Read Online The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies by Martha Schindler Connors - Free Book Online

chemically similar to the sex hormone estradiol, the primary estrogen in humans. Although it’s generally regarded as a “woman’s hormone,” estradiol also occurs naturally in a man’s body (it’s produced in the testes). In addition, as in a woman’s body, a man’s body produces precursor hormones (including testosterone), which are converted to estradiol. In a man’s body, estradiol is involved in sexual functioning, the synthesis of bone, cognitive functioning, and the modulation of several diseases (including cancer and heart disease).
    Most phytoestrogens are a type of plant chemical known as isoflavones; the best-known source is soy
(Glycine max).
Another kind of phytoestrogens, lignans, are in flax
(Linum usitatissimum).
A third type, coumestans, can be found red clover
(Trifolium pratense)
and alfalfa
(Medicago sativa).
    In men, dietary phytoestrogens have been associated with lower rates of prostate cancer. However, men should avoid consuming excessive amounts, as some studies have shown that soy intake can reduce a man’s sperm count (other studies have had different results, meaning the jury is still out on the question).
    To be safe, men should avoid medicinal herbs that are high in phytoestrogens and stick to sensible amounts of soy and other phytoestrogen-containing foods.
    Estrogen, like any other hormone, can be both beneficial and harmful. Research has shown that a few chemicals, called
estrogenic xenobiotics,
can mimic estrogen in the body and cause health problems the same way that excessive estrogen might do naturally. For example, the chemical nonylphenol, found in cleaning products, paints, herbicides, and pesticides, can damage human sperm.
Using Herbs Wisely
    Here are some tips for men on using herbs and preparations:
    • Keep Your Doctor Informed. Talk with your doctor about any herbs you’re considering, especially if you’re being treated for a serious and/or chronic condition.
    • Do Your Homework. “Natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” (or even “safe”). Herbs are considered supplements—not drugs—and so are handled more like foods than pharmaceuticals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require supplement manufacturers to prove an herb’s safety, quality, or efficacy. So be sure to buy from reputable sources, and always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
    • Pay Attention. Everyone responds differently to medicines, whether they’re from a plant or a pharmacy, so everyone requires a different dose. This is especially true with herbs, which can vary significantly in potency from one product to another. Most herbs have very low risk of interactions or side effects, but you should monitor yourself when starting any new therapy.
    • Give It Time. Most herbal remedies take a bit longer to produce effects than pharmaceuticals do. Experts advise allowing several weeks before deciding if a remedy is working for you.
Sexual Functioning
    Male sexual difficulties involve getting or keeping an erection, ejaculating too rapidly, having difficulty reaching orgasm, or failing to impregnate a woman after regular unprotected sex (see “Fertility and Infertility,” below). Most men experience these problems at some time or another, but if a problem is chronic, a man (and his partner) will want some answers.
    In the United States, roughly half of all men over fifty—as many as 30 million individuals—have some degree of
erectile dysfunction,
or ED (also called impotence). ED is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse, and chronic ED affects about one in five American men.
    Erectile dysfunction can be caused by many things, including age (it’s fairly common in men over sixty-five) and the use of some drugs (including depression and blood pressure medications). It’s also associated with obesity, smoking, and high cholesterol, as well as certain diseases (as many as 80 percent of diabetic men develop