" Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor"
-Thich Nhat Hanh
Thanks Karen
Today is a windy day and the clouds come and go. We all have feelings, or do we? Do you show any emotion ? When was the last time you had a good cry ? Tears stream down my face when I hear Bing sing 'White Christmas' It reminds me of Christmas Eve and Day with large numbers of family all gathered around the table. Life goes on. Visuals and sound may bring up an emotion whether in a song or seen in a movie.
Feelings are important part of our lives. I feel balanced or anchored as long as I meditate and pray. I never understood why people pray every day. I could not go through a day without meditation/prayer. It is my balance. What do you to balance yourself ? Some might eat comfort food to balance feelings, others might exercise
and yet others might drink alcohol. Have you tried to meditate ? Try sitting quietly a hear your breath as you inhale and exhale.
As an integrative cardiologist I am not fixated on cholesterol. I concentrate on the individual as a whole - body, mind and spirit. I look beyond cholesterol. The only time I look at total cholesterol ( normal < 200) is when I see a very low cholesterol. By low I mean a total cholesterol less than 130 and the individual is not on any cholesterol lowering drugs , nor supplements/botanicals. We all need cholesterol. Cholesterol is the building block for many other necessary hormones, as testosterone,aldosterone and others. For men, testosterone is very important. Yes, not for what you are thinking of right now in your mind. If the total cholesterol is low I need to check in a male patient, the total and free testosterone level. This topic is very controversial. I have followed the studies on testosterone. When it comes to current research I scan the journals on line in all fields. I am not an expert in all fields by no means, but I need to be kept abreast of conventional, nutrition and botanical studies.
During a two year period from 2000-2002, 930 men with known coronary heart disease were studied. All the men had cardiac catherizations ( also known as angiograms) The total and free testosterone levels were measured . These men were followed for an average of 6.9 years. There were 129 deaths. 21 % of those deaths had deficient bio available ( free) testosterone compared to 12% of those that had normal bio available testosterone. The study was published in Heart ( 2010 Nov; 96 (22):1821-1825.)
In conclusion is that men with a low testosterone are almost twice as likely to die over a seven year period.
For those men with other cardiac risk factors, please check your testosterone level.
Testosterone decreases as we age, but numerous herbs and nutrients can help increase the blood levels of this hormone. Low testosterone can not only increase the risk of heart problems but affects as well as depression, osteoporosis, and dementia.
The UCLA School of Medicine studied the plant MUIRA PUAMA and found it had the ability to increase testosterone production in men. South American shaman and healers have used this plant from the Brazilian rain forest for generations. Known as "potency wood" it has been used as an aphrodisiac as well. I have used MUIRA PUMA to increase sexual libido and help with erectile dysfunction but there was no increase in testosterone levels. There are many herbs to increase sexual libido as horny goat weed, ashwaganda, and the amino acid, arginine for erectile dysfunction.
A clinical study with 262 patients complaining of lack of sexual desire and the inability to attain or maintain an erection demonstrated Muira Puama extract to be effective in many cases. Within 2 weeks, at a daily dose of 1 to 1.5 grams of the extract, 62% of patients with loss of libido claimed that the treatment had dynamic effect while 51 percent of patients with "erection failures" felt that muira Puama was of benefit. Primary chemical constituents of muira Puama include alkaloids (specifically muirapuamine), esters, plant sterols, free fatty acids and phytosterols.
If you want your testosterone level to directly increase, then you must take testosterone. I prefer testosterone to be administered either by cream, sub lingual drops or even capsules. It is beneficial to get testosterone compounded for you.
Some use DHEA which can convert to testosterone, but DHEA can also convert to the female hormones.
For those that want to read about botanicals for men I suggest 'The Male Herbal'
by herbalist, James Green.
Until tomorrow...
Photographs: Muira and Man - The male physique on this man does not imply that he takes muira nor testosterone. His posture suggests he does yoga and meditates.
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