Male Infertility
Causes of Male Infertility
Causes of male infertility include abnormal sperm production or function and/or impaired delivery of sperm. General health and lifestyle issues such like, excessive smoking, alcohol intake, degrading environment, high pollution levels, changes in food habits, and desk bound work, stress etc. and exposure to certain environmental factors like exposure to radiation are some key factors that affect male fertility negatively.
Vajikarana chikitsa
Ayurveda realized the problem of male sexual dysfunction thousands of years ago and developed a separate specialty, namely, Vajikarana-chikitsa (Aphrodisiac therapy). It has also recommended an appropriate use of plant-based remedies, a proper lifestyle and nutritious diet for improving overall health and treating male infertility. In the classics of Ayurveda the following karma (procedures) has also been mentioned for treatment of infertility as seen in table below.
Herbs used for vajikarana purpose are as follows
Kapikacchu (Mucuna Pruriens Bak.), which has been found to increase sperm concentration and motility.
Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.), which raises testosterone levels.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.), which enhances spermatogenesis via a presumed testosterone-like effect.
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd.), which enhances fertility by reducing oxidative stress.
Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.), which improves semen quality.
Ayurvedic medicines
Shilajit rasayan, Agnitundi Vati, Ashwagandhadi lehyam, Ashwagandhai ghrita, Satavari lehya, Chayavanaprash, Dasamoolaristam, Draksharistam, Ashwagandharistam, Chandra prabha vati, etc are used for male infertility.
Food substances
Milk, Ghee, Black gram, Almond, Natural Sweeteners like honey, jaggery, Milk sweets, and Cane sugar are aphrodisiacs.
Dr. Ravindra Sharma is a P.G. Scholar in Dravya Guna Dept, NIA, Jaipur. He can be contacted at – ravindramddg@gmail.com
Recipe of the month – Delicious rice pudding
Ingredients – Boiled rice – 250 gm; Milk – 2 liters; Sugar – 250 gm; Cardamom – 2 powdered; Almond – 5 – 10 pieces, cut into small pieces; Ghee – 25 ml
Method of preparation – Cook rice with milk in a pressure cooker or in an open vessel. When it is cooked well, add sugar and still while on stove. Then remove from fire and add ghee, cardamom and almond and serve. This recipe gives strength and energy.