We all know that testosterone level is closely related with a man's
erectile function, but it is not the only factor that contributes to impotence.
The normal range of testosterone level is very wide: from 300 to 1000 pg/mL.
You would think a man with testosterone level around 300 pg/mL would probably
have some erectile dysfunction, but that is not always true. Let me tell you a
story about a man who came to me for weak erections after turning 45 years old.
This man, who formerly served in the US army, used to have such strong
sexual drive and function that when he was in his twenties, he went to a bar, had
a one night stand with a girl, and ended up with a child before he even thought
about setting up a family. He became more responsible in his thirties, got
married, and had two other children. He had been a very disciplined military
man and later became a successful businessman.
During his first marriage, he started gaining weight around his middle
because he ate more candy than before to make him happy. Due to his unhealthy
diet and lack of physical exercise, he gained more fat and lost more muscle. He
ended up in the hospital for a small surgery and met a beautiful, active younger
lady. This new stimulation made his sexual function stronger for a short period
of time, but this did not last very long because he did not change his lifestyle.
By the age of 48, he started having knee pain after running for 20 min
and noticed that his muscle mass was declining faster then he expected. More
important is that although he loves his new girlfriend, his erection still became
weaker and he told me he could not have as strong and as long of an erection as
a few years ago. On the other hand, his girlfriend, who eats healthy and has a very
positive attitude on life, still had beautiful skin and strong sex drive.
My patient did not want to develop impotence and upset his beloved girlfriend,
so he did research on the Internet and found that acupuncture can help his knee
pain and more importantly, his sexual function. He called me a few months
before moving to Boston, and we started treating his knee pain first. Because
he still has pretty good circulation and strong muscles due to years of military
training and regular sleep pattern, he responded to the treatment very well,
and after 6 treatments, he started running again without knee pain.
Then, he brought up his declining sexual function. He told me that he
used to have sex with his girlfriend 4 to 5 times a week and their intercourse
could last about 40 min. Now, he can barely make once a week, and it only
lasted for 10 to 15 min. He told me his first testosterone level was low,
around 300 pg/mL. I told him that he needed to build strong muscles and eat a
lot of fruit and vegetables to bring up his testosterone level. In the mean
time, we started using kidney and liver points to improve the energy flow to
his adrenal gland, thyroid gland and testicles.
Within the next 6 months, he lost 40 lbs and gradually gained
back his muscle mass.He can have longer and stronger erections and have excellent sex 3 to 4 times a week. He was
so thrilled about the changes. However, in a subsequent test for testosterone level, he found that his
testosterone level only increased slightly. He is happy with his sexual level,
but puzzled by his low level of testosterone.
My answer is that his body may not need that much testosterone to have
normal sexual function. Although 350 pg/mL low for other men, it is sufficient
for him because acupuncture made his testosterone receptors more efficient. Furthermore,
his strong muscle also helps to make his testosterone work better. This
phenomenon makes since if we draw an analogy to heart function. A strong heart
does not need to beat too fast to provide enough blood and oxygen to your body
and brain. From an evolutionary point of view, a lower hormone level can
actually protect our body because it allows us to produce less metabolic waste
products.
Boston Chinese Acupuncture can help you resume normal erectile function
even if your testosterone level is low. Men who a lot of stress from work and high expectations to
fulfill may need acupuncture to help them reduce their stress and redirect energy
to their testicles, pituitary gland, thyroid gland and hypothalamus every two
weeks or once a month. This investment to balance your hormone levels will help
you have a healthy and fulfilling sex life through middle age and beyond!
