Impotence means that the penis in adult cannot erect or erect insufficiently for sexual intercourse. According to TCM. impotence is caused by intemperance of sexual Fife and decline of fire in mingmen (gate of life) ; or by over-anxiety that impairs the heart and spleen and leads to as-thenia of the thoroughfare vessel; or by downward migra-tion of damp-heat in the liver and kidney that leads to flac-cidity of the genitalia. Clinically impotence is usually of asthenia syndrome.
TCM and Impotence
In TCM, impotence is usually caused by the decline of fire from the gate of life and exhaustion of essence and blood as a result of early marriage, indulgence in sexual activity or frequent masturbation, damage to the kidney by fright, damage to the heart and spleen and further the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming and Chong Meridian by worries. There are also some cases caused by the downward flow of dampness-heat.
The syndrome differentiation is failure to have an erection or inability to maintain a satisfactory erection, premature ejaculation. The accompanying symptoms are dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, insomnia, pale complexion, lassitude, soreness and weakness in the loin and knees, thready and weak pulse.
Treatment of the disease is to invigorate kidney qi and benefit the heart and spleen.
Prescription: Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3).
Modification.. For impairment of the heart and spleen, Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) are added; for decline of fire in mingmen (gate of life), Mingmen (GV 4) and Ciliao (BL 32) are added; for downward migration of damp-heat, Pangguangshu (BL 28), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Ligou (LR 5) and Xingjian (LR 2) are added.
Performance: Guanyuan (CV 4) is needled till the needling sensation radiates to the perineum. Sthenia syn-drome is treated with reducing needling technique while asthenia syndrome is treated with reinforcing needling technique. For the treatment of decline of fire in ming-men (gate of life), moxibustion is used.
2. Ear acupuncture
Prescription: Internal Genitalia ( TF2 ), External Genitalia ( HX4 ), Middle border ( AT1,2,4i ), Liver (CO12), Kidney (C010), Endocrine (CO18) and Ear Shenmen (TF4).
Performance: Each time 3 - 5 acupoints are selected and needled with filiform needles and medium stimulation. Or embedment of needles or ear pressure with Wangbu liuxingzi (Semen Vaccariae) is used.
