Herbal Treatment for ED and Prostate Issues

I recently received this e-mail:  

 I’ve been asked if there are any natural remedies to take the place of E D drugs.  This person has had prostate surgery due to cancer.  Since I’ve never dealt with that I googled/binged it without much success.  My standard, EarthClinic.com, had some info but they are a big supporter of ACV, cayenne and garlic.  I’m sure most of it is a circulatory issue, but I’m a little hesitant to suggest experimentation.  I doubt I could hurt anyone, but a bit nervous about it, but would like to see them off the drugs. Any suggestions?

My response was:  

ED has various factors, all of which need to be addressed before a new paradigm will kick in!  First--hormone levels--they are  always out of balance.  Herbs that help correct this include epimedium, a Chinese herb.  You can read a little bit about it here on WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-699-EPIMEDIUM.aspx?activeIngredientId=699&activeIngredientName=EPIMEDIUM

Epimedium does not have any known interaction with the drugs that treat this condition, and should eliminate the need for them over time.  I must caution you that epimedium can create other imbalances when used long term, if it is not properly combined with other herbs.   If you decide to try epimedium, you must also prepare it with balancing herbs that will build yin and consolidate jing, and bring the energy balance back up gradually, over time.  One possible combination: Dioscorea root (wild yam root); ganoderma (black), and ginseng powder. Other combinations will work too, but this one is my current favorite.  Adding these herbs together with the epimedium balances the formula so it can be used over a longer period of time without any harmful effect.  Here is a great source for CLEAN bulk Chinese herbs, which are hard to come by:  http://www.eastearthtrade.com/ganodermalucida-4ozblacksliced.aspx

Second--the energy level is usually lowered.  This can be addressed using the same formula, as epimedium addresses this too.  And the changes I am about to recommend next will do wonders for a person's energy level by helping him assimilate more of the nutrients from his foods.

Third--nourishment is an issue, because this is a sign of depletion.  Nourish this person's digestive system with daily doses of fermented food!  He should be drinking 8 ounces a day of kefir water OR kombucha; and include 2 Tablespoons of kim chee, sauerkraut, Veggie Delite, or Bubbies pickles types of ferment, daily.  I would also recommend a probiotic for him, for about 2 or 3 months, until the foods begin to take over the job.  One probiotic I have had success with for men is RAW Men's probiotic; another is Fivelac.  

He will not need to take the probiotics forever, especially once his system gets going with the fermented foods.  I am doing a whole seasonal update on fermented foods this month, so there will be lots more info coming.  

Lastly, I might recommend a series of flower essences or a homeopathic preparation of Cypress or Labrador Tea essential oils.  These could assist the person in clearing the suppressed emotional energy around sexuality, manhood, and loss.  These would be a significant part of the healing for ED, prostate cancer and pre-cancerous conditions.

Lots of Love and Blessings for this healing journey!  Kathryn 

Alchemy in a Bottle

The beauty of Earth Mother's ground cover expanding all around us as the rain becomes more plentiful, has kept us in constant wonder this season.  It has been so beautiful here, that spending days inside pouring the oils became a heavy prospect.  Yet, once I was into the process, my heaviness was replaced by joy as I began to experience the beauty and essence of these oils!

There are a few that I want to share with you, even as they are making their way across country to each of you.

• Mitti attar--Oh my!  I love the Indian Attars, and expected this to be beautiful.  When I placed a little drop on my wrist and went about my day, this aroma came to life with images of dry clay soils, and a feeling of hot wind on my face.  It is truly a remarkable beauty, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

• Garlic oil precautions--Those who have ordered the garlic oil before will remember, and those who have not, please take note.  Garlic has a warm, roasted garlic aroma that is good enough to eat.  The challenge is that it is so concentrated, that it will remain on hands, clothes, skin, and anything it touches, for days.  If you do not want to smell intensely of garlic, I recommend that you take these precautionary measures:  Wear latex or polyvinyl gloves (from Costco) when you are pouring, and immediately take them outside to the trash when finished; Store your garlic oil bottle in an airtight tupperware container, or double Ziploc baggies--we store ours in a different location than all of our other oils; Use paper towels for clean up and dispose of them when you have finished pouring or blending; and if you want to keep your home or work room from smelling of garlic,  open the bottle and do your pouring and blending outdoors.  (I even change my clothes when I have finished pouring garlic oil).

• Argan--food or carrier!  This oil has a warmly toasted aroma that is similar to peanut or sesame oil.  It makes a great addition  to stir fries, and carries lots of healing properties for internal or external use.  I am excited to hear from you about how you like it, as we have not offered it before.  I enjoy the flavor, and like the oil for my skin as well.

• Dill essential oil--fresh and aromatic, yummy herbal scent.  It is a lovely distillation this year, better than I have encountered in many years.  So balanced that it could be easily used in recipes that you would like a dill flavor--such as gravy, sauce or salad dressing.

• Wormwood essential oil--another very high quality distillation this year!  Enjoy a tiny touch in "green" perfumes and herby-floral blends; for clarifying the mind and dissolving old patterns. 
• Last of all, I am sharing a very special little gift with everyone.  Many of the distillers send me little samples of essential oil creations that they have made, in the form of completely natural perfumes.  (I almost do not want to use the word perfume for these, as perfume has come to mean "chemicals" to most of us in the 21st century).  But these are made from natural, living essential oils and attars; and carry the healing properties and consciousness of the oils and the Alchemist's intention as well.  In fact, the only difference between an essential oil blend and a natural perfume, is this:  The perfume has been aged for at least 6 months, up to a year or two.  This allows the different notes of the oils to condense into one aromatic note, and it is much more challenging to discern individual oils from the perfume's aroma.  The perfume I am sending you in a tiny vial, is called "Morocco".  It is made with over 60 natural oils and substances.  The recipe is unavailable, but would be easy to imitate if one wanted to experiment a bit. Hope you all enjoy this little gift!  I have been toying with the idea of teaching a perfume workshop online, if you love this and are inspired to take this workshop, let me know.  I might be able to focus on it sooner if I know how many of you want to take it!   

In Love and Gratitude,

Kathryn