ANDROPAUSE & AYURVEDA

What is Andropause?

Andropause is derived from Greek word "andro," which means man, and "pause," which means to stop.
Andropause is similar to menopause, but it is found in men. As menopause affect the life of the female, andropause affect the life of the male. Andropause is related with the set of gradual psychological and physical changes among the men of middle age from 40 to 55. Like female, male also suffer from drop in the hormone level, testosterone in the male and estrogen in the female. Usually men suffers from the bodily changes which occur very gradually and they are also accompanied by changes in mood, attitude, fatigue, physical agility, loss of energy, sex drive and other health problems like weak bones, heart disease etc. sometimes it is confused with the Male Midlife Crisis. It is often called male menopause.

Andropause is a Hormone Imbalance due to the lack or absence of Testosterone which is the Male Hormone. Historically, by the age of 55 the amounts of Testosterone secreted by the Testis are significantly lower than it was at the age of 40 years. Unlike women, men do not have a clear-cut signpost such as the cessation of menstruation to mark this transition. Both, however, are distinguished by a drop in hormone levels; estrogen in the female, testosterone in the male. The bodily changes occur very gradually in men and may be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy, sex drive and physical agility.

Andropause is a simple Endocrine Imbalance. All Male Hormones gradually decline with passing years. The levels of the male sex hormone Testosterone decrease with advancing age, and the ratio of Testosterone to Estrogen falls. Testosterone (from the Testis); Human Growth Hormone (from the Pituitary); and DHEA and Androstenedione (from the Adrenal Glands) all begin to drop steadily.

Ayurvedic Aspect of Andropause

According to Ayurveda, andropause can be correlated to ageing process which is a part of growth in our body. Rasayana is the best way to treat the ageing process. Ayurveda believes that all seven constituents [dhathus] get weakened due to our body’s prolonged structural changes, as we age.
Aging is an inevitable change for all living organisms. Most people go panic about getting old. It's not the aging, but the consequences of aging which troubles them. Through Ayurveda, it is possible to slow down the process of aging, restore physical and mental strength and prevent the consequences of aging up to certain extent.

Symptoms

Difficulty Passing Urine
Impotence
Prostate Inflammation
Mood swings / Depression
Inability to lose weight
Fatigue
Memory loss
Blood Sugar Imbalance
Leg / Muscle Cramps
Swollen feet / ankle
Low Sperm Count
Lack libido
Breast Enlargement
Rapid Weight loss
Hair loss
Anger / Irritability
Bone loss (Osteoporosis)
Dry aging skin

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is one of the primary Male Sex Hormones produced in a man's body. A healthy male has approximately 1000 to 1200 nanograms/dl of Testosterone at the age of 20. By the age to 40 to 50 one sees a significant drop in these levels. By the age of 80 these levels decline to pre-puberty levels of 100 to 200 nanograms/dl.Testosterone, together with its metabolites, is collectively known as androgens. As a group of steroid hormones, they stimulate the development of masculine characteristics and are responsible for male puberty characterized by deepening voice, broadening shoulders, and moustache growth. The hallmark of andropause is declining testosterone levels.

Andropause & Osteoporosis
In an individual with osteoporosis, more bone tissue is lost than is regenerated. We've all heard of women suffering from weaker bones, or osteoporosis, after menopause. In men, testosterone is thought to play a role in helping to maintain this balance. Between the ages of 40 and 70 years, male bone density falls by up to 15 percent.

The incidence of hip fractures rises exponentially in ageing men, as it does in women, starting about 5 to 10 years later. Wrists, hips, spine and ribs are most commonly affected.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Andropause

In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, the treatment of andropause involves use of potent herbs like gokhshura (Tribulus terrestris), kapikachhu (Mucuna pruriens), methi (fenugreek) and asphaltum, also known as shilajit. Other herbs like ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), masha (Black gram) and safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) can also provide some benefits in relieving the symptoms, mainly due to their aphrodisiac properties.

