According to medicinenet,Men who use erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs recreationally may be more likely to develop psychogenic ED, the type that originates in the mind, according to new research."Recreational use of ED medications increased the chance of psychological dependence on ED medicines,'' says researcher Christopher Harte, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the VA Boston Healthcare System.
Can acupuncture help ED?
Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine has done a report about acupuncture ED treatment.That reports the observed effects of acupuncture for ED in a non-diabetic haemodialysis patient. A 43-year-old man undergoing haemodialysis received 12 sessions of manual acupuncture over 6 weeks and was observed for 6 months after the end of treatment. Total International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire scores of the patient were changed from 32 at baseline to 60 at post-treatment evaluation, which means there was a significant improvement of ED. All International Index of Erectile Function subscales also increased. This beneficial effect lasted up to 6 months after the end of treatment. No adverse events were observed. An interview revealed that the lowered self-esteem of the patient was restored with the improvement of ED following acupuncture.
Researcher mention that further controlled studies are needed to determine whether acupuncture might be a feasible and useful treatment option for erectile dysfunction in haemodialysis patients.
Chinese research of acupuncture has reported that acupuncture influences the activities of norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and their biological enzymes in the central nervous system.16-20 During acupuncture, both synthesis and use of central norepinephrine are accelerated. As the rate of use exceeds that of synthesis, norepinephrine content decreases.
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Reference:Kim KH, Kim TH, Kang JW, Lee MS, Kim JI, Choi JY, Sul JU, Choi SM.Acupunct Med. 2010 Dec 16.
