Male Menopause

[Guest guest]

Hi Attilio

 

Yes....noticed it in many as.....low back ache, sciatica, diminishing of sexual function, urinary weakness, sometimes bowel dysfunction, hair loss and/or hair turning grey.

 

Woman are built around 'blood' and menstruation (Liver system) and men are built around 'sperm essence' (Kidney system). In 'female menopause' the blood channels and flow are closing down, resulting in what should be only an adjustment period of blood/yin deficiency while in men it may be more gradual but still the same in the comparative sense as 'essence-sperm' reduction. In women - one nutritions the Liver blood and frees liver stagnation and in men - one tonifies the Kidney system (either yin and/or yang).

 

Richard

 

In a message dated 8/18/2003 10:53:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time, attiliodalberto writes:

 

Taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/features/male_menopause.shtml

I wonder if any practitioners in this group have noticed any signs of

a male menopause amongst their patients. I know that i have difficult

times each month, well so my wife says, so why not a menopause?

[Guest guest]

Something happens to men when they reach middle age. It runs deeper

than cardigans, slippers, and an intolerance of loud music. The 'mid-

life crisis', 'change of life', or 'male menopause' are all names for

it, but what is it?

Is the male menopause real?

Whether the 'male menopause' is real or not is still controversial.

For many years, people have talked about the 'mid-life crisis' that

men may go through, where they experience distressing physical and

emotional symptoms.

Recently, this has been likened to the female menopause and, called

a 'male menopause'. Strictly speaking, since the definition of the

menopause is the time at which periods cease, men cannot have a

menopause as such. However, it is argued that they can go through a

male equivalent, called the 'andropause' that is accompanied by

symptoms similar to those experienced by women.

Some argue that this is hormone-related, just like the female

menopause. However, the female menopause is triggered by a dramatic

fall in the levels of female hormones, whereas the levels of the male

hormone testosterone fall very gradually over many years. Moreover,

many 70 year-old men have similar testosterone levels to those of a

20 year old.

How are men affected?

Poor sex drive, tiredness and fatigue, acknowledgement of ageing,

hair loss, changes in body shape as they become less muscular and

more rounded, are common complaints of men as they reach middle age.

Other symptoms include irritability, sweating, flushing, generalised

aches and pains, and low mood, sometimes depression.

 

Looking at these symptoms, it's easy to see why a comparison is made

with the female menopause. Women may experience any or all of these

symptoms during their own 'change of life'.

 

Symptoms of andropause

· Poor sex drive · Tiredness and fatigue · Change in

body shape · Reduced muscle mass · Irritability · Sweating ·

Flushing · Generalised aches and pains · Low mood

 

What else might be behind it?

Many doctors acknowledge that a change for men occurs, and is real,

but believe that it has a psychological basis, rather than a hormonal

one. The realisation that they have left youth behind is backed up by

the confirmatory signs of wrinkles, receding hairline, and fat. For

many, they may have progressed as far as they ever will in their

careers and, this may be hard to accept. As their children grow up

and leave home, many will question whether they now have a role to

play.

Marital disharmony, job dissatisfaction, financial problems, or

alcohol misuse, are some of the other reasons that may be behind the

way a man is feeling.

If it's accepted that physical changes are a normal part of the

ageing process, then this allows the emotional symptoms to support a

psychological basis for the male 'change of life'. It's important not

to forget that as with women, other physical illness can be

responsible for the same group of symptoms and, should be

investigated. Anaemia, thyroid gland dysfunction, or depression, may

be the underlying cause.

Causes of similar symptoms

· Anaemia · Thyroid gland dysfunction · Depression ·

Marital disharmony · Job dissatisfaction · Financial

problems · Alcohol misuse

Can men be treated?

Any treatment offered should of course be appropriate to the

underlying cause. If the cause is believed to be the andropause, then

discussion continues as to whether men at this stage of their life

with these symptoms should be offered testosterone as HRT. This is

available as skin patches, injections, or as tablets and, many men

treated say that they notice an improvement in their symptoms.

Whether or not this is because of the HRT or, because of a placebo

benefit, is unclear.

Male HRT should not be taken lightly though. It is linked with

development of prostate cancer and, if HRT is taken, this needs to be

closely monitored.

 

Taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/features/male_menopause.shtml

I wonder if any practitioners in this group have noticed any signs of

a male menopause amongst their patients. I know that i have difficult

times each month, well so my wife says, so why not a menopause?