In Ayurveda, gokhshura is used as a physical rejuvenation tonic since time immemorial. In Ayurveda, it is also called as "rasayana," meaning the rejuvenator of health. Gohkshura increases testosterone by increasing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which in turn stimulates the production of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The active ingredient in gokhshura is protodioscin, and besides this, it also contains many steroidal saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides which have a positive impact on testosterone and sex drive. Studies have shown that gokhshura can also decrease the frequency of angina pectoris, besides possessing antibiotic property and anti-tumor potentiality. Also it helps to lower cholesterol levels in bloodstream. Due to its diuretic property, gokhshura can also lower blood pressure and it also possesses blood sugar lowering properties. The herb is also known to have a positive effect on bone marrow activity, producing healthy red blood cells and boosting our immune system.

Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens) has been found to contain L-dopa, which is an amino acid that converts into dopamine. Dopamine is an essential component of our body and it is required for proper functioning of the brain. The increased dopamine levels also optimize the production of other hormones, including testosterone. Studies also show L-dopa also helps in the reduction of cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Methi (fenugreek) contains a high amount of furostanolic saponins, which elevate testosterone levels by increasing in the amount of LH (luteinizing hormone) and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) produced by the body. LH and DHEA are hormones that signal the release of testosterone in the body.

Shilajit is a natural extracts of plants of the regions of the Himalayas, and is found in the Himalayan ranges. Shilajit contains at least 85 minerals in Ionic form as well as humic acid and fulvic acid. The three vital minerals, which play an important role in testosterone production in men includes zinc, copper and selenium. Shilajit contains these minerals in highly bio-available ionic form.

Some Ayurveda Preparations

ü  Vigoraoyal-M

ü  Energol-MA

ü  Maharishi Amrit Kalash

ü  Chandraprabha Vati

ü  Ashwagandhadi Avleha

ü  Gokshuradi Guggulu

ü  Shilajeet Vati

ü  Kaunh Paak

ü  Mushali Paak

Tips for Andropause

1. Reduce fried foods, tea, coffee and sugar; all these foods deplete the adrenals, add to andropausal weight gain, and drain male energy.

2. An extremely low fat diet is disastrous for andropausal health.

3. Increase your intake of zinc to renew sexual potency. Zinc, highly concentrated in semen, is the most important nutrient for male sexual function.

4. Avoid your alcohol intake. Heavy drinking can lead to prostate problems and impaired erections by increasing levels of di-hydro-testosterone (DHT).

5. Take care of your prostate health.

6. Regular exercise is a vital component of male sexual health. Exercise makes the body function more efficiently and raises strength and endurance.

7. Do practice T.M (Transcendental Meditation) in your daily routine.

TREATMENT OF DIGESTIVE AND ELI MINATORY DISORDERS

HERBS AND THE DIGESTIVE PROCESS

Ayurveda aims at treating the root of disease, not merely at alleviating symptoms. Its treatment methods involve the main factors of our daily living, as it is what we do every day that determines who we are and how we feel. The most basic of these daily factors is our diet.

The physical body is built up by the food we eat, which is divided into three portions. The gross part becomes feces, the middle part becomes the bodily tissues, and the subtle portion becomes the mind. Hence most physical or even mental disorders are caused by or accompanied with digestive disorders. While such digestive disorders may appear mild relative to the other disease symptoms we may experience, even mild digestive system disorders can over a period of time cause severe health problems to arise.

For example, if we eat excess Kapha-forming food as in the case of too much dairy, sugar, oils, or animals facts, Kapha will eventually accumulate in the system causing such problems as atherosclerosis and heart disease. The digestive tract symptoms that underlie this condition may be no more than a feeling of heaviness and occasional nausea after meals, yet the disease caused by such dietary indiscretion can prove fatal in time, even without any major digestive systems symptoms.

If even a small fraction of the food we take daily is not converted properly into bodily tissues, but instead accumulates as toxins, over a period of time a large toxic mass can be formed. If, for example, only one drop of the food we eat daily is not digested properly, this amount will accumulate in a month to thirty drops-quite enough an amount to damage the organs or clog the channels. This is just like how one little hole in the roof can damage the whole ceiling of a house. Hence we should not overlook the role of apparently minor, but ongoing digestive dysfunctions to cause severe diseases.

In the same way, correcting wrong eating habits can cut off the root of many health disorders and even cure diseases over a period of time. However, several months to a year or more may be required for diet alone to cure manifest diseases, as its curative factors work by the same gradual method that produced the condition in the first place. Similarly, if dietary therapy does not accompany our healing methods, then these methods may be ineffective. If our diet is contrary to our herbs or medicines, we cannot expect them to work.