce alcohol intake, particularly beer. Beer contains hops which is a potent estrogenic plant. There are other causes of ED besides these major causes. For example, sitting on a bicycle too long. Men who log several
thousand miles a year on their mountain bikes suffer scrotal damage that could reduce their fertility or cause ED.

Q. What does a high PSA count mean and how do you reduce it?
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein originally found in semen, the fluid that carries sperm. Normally, PSA is made in cells of the prostate called epithelial cells. It helps to keep the semen in its liquid form.

Small amounts of PSA, made by the prostate, get into the circulation and can be measured in the blood. Certain prostate conditions, including prostate cancer, can cause high levels of PSA in the blood. PSA itself does not have any known effect outside the prostate; even high levels of PSA are not directly harmful. High PSA levels in the blood, however, may be a sign of a prostate problem, perhaps even a serious one.
The most common condition leading to a high PSA is benign (non cancerous) enlargement of the prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The key is to have enough good fats in the diet for hormone combustion. I use Master Gland, Men's Formula and IF Relief for this problem.

A high PSA count can also be caused by infection. Using the Silver Shield can address the beginning stages and even lower numbers on blood tests.

In addition to prostate problems, some medical treatments can affect PSA levels.