What Is Testosterone and What Does It Do?
The hormone testosterone is produced by both men and women, (men in the testes and women in the ovaries, with some from the adrenals). Broadly speaking testosterone facilitates muscle development and maintenance of bone (strength), libido, and fertility (sperm production).
What are the symptoms of having Low testosterone?
In men Low testosterone may present as low libido, erectile dysfunction, fertility issues, fatigue, hair loss, decreased muscle mass and/or bone density, anxiety, insomnia and other issues.
What may cause Low Testosterone?
The causes can vary widely, but anything which injures the testes can cause problems such as trauma, chemotherapy, radiation, virus’s, genetic issues are a few.
Factors from a Chinese Medicine Perspective?
Within the Chinese Medicine framework, when looking at treating Low Testosterone some common lifestyle/dietary factors that may contribute to lo
w testosterone would be analysed, some of these include the following:
Stress – particularly chronic long term stress.
Lack of quality sleep – during deep sleep is when functions of restoration happen in the body.
Excess Alcohol consumption – regular habit of consumption may decrease levels primarily by converting testosterone to oestradiol.
Age – testosterone will generally decrease by 1% every year after 45 or so.
Lack of exercise, or excessive exercise – one may leave levels low, one may deplete levels.
Lack of sexual activity, or excessive activity – again one may leave levels low and one may deplete levels.
Some Prescription Medications
What Can Chinese Medicine Offer for Low Testosterone?
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the Kidney system is what in charge of reproduction, sex hormones, vitality, bone development etc. In general, this system can either be overstimulated (what we call Kidney Yin deficiency) or truly weak (what we call Kidney Yang deficiency).
Diagnosis of which of these two Kidney pathologies is conducted and some common symptoms of these is that with Kidney Yang Deficiency you will have more feelings of cold, fatigue with a need for more sleep, perhaps a more lowered mood and with Kidney Yin Deficiency you will have more feelings of heat, fatigue but with aa wired feeling where sleep is still problematic, perhaps with more anxiety or restlessness.
Individual treatment then will vary depending on the overall diagnosis each person and mixed syndromes are somewhat common requiring consultation with a qualified practitioner. There are of course many more options to aid a person with these issues and each case needs to be evaluated individually.
Scott Stephen’s is available for consult at Mornington Chinese Medicine on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. For an appointment please call 59736886