Nowadays, erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) have become "unspoken afflictions" troubling many men. They not only severely affect the quality of marital life but also bring immense psychological pressure to men, even damaging their confidence and dignity. How does Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treat this condition?
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation?
Psychological Factors: Often, ED and PE are caused by psychological factors such as excessive tension, excitement, fatigue, low mood, etc. Or, disharmony in sexual life, harboring excessive negative emotions towards a partner, or feelings of excessive admiration for the wife coupled with an inferiority complex are all factors that can lead to this condition.
Diseases of the Reproductive Organs: Diseases of the reproductive organs, such as inflammation from conditions like balanitis, posthitis, epididymitis, etc., can lower the excitability of the ejaculation center, easily leading to ED and PE.
Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits: Long-term unhealthy lifestyle habits can also cause ED and PE, such as chronic smoking, alcohol abuse, excessive fatigue, or neglecting the hygiene of underwear and the private area, leading to non-bacterial prostatitis. This can then cause symptoms of ED and PE.
What are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation?
ED Typical Symptoms: Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection (erect but not firm enough for penetration), decreased libido, accompanied by soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, mental fatigue and physical weakness.
PE Typical Symptoms: Ejaculatory latency < 3 minutes, profuse sweating and palpitations after intercourse, often accompanied by frequent/urgent urination, insomnia and dream-disturbed sleep.
How Does TCM Treat Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation Effectively?
Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert , a TCM Andrology expert at Singapore Gong Fang Tang TCM, stated that ED and PE are common male diseases. TCM believes that ED is primarily caused by kidney qi deficiency and insecurity of kidney essence. A classic formula—Tianxiong Powder—can be used with syndrome differentiation and modification. This formula is effective for conditions like seminal emission, ED, infertility, etc., caused by coldness in the lower origin and extreme deficiency-cold of yang.
Tianxiong Powder consists of: Tianxiong 9g (processed), Baizhu (Atractylodes) 24g, Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) 18g, Longgu (Dragon Bone) 9g.
In the formula: Tianxiong is extremely pungent and hot, warming the kidneys and strengthening yang; Guizhi unblocks yang and transforms qi; Baizhu fortifies the spleen and boosts qi; Longgu astringes and secures leakage. The whole formula works together to warm the kidneys, support yang, secure essence, and stop emission, directly addressing the pathological essence of ED and PE patients: kidney yang deficiency and insecurity of the seminal gate.
Clinical Modifications:
Anxiety & Insomnia: Add Chaihu (Bupleurum) 15g, Yujin (Curcuma) 10g (soothes liver and relieves stagnation)
Prostatitis: Add Huzhang (Polygonum cuspidatum) 20g, Baijiangcao (Patrinia) 15g (clears heat and promotes urination)
Varicocele: Add Shuizhi Fen (Leech Powder) 3g, Chuanniuxi (Cyathula) 12g (breaks stasis and unblocks collaterals)
Medical Case
Patient: Mr. Xiong, 42 years old.
Chief Complaint: Married for over 10 years, frequent sexual activity. Over the past 2 years, due to work stress and fatigue, gradually felt physically exhausted, often experiencing head and body fatigue, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, aversion to cold with cold waist, cold lower abdomen. Sexual function poor for half a year; recently, penis erect but not firm enough, making intercourse impossible.
Initial Consultation: Appetite acceptable, loose stools, frequent urination. Tongue pale and tender, coating white. Pulse deep, thin, weak, especially in the right chi position.
Diagnosis: Depletion of kidney essence, decline of the life gate fire (mingmen huo shuai).
Treatment Principle: Warm and supplement the lower origin, invigorate yang and lift impotence.
Prescription: Modified Tianxiong Powder.
Formula: Fuzi (Aconite) 10g (decocted first), Baizhu (Atractylodes) 15g, Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) 6g (added later), Sheng Longgu (Raw Dragon Bone) 15g, Buguzhi (Psoralea) 15g, Roucongrong (Cistanche) 10g, Bajitian (Morinda) 10g, Gouqizi (Lycium Berry) 15g. 1 dose per day, decocted in water for oral administration.
Second Consultation: After taking 7 doses, the penis became firm enough for intercourse, but duration was short. Aversion to cold, cold waist, cold lower abdomen, cold glans showed improvement. Continued with the previous formula for another 10 doses.
Outcome: After the medication, all symptoms subsided. To consolidate the effect, took 5 more doses. Follow-up showed no recurrence.
