Infertility is the inability to conceive after having unprotected sex for at least one year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 7 percent of married women between the ages of 15 and 44 years of age are infertile. But infertility is also a male problem. Certain herbal remedies, including damiana, may be helpful in treating male infertility. Consult your primary care provider before using herbal remedies for this health purpose.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction -- the inability to develop or sustain an erection -- is one of the most common causes of infertility in men. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, erectile dysfunction affects about 30 million American men, and about 17 percent of men over the age of 60 are unable to achieve any sort of erection. Possible causes of erectile dysfunction include obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, long-term tobacco use, alcoholism, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.
Plant Info
Damiana, or Turnera diffusa, is a plant or shrub indigenous to certain parts of the Caribbean, South American, Central America, Mexico and the United States. The damiana shrub bears small flowers that bloom during the summer, possesses fruit that tastes remarkably like figs and has leaves that contain numerous medicinal ingredients. Important plant chemicals and nutrients contained in the leaves of this shrub include beta-carotene, tannins, thymol, magnesium, manganese, selenium and vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3 and C.
Damiana Uses
Damiana is an herbal remedy that may be helpful in treating male infertility. Naturopathic physician and herbal medicine expert Sharol Tilgner, author of "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that damiana has traditionally been used in treating inability or disinterest in sexual performance. Naturopathic doctor William A. Mitchell Jr., author of "Plant Medicine in Practice," notes that damiana may be beneficial in treating impotence, sexual neurasthenia and female sexual dysfunction, too. Further clinical research evidence may be necessary to determine the true health benefits of this herbal remedy.
Considerations
Male infertility is a complex health problem that can be caused by numerous factors or conditions. If you experience erectile dysfunction, schedule an appointment with your family physician to be properly diagnoses and treated. Your doctor can order relevant tests, refer you to specialists, if required, and provide you with an individualized treatment plan to help treat your condition. Not all herbal remedies may be appropriate for you or this health purpose. Some herbs may cause unwanted health effects and should be avoided or discontinued immediately.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Survey of Family Growth
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Erectile Dysfunction
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Plant Medicine in Practice"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
