June is Men's Health Month!

Men’s Health & Acupuncture

Caring for your health and well-being is important for all the stages of your life. While it can sometimes be difficult to talk with your doctor or practitioner about issues such as prostate conditions, erectile dysfunction or infertility, it is important to be open and honest. After all, these concerns can have a major impact on your overall health as well as your sex life, your relationships and your emotional health.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer powerful tools to help you feel your best. They have been used for thousands of years to treat men‘s health concerns and they can be safely used along with Western therapies.

Prostatitis

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder). It produces semen, the milky-colored fluid that transports sperm during ejaculation. Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate that can cause urinary symptoms and pelvic pain. The most common type is chronic (or ongoing) non-bacterial prostatitis. It’s causes are unknown, making it difficult to treat. Symptoms may include a frequent and urgent need to urinate, pain or a burning sensation when urinating (dysuria) or pain in the pelvic area, lower back and genital area. While more research is needed, some studies have shown that acupuncture and herbal therapies are very effective in relieving the pain and urinary symptoms caused by chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

The prostate naturally grows larger as men age. Often, this does not cause any discomfort. If the prostate compresses the urethra, it can cause a range of urinary symptoms. This condition, known as BPH, is the most common prostate concern, affecting about 50% of men over 60. Symptoms can include slowness or dribbling of the urinary stream, hesitancy or difficulty starting to urinate, frequent urination and the need to get up at night to urinate. Typical treatments for BPH can include selfcare techniques, medications, or even surgery. Acupuncture can help with rebalancing and providing overall support to the health of the urinary system.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer affects about one in six men in the United States. When caught early, it can respond very well to treatment, so it is recommended that all men over the age of 50 get yearly prostate cancer screenings. Symptoms can include urinary problems, pain in the lower back or hips and blood in the urine or semen. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with prostate cancer, acupuncture and TCM can be helpful in relieving the side effects of treatment and boosting overall health.

Other Men’s Health Conditions We Can Address:

• Male depression

• Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

• Male Menopause (Andropause)

• Insomnia

• Anxiety and Stress

• Sexual Dysfunction