abstracted & translated by
Bob Flaws, Lic. Ac., FNAAOM (USA), FRCHM (UK)

Keywords: Chinese medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, erectile dysfunction (ED)

On pages 415-416 of issue #7, 2004 of the Shan Dong Zhong Yi Za Zhi (Shandong Journal of Chinese Medicine), Wang Wei-ping published an article titled, “A Clinical Audit of 58 Patients with Erectile Dysfunction Treated with the Methods of Fortifying the Spleen & Supplementing the Kidneys.” A summary of this study is presented below.

Cohort description:

Of the 58 men with erectile dysfunction included in this study, 11 were 20-30 years old, 24 were 31-40, 18 were 41-50, and five were 51 or over. The longest time one of these patients had been married was 35 years and the shortest time was two weeks. In 31 cases, the course of disease had lasted less than one year. In 16 cases, it had lasted 1-3 years; in eight cases, 3-5 years, and in three cases, for more than five years. Thirty-six patients suffered from grade I ED, and 22 from grade II ED. Thirty-four patients had a history of masturbation prior to marriage, 21 had had frequent sex with multiple partners, and 17 cases had accompanying prostatitis. Organic pathology of the reproductive organs had been ruled out.

Treatment method:

The basic formula administered to all patients in this study consisted of:

Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae)

Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranacei)

Shan Yao (Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae)

Shu Di (cooked Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae), 15g each

Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae)

Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos)

Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni Officinalis)

Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis)

Ba Ji Tian (Radix Morindae Officinalis)

Yin Yang Huo (Herba Epimedii)

Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii Chinensis)

Chuan Shan Jia (Squama Manitis Pentadactylis)

Rou Cong Rong (Herba Cistanchis Deserticolae), 12g

Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi Rotundi), 9g

Yang Qi Shi (Actinolitum), 30g

Wu Gong (Scolopendra Subspinipes), 1 strip

One packet of these medicinals was decocted in water and administered per day, with 20 days equaling one course of treatment. If there was accompanying prostatitis, Bi Xie (Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae), Qu Mai (Herba Dianthi), and Bai Jiang Cao (Herba Patriniae Heterophyllae) were added.

Study outcomes:

Cure was defined as the ability to achieve and maintain an erection within one course of treatment with normal resumption of bedroom affairs. Improvement meant that, after one course of treatment, the erection had strength but was still  sometimes better and sometimes not so good. No effect meant that there was no obvious improvement in the patient’s erections. Based on these criteria, 46 out of 58 patients were judged cured, 10 improved, and two got no effect, for a total effectiveness rate of 96.5%.

Discussion:

According to Dr. Wang, ED is mostly due to spleen-kidney vacuity weakness. It is mostly seen in those who engaged in masturbation before marriage or a lot of other sexual activity before marriage. This has damaged the kidney qi and consumed kidney essence. Hence the life-gate fire has declined. If kidney yang is vacuous, it is not able to warm and shine spleen yang. In that case, spleen vacuity may not move. It is also possible for excessive thinking and worry to damage the spleen, thus resulting in qi and blood depletion and vacuity. In that case, latter heaven is not able to fill and nourish the former heaven essence qi. This produces vacuity on top of vacuity. In addition, qi and blood vacuity will not nourish and fill the sinew gathering (i.e., the penis). Therefore, ED results. Based on the foregoing theory, Dr. Wang believes that the former and latter heavens should be supplemented at the same time. Thus, within th above formula, Dang Shen, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, and Shan Yao fortify the spleen and boost the qi, thereby supplementing the latter heaven. Ba Ji Tian, Yin Yang Huo, Yang Qi Shi, She Chuang Zi (Semen Cnidii Monnieri, sic], Rou Cong Rong, and Du Zhong supplement kidney yang. Shu Di, Shan Zhu Yu, and Gou Qi Zi nourish kidney yin. This use of both yin and yang supplements is based on the interdependence of yin and yang. Xiang Fu, Chuan Shan Jia, and Wu Gong are added to help to spread the qi and blood, insuring that the vessels and network vessels are coursed and smoothly flowing.

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