Does this zebra looked stressed to you? The real reason zebras don’t get ulcers…
Dammit, why won’t you work? Now? Now you fail me? NOW? Well, this internal dialogue is more common than we may realize. In fact, I would wager that nearly every man has experienced or will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives, making this a shared experience.
At any given time, one in 10 men can’t get it up – that means you or someone you know – and believe me, there is nothing to be ashamed of. This happens to a lot of people, and the causes are various, including psychological or organic. Solutions are also varied – from stress management and counselling, acupuncture and herbal medicine to surgical interventions and prescriptions. Coming on gradually or appearing suddenly, with some people it will happen only when there is pressure to perform – in the case of trying to conceive. Of course having this happen once, twice or three times isn’t cause for concern, and may be stress, lack of sleep or too much whiskey. In this case the cure is simple – get some acupuncture, exercise, eat well, cut out the booze and get a few nights of solid sleep. There is also evidence that the root and bark of the Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) plant, a shrub from Southeast Asia and available in Canada, works to improve erectile function. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26365449)
If this is something that you or someone you know is experiencing, don’t be shy about asking for advice and being proactive about your health. It is important to know if it is stress related or possibly an indication of a more serious situation that could be taken care of. Let’s make Mr. Brown proud.