 

Attilio

[Guest guest]

Hi Attilio

 

Sorry - no time at this time to go into patient records or cases. I am engulfed in what you might call political activism for the profession here in Florida and nationally throughout the US working for the passage of what is called the 2003 Hinchey Federal Acupuncture Bill. Although this bill deals with medicare benefits - it in fact would make 'qualified acupuncturists' THE primary providers in the USA. Right now all we hear back from companies is....that they will only reimburse if an MD administers. See where that is leading?

 

When the real qualified acupuncturists are federally recognized then the allopaths can no longer play that game of denial.

 

A survey was posted by Harris Polls in the Wall Street Journal discussing exactly how the US public decides which hospital or doctor to visit and THE prime decision maker is 'reimbursement'. (Who would have guessed...lol).

 

Regards,

Richard

 

 

 

Hi Richard.

 

I'm very intersted in male menopause. Where the people you saw

patients or friends. If they are your patients, can you present a

case study to the group please?

 

Attilio

[Guest guest]

Hi Vanessa

 

You bet'cha.

 

I kick butt and take no names. lol

 

Richard

 

Politically correct" Reimbursement" It is all about where the money falls and who has control over it. Instead of CARE per se.

Keep your good work Master Richard

Vanessa

[Guest guest]

Hi Richard.

 

I'm very intersted in male menopause. Where the people you saw

patients or friends. If they are your patients, can you present a

case study to the group please?

 

Attilio

 

> Yes....noticed it in many as.....low back ache, sciatica,

diminishing of

> sexual function, urinary weakness, sometimes bowel dysfunction,

hair loss and/or

> hair turning grey.

>

> Woman are built around 'blood' and menstruation (Liver system) and

men are

> built around 'sperm essence' (Kidney system). In 'female

menopause' the blood

> channels and flow are closing down, resulting in what should be

only an

> adjustment period of blood/yin deficiency while in men it may be

more gradual but

> still the same in the comparative sense as 'essence-sperm'

reduction. In women -

> one nutritions the Liver blood and frees liver stagnation and in

men - one

> tonifies the Kidney system (either yin and/or yang).

>

> Richard

>

> In a message dated 8/18/2003 10:53:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> attiliodalberto writes:

>

> > Taken from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/features/male_menopause.shtml

> > I wonder if any practitioners in this group have noticed any

signs of

> > a male menopause amongst their patients. I know that i have

difficult

> > times each month, well so my wife says, so why not a menopause?

[Guest guest]

Politically correct" Reimbursement" It is all about where the money falls and who has control over it. Instead of CARE per se.

Keep your good work Master Richard

Vanessaacudoc11 wrote:

 

Hi AttilioSorry - no time at this time to go into patient records or cases. I am engulfed in what you might call political activism for the profession here in Florida and nationally throughout the US working for the passage of what is called the 2003 Hinchey Federal Acupuncture Bill. Although this bill deals with medicare benefits - it in fact would make 'qualified acupuncturists' THE primary providers in the USA. Right now all we hear back from companies is....that they will only reimburse if an MD administers. See where that is leading?When the real qualified acupuncturists are federally recognized then the allopaths can no longer play that game of denial. A survey was posted by Harris Polls in the Wall Street Journal discussing exactly how the US public decides which hospital or

doctor to visit and THE prime decision maker is 'reimbursement'. (Who would have guessed...lol).Regards,Richard

Hi Richard.I'm very intersted in male menopause. Where the people you saw patients or friends. If they are your patients, can you present a case study to the group please?AttilioFor practitioners, students and those interested in TCM. Membership requires that you do not post any commerical, religious, spam messages or flame another member. If you want to change the way you receive email message, i.e. individually, daily digest or none, then visit the groups’ homepage: Chinese Medicine/ Click ‘edit my membership' on the right hand side and adjust accordingly.

[Guest guest]

)

 

Vanessaacudoc11 wrote:

 

Hi VanessaYou bet'cha.I kick butt and take no names. lolRichard

Politically correct" Reimbursement" It is all about where the money falls and who has control over it. Instead of CARE per se.Keep your good work Master Richard VanessaFor practitioners, students and those interested in TCM. Membership requires that you do not post any commerical, religious, spam messages or flame another member. If you want to change the way you receive email message, i.e. individually, daily digest or none, then visit the groups’ homepage: Chinese Medicine/ Click ‘edit my membership' on the right hand side and adjust accordingly.