By Thomas Stearns Lee, NMD

Why should you or your man settle for Viagra?  There are safer and better ways to treat the sad epidemic of sexual dysfunction facing America today.  Media reports have described this epidemic, to some extent, but the true “male menopause” or “andropause” condition is a story yet to be told.

Masculinity has been going through rapid change.  What it will become, we have yet to find out.  This article sidesteps the political and social drama of gender issues, and it simply describes some physical things affecting men and the women who love them.  Problems facing women are just as critical to a couple’s love life, but they are presented more completely elsewhere.

Picture an active and happy life for yourself.  It would probably include a healthy sex life with a loving partner.  High-level pleasure from sex requires a balance of hormone and nutrient levels in strong bodies, good attitudes, and a positive, healthy environment.  Many things get in the way of these ideals.  Both men and women need testosterone, estrogen, growth hormone, and many other biochemicals in different amounts, and at different times in their lives.  Your mission, if you should accept it, is to figure out this puzzle and protect yourself and the quality of your family life with that knowledge.

It is a tough time for testosterone.  This hormone, which is actually present in both men and women (in women at about one-tenth the amount as men) has developed a bad-boy reputation, and it isn’t even as macho as it is made out to be.  We will look at things that hurt masculinity and male hormonal health, and offer some products and information that will help.

Because so many factors are involved and the health sciences are so complex, this article must be kept very basic.  For those who want more scholarly study as well as an entertaining read, dive into these fascinating books:

• Hormonal Health, by Dr. Michael Colgan

• The Testosterone Syndrome, by Drs. Shippen and Fryer

• The Libido Breakthrough, by Stuart Fine and Brenda Adderly

• The Myth of Male Power, by Warren Farrell, PhD.

The effects of testosterone include greater muscle repair, anti-depression, cardiovascular benefits, and many types of repair services that we don’t want to lose, even if we are not in a relationship or otherwise sexually deployed.  The erection power alone also requires growth hormone, estrogen, HCG, good muscle tone, good circulation, a balanced nervous system, and an available imagination.  All of these can decline as we age.

Hormones work together in a web-like design of chemical balance between our brain and body.  They are a way that thought turns into body chemistry.   These biochemicals are difficult to understand, but if you make the effort, potential benefits to your health and happiness are enormous.

What is happening to human testosterone levels, and why?  They are in steep decline in our society for too many reasons.  Both men and women need testosterone for libido, healthy hearts, and muscle tone.  A common age-related decline in testosterone is observed to be a straight line down from the late twenties and early thirties, until whenever death takes us.  Low levels of testosterone are bad news for both men and women because they are associated with heart and artery diseases, cancers, chronic fatigue, depression, loss of libido, osteoporosis, lower immunity, and even death.

But it gets more complex.  Your brain (along with the pituitary and hypothalamus glands) must monitor your hormone levels.  It uses positive and negative feedback from blood levels to do this.  If you want to rewire your car, you need a schematic diagram of the circuits, right?

Hormone activities are just as complex.  The enzyme called aromatase works naturally to convert testosterone into estrogen.  If someone makes or takes testosterone and has lots of this aromatase enzyme around, it will convert some of that testosterone to estrogen, which in turn will shut off some of the testosterone effects.

Aromatase is most concentrated in the skin, especially over adipose and in the scrotum.  Some men have a lot of aromatase, and others far less.  Fat cells contribute a great amount of aromatase, and many nutrient deficiencies can also produce higher levels.  Things that inhibit aromatase will preserve and stimulate more testosterone activity.  And the reverse is true.  This is one answer to “Where have all the cowboys gone?”

More bad news for our testosterone levels, with their health benefits and resulting masculine behavior, is that many household chemicals and environmental toxins from pesticides, plastics, synthetic foods, and drugs have demonstrated partial estrogen and/or anti-testosterone effects.

Adequate testosterone is required by so many healthy functions that this decline in hormone levels is literally killing people before their time.  Even more men and women lose their quality of life to depression, immunity problems, fatigue, and apathy caused by inadequate levels or counterfeit forms of testosterone.

Some common factors that raise levels of estrogens in men’s bodies are:

• Age-related increase in aromatase activity.

• Zinc deficiency — Trial test your body with 50-75 mg daily for 2 weeks, and 25 mg per day 6 days a week from then on.

• Obesity — High estrogen is found in most obese people of all ages.

• Carbohydrate intolerance and insulin sensitivity — This affects the adrenal strength and all other major hormone levels.

• Overuse of alcohol — If it makes you “feel good,” suspect higher blood sugar, and estrogens as nerve stimulants.

• Liver function changes — All the above are liver stressors.

• Prescription drug side effects — Especially diuretics and liver activity drugs.

Natural medicines shown to protect your testosterone levels are herbs like sarsaparilla, ginseng, saw palmetto, tribulus, yohimbe, and ashwaganda.  Nutrient minerals like zinc, boron, magnesium, Vitamin C, and some tonics from Chinese and Indian medical systems are also effective.  Regular exercise of the major muscles like the thighs, gluteals, or lower legs can help, too.  So lower the negative factors in your life, increase these helpful ones, and you will safely improve your hormone levels and the quality of your life.

Hormonal balance will affect your quality of life — for as long as you live.  If you and your doctor agree that you need to restore more youthful levels, (s)he now has access to “natural” hormones, meaning human-identical hormones.  Accept no patented substitutes.  These come in a variety of forms.  The hormone creams applied to the skin, or injections into muscle work out as the most cost effective and gentle on your system.  If you build or regain a healthy balance in your hormone system, you’ll never need to consider Viagra again.

In the months ahead, many male tonics, diets, and systems will get their moment of fame.  Using these products, and concepts, some men will finally gain ground in this epidemic of male menopause.

But here’s the bottom line:  you’ll save money and help your health more by using these natural medicines than by getting desperate and jumping for miracle cures or “elephant gun” dru