Category: Gynaecology, sexuality, fertility, psyche, nerves, insomnia, fatigue, urology, metabolism, heart and blood vessels, prevention, anti-ageing, liver system, heart system

Use of the formula according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• nourishes the heart and liver, their blood and yin
• calms the Shen and Hun spirits
• clears empty heat
• removes irritability
• moves blood

Description:

The male transition is also professionally known as andropause. During this period, men experience a decrease in testosterone levels. It manifests on both a psychological and physical level. The man becomes emotionally irritable, disgruntled, or even neurotic, suffers from sleep disorders and more frequently experiences states of exhaustion. A feeling of burnout, weakness and loss of strength leads to apathy. He stops believing and slowly resigns on everything he originally enjoyed. Smiling optimists turn into grumpy men. The man looks for an "escape" from his problems, which he does not solve with a doctor, but often prefers in a pub or at home in front of the television. The risk of developing various addictions increases. The joy of life disappears and its meaning fades away. If the children have grown up, the man considers his mission accomplished and stops taking an interest in the running of the household. He tells himself that he deserves a rest and demands peace from those around him. Deterioration and loss of memory (a cognitive manifestation of andropause) may also appear. A man usually does not admit that andropause is the cause of his grumpiness, and often does not even know about it himself. This also greatly affects relationships with his partner, as well as with friends and colleagues. The man prefers to be quiet and does not want anyone to interfere or judge the changes that have occurred. The other extreme is that the man behaves as if he were in puberty, or as if he had a mental disorder. He tries to stop time in the arms of a young mistress, suffers from workaholism…

Physically, similar to women, men experience hot flushes, sleep very poorly, and other problems are added, such as joint and ligament issues. In the area of sex, in addition to a reduced libido, problems with erections also manifest. Hormonal changes also have a similar effect as in women; fat levels increase and with them the risk of heart and vascular diseases. Bone mass decreases. The skin also no longer has such a glow and becomes dry. Men also often suffer from excessive hair loss and loss of muscle mass. Weight gain is common.

From the perspective of Chinese medicine, this is a pattern of deficiency. Primarily, what is missing is that which nourishes, blood and yin in the kidney and liver areas. Its deficiency creates empty heat (from insufficient cooling), which rises upwards and disturbs the Shen spirit in the heart and the Hun spirit in the liver – this manifests in all the above-mentioned psychological symptoms, including major sleep difficulties, which further worsens all symptoms of fatigue and lack of energy. The liver, also suffering from a lack of nourishment, does not circulate as it should, and stasis occurs, so typical of ageing… Suan Zao Ren Tang acts as a tonic for the heart, kidneys and liver. The emperor herb is spiny jujube, a seed that nourishes blood and yin in the liver and kidneys; biota and salvia also assist in replenishing blood. They are supported by herbs that cool empty heat (anemarrhena), further regulate the spirit (polygonum and Poria cocos) and replenish Qi (liquorice). This also harmonises the middle with amomum, thereby making digestion more efficient and preventing fat storage. Aster also helps in this by transforming phlegm, relaxes the lungs, thereby also acting on emotions and facilitating urination. It is a formula that is excellently tolerated even with long-term administration, which is inevitable in these states of exhaustion.

Indications:

• psychological and emotional instability
• mood swings
• irritability, disgruntledness to neurosis
• depression and apathy
• loss of joy in life
• memory deterioration
• feeling of burnout, weakness, loss
• insomnia
• frequent dreaming
• heart palpitations
• sexual problems
• dry mucous membranes and skin
• weight gain
• hair loss, brittle nails
• loss of bone and muscle mass

Modern use:

• andropause
• menopause
• insomnia
• psychological and emotional instability
• anxiety
• palpitations

Tongue:

• various, according to the triggering state (red in case of heat, paler and swollen in case of spleen deficiency)

Pulse:

• Xi
• Shu (fine, rapid)
• at the liver position it can be Xian (wiry)

Contraindications:

• none known

Notes:

This formula is one of the most effective in treating insomnia caused by deficiency, irritability or exhaustion.

Formula composition: