Male Infertility and How to Increase Sperm Count with Chinese Medicine

Infertility in men

Diet and Lifestyle Tips for Better Health Introduction to Chinese Medicine and Fertility Concepts

Chinese Medicine uses a holistic approach to health and wellness, and views illness as a disharmony in the body’s natural balance. To help you participate in your own healing or balancing process, I have written this booklet to explain some of the basic terms Chinese Medicine practitioners use to describe health, the way the body works, and how they relate to it. increased your chances of conceiving a healthy child.

Vitamins and supplements Vitamin supplements are helpful when deficiencies occur. However, some vitamins and mineral supplements can cause toxicity in high doses, so it is advisable to speak with a healthcare professional before following a vitamin regimen.

Important vitamins and supplements

To increase sperm count

Vitamin C: It is an antioxidant. Helps reduce clumping problems and increases sperm count. It is an especially important vitamin supplement for smokers.

Zinc: Helps increase sperm count. However, beware of copper deficiency with long-term use.

Vitamin B-12 and folate: they are important vitamins, especially in men who smoke or have a diet high in refined foods.

Coenzyme Q10: Helps increase sperm count and motility by acting as an antioxidant.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs): It is found in freshwater fish and flax seed oil among some sources. Flax seed oil is a great source of the good fatty acids you need for fertility (ALA), especially if you also have dry, flaky skin, dry hair, and varicose veins. A good fish oil with omega 3 is sufficient, however, look for one that is of good quality and does not contain lead, mercury or heavy metals, since large fish can absorb many metals and toxins in their meat. If you have Omega 6 added as well, don’t get it, as we’ve already gotten far enough away from cooking oils, etc. and too much omega 6 can enhance inflammatory processes.

N-acetyl carnitine: Good for people under stress. It also helps in memory function, fat metabolism, and energy.

Tribulus: Again, not all supplements are created equal, so it is always good to go for a good quality. There are many cheap knockoffs of tribulus and most are intended for bodybuilding etc. It took me a while to recommend this supplement, however for some men it will be beneficial. Recent research has shown that it has been shown to be a very useful herb for sperm morphology, especially for enhancing sperm acrosomes and their penetrating ability.

Environment, Toxins, and Chemicals There is a wealth of modern research supporting the decline in sperm counts in young men with increased use and exposure to toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, and pollutants and heat. Certain chemicals found in plastics can mimic natural human chemicals that cause imbalances and have been linked to infertility in men and women. Other contaminants include dental amalgams, which can be antagonists to zinc, lead found in paint, dry cleaning chemicals, and gasoline fumes. Due to the frequent use of fertilizers, pesticides and hormones in common agricultural practice, it is best to eat organic fruits, vegetables and meat. The basic recommendations are: obtain dental fillings that do not contain mercury, avoid exposure to pesticides, use plastics without BPA and avoid heating food in plastic containers in the microwave.

Drugs and Alcohol Alcohol in Chinese medical terms causes heat, which raises body temperature and leads to less functional sperm. Animal studies have shown that an intoxicating level of alcohol in the blood reduces fertility by approximately 50% over a 24-hour period. A glass or two a day isn’t going to hurt unless you’re hot and sweaty at night in bed, which is a good indicator to cut back.

The THC in marijuana has been shown to dramatically reduce sperm production and interfere with the attachment of sperm to the egg.

Smoking has been shown in studies to reduce the ability to conceive by 16-20% in men.

Coffee has a stimulating and warming effect on the body and can also be unproductive for the fertile process.

Certain medications, such as pain relievers, can have an adverse effect on fertility, so it is best to consult with your GP while trying to conceive.

Water

Water is always a point of contention. Chlorine can lead to vitamin E deficiency in large amounts, and the debate over the need for fluoride continues as many European countries ban it and stop using it. City water can also contain traces of toxins, unwanted minerals and heavy metals, including high levels of copper from rusted pipes that can lead to a deficiency of zinc, essential for sperm development. A good quality water purifier is a simple solution.

Antioxidants

What are they and why do I need them?

To keep it simple, think of an avocado. When you cut it and leave it exposed to oxygen, it turns brown. This is a form of oxidation, when cells are exposed to oxygen or pollution, they ‘oxidize’ and disintegrate. If you put lemon juice in the avocado, it will last a little longer and will not brown, so the lemon acts as an ‘antioxidant’. So when we eat junk food, don’t exercise, and are exposed to fumes every day, our body cells oxidize faster.

Here are some foods with the highest ‘antioxidant’ rating:

  1. Small red kidney bean (dry), 1/2 cup 11. Strawberry, 1 cup
  2. Wild blueberry, 1 cup 12. Red delicious apple, 1
  3. Kidney Beans (dried), 1/2 cup 13. Granny Smith Apple, 1
  4. Pinto beans, 1/2 cup 14. Pecans, 1 ounce
  5. Blueberry (cultivated), 1 cup 15. Sweet cherry, 1 cup
  6. Cranberry, 1 cup (whole) 16. Black plum, 1
  7. Artichoke (hearts cooked), 1 cup 17. Russet potato, 1 cooked
  8. Blackberry, 1 cup 18. Black beans (dry), 1/2 cup
  9. Plum, 1/2 cup 19. Plum, 1
  10. Raspberry, 1 cup 20. Gala apple, 1

In shorts Factors that contribute to male infertility:

  • Stress: Stress lowers adrenal levels and natural corticosteroids (CS). This triggers a chain of events that decrease vitamin B5 and 6, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc. This decrease in natural CS leads to an increase in histamine and therefore a higher incidence of inflammation and heat in the testicles.
  • Overheating of the testicles (occupational exposure, hot baths / saunas, tight underwear, hot body constitution, varicocele) affects sperm quality.
  • Genetic factors such as cystic fibrosis and Klinefelters.
  • Obesity.
  • Nutritional deficiencies and poor diet.
  • Environmental toxins: phthalates, hydrocarbons, pesticides.
  • Heavy metal toxicity: lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc.
  • Substance abuse: cocaine, marijuana, etc.
  • Of smoking.
  • Exposure to radiation.
  • Varicocele: a varicose vein in the scrotum. It is a fairly common problem in infertile men and is definitely worth getting checked out by your GP, IVF specialist, or urologist.
  • Estrogen Analogs: This means things in a man’s diet that are chemically very similar in structure to estrogens (female hormones). BPA plastics are one and possibly too much soy in the diet. This includes soy protein fillers in some foods, as well as soy milk / powder / tofu, etc.

Moment

Many people also ask about the right time for sex and how often. If you already have a very low sperm count, daily ejaculations can lower your sperm count even more. I recommend ejaculation every 3-4 days and more often when your partner is ovulating.

Recent research shows that daily ejaculation for a week increases sperm motility and morphology, however, it can reduce the count by more than 50%. If your sperm count is good and morphology / motility is the issue, increased ejaculation may be beneficial in the short term. In this situation, ejaculation is recommended every 2-3 days and daily during your partner’s ovulation period. In all situations, it is best to ejaculate at least once a week, as free radical damage to sperm accumulates after this period. This is just a general guideline because people ask, however, sex should be fun and loving; not mechanical and tense. In any case, the female orgasm is probably the most important factor in terms of time, etc., since there are internal physiological mechanisms that help the passage of sperm into the cervix when orgasm occurs.

Ways to improve my health:

  • Less stress: take time to relax and meditate or walk in the park in fresh air.
  • Eat healthier and fresher foods regularly, especially green leafy vegetables.
  • Reduce or quit smoking.
  • Stop using recreational drugs.
  • Reduce your alcohol intake, especially around the days you are trying to conceive.
  • Wear baggy boxer briefs.
  • Avoid or reduce exposure to chemicals in the workplace.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Have a good night and sleep.
  • Drink more water, probably the best is purified and reduce the consumption of coffee (coffee does not hydrate, it dehydrates since it is a diuretic).
  • Increase Your Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): Flax Oil, Fish
  • Chew pumpkin seeds: good source of zinc and essential fatty acids
  • Don’t eat garbage!Poor diet is strongly related to infertility; it may even be your only problem. So cut back on cakes, refined foods, high-sugar foods, and junk food to go. You will feel better, have more energy, lose weight, and increase your chances of having a baby.

But what do I do now?

Look at your diet. Do you have loose stools and swelling? Try to find the foods that are causing the problem and eliminate them. In Chinese medicine, each organ in the body rests and is activated at different times of the day. Organs important to fertility should rest at night, especially between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. It is not always practical, but shift work and late at night are eventually detrimental to your overall health and your chances of fertility. . Try to stress less, practice yoga or meditation. Talk to your GP if you suspect you may have a varicocele and get an ultrasound.

Cool your testicles. That means shorter hot showers, no baths, baggy boxers, no underwear at night, cooler bedding. If you’ve been diagnosed with a varicocele, recent studies support that chilling the testicles twice a day with an ice pack can greatly improve sperm count and morphology. Take the prescribed herbs to balance your body. Acupuncture is a great way to balance the body and reduce stress. And finally, please don’t push each other! Trying to conceive can be a very difficult time for couples, but don’t forget to take some time to relax.

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