DoctorCarsonPhD
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I don't know if the Ashwagandha churna will work or not - but it has been used for a very long time in India as a restorative herb and specifically to increase potency/libido. My main concern with Ayurvedic medicine is not whether or not it works so much as whether or not it may contain high levels of heavy metal contaminaton - which has been a problem in India.
Before you seek out a doctor, I would suggest looking at lifestyle and supplement changes in the spirit of this section. After all, your husband does not have lowered sperm count due to a deficiency of pharmaceutical drugs, and 95% of those drugs have side effects. Low sperm count is becoming increasingly common in the US, likely due to increased toxic load, mineral deficiencies due to over-farmed soils, the SADS diet and processed food, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. The average sperm count has dropped by over half in the last few decades.
Other common causes for low sperm count include:
* Infected semen
* Heat
* Obesity
* Pressure
* Frequent ejaculations
* Smoking, Excessive alcohol intake.
* Over exertion physically and mentally
* Zinc deficiency
* Infections present in prostate gland.
* Malformed genital organs.
* Anabolic steroid use
Here are some suggestions:
Lifestyle:
* Avoid the heat. High body temperatures have been shown to decrease sperm production. Avoid hot tubs, saunas and exposure to hot weather. Tight fitting shorts or prolonged laptop computer use also may increase the temperature of your testicles, decreasing sperm production.
* Make healthy lifestyle choices. Staying at a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco, excessive drinking and illegal drugs can all help reduce the risk of low sperm count.
* Have sex & masturbate less often - the more times you ejaculate, the less dense your semen will be. It's important to have sex on a regular basis around the time of ovulation, when your partner can get pregnant. But ejaculating more than a few times a week can reduce the number of sperm present in your semen. Maintain a gap of 3 days between two consecutive ejaculations.
* Refrain from habits like smoking, alcohol consumption etc. - Alcohol affects your liver function, which, in turn, causes a dramatic rise in estrogen levels. Even two drinks a day will have long-term effects on sperm production
* Exercise regularly.
* Eat Nutritious Food - Diet that's low in fat, and high in protein, vegetables, and whole grains is good for your health and for your sperm. Avoid bitter, astringent and spicy foods.Reduce caffeine intake
* Avoid heating of testicles - Wear loose, cotton boxer shorts, Avoid hot baths and saunas
* Lose any excess weight, which tends to cause testosterone/oestrogen imbalances.
* Reduce stress levels by learning relaxation techniques - Keep your mind and body healthy by regular practice of YOGA and MEDITATION.
* Massage body with herbal oil, which improves blood circulation.
* Make love in the early morning or afternoon. Sperm levels are often highest in the mornings
Supplements:
* Vitamin C protects sperm from oxidative damage. Supplementing vitamin C improves the quality of sperm in smokers. When sperm stick together (a condition called agglutination), fertility is reduced. Vitamin C reduces sperm agglutination, and supplementation with 200–1,000 mg per day increased the fertility of men with this condition in a controlled study. Many doctors recommend 1 gram of vitamin C per day for infertile men, particularly those diagnosed with sperm agglutination. However, a double-blind trial studying the effects of combined vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation found no improvements in semen quality among men with low sperm motility.
* Zinc deficiency leads to reduced numbers of sperm and impotence in men. Infertile men have been reported to have lower levels of zinc in their semen, than do men with normal fertility. Similarly, men with normal sperm density tend to have higher amounts of zinc in their semen, than do men with low sperm counts. In a controlled trial, 100 men with low sperm motility received either 57 mg of zinc twice daily or a placebo. After three months, there was significant improvement in sperm quality, sperm count, sperm motility, and fertilizing capacity of the sperm. The ideal amount of supplemental zinc remains unknown, but some doctors recommend 30 mg two times per day. Long-term zinc supplementation requires 1–2 mg of copper per day to prevent copper deficiency.
* Arginine, an amino acid found in many foods, is needed to produce sperm. Research, most of which is preliminary shows that several months of L-arginine supplementation increases sperm count, quality, and fertility. However, when the initial sperm count was extremely low (such as less than 10 million per ml), L-arginine supplementation produced little or no benefit. While some pregnancies have been attributed to arginine supplementation in preliminary reports, no controlled research has confirmed these claims. For infertile men with sperm counts greater than 10 million per milliliter, many doctors recommend up to 4 grams of L-arginine per day for several months.
* In a double-blind study of infertile men with reduced sperm motility, supplementation with selenium (100 mcg per day for three months) significantly increased sperm motility, but had no effect on sperm count. Eleven percent of 46 men receiving selenium achieved paternity, compared with none of 18 men receiving a placebo.
* Vitamin B12 is needed to maintain fertility. Vitamin B12 injections have increased sperm counts for men with low numbers of sperm. These results have been duplicated in double-blind research.34 In one study, a group of infertile men were given oral vitamin B12 supplements (1,500 mcg per day of methylcobalamin) for 2 to 13 months. Approximately 60% of those taking the supplement experienced improved sperm counts. However, controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results. Men seeking vitamin B12 injections should consult a physician.
* L-carnitine is a substance made in the body and also found in supplements and some foods (such as meat). It appears to be necessary for normal functioning of sperm cells. In preliminary studies, supplementing with 3–4 grams per day for four months helped to normalize sperm motility in men with low sperm quality. While the majority of clinical trials have used L-carnitine, one preliminary trial found that acetylcarnitine (4 grams per day) may also prove useful for treatment of male infertility caused by low quantities of immobile sperm.
* Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a nutrient used by the body in the production of energy. While its exact role in the formation of sperm is unknown, there is evidence that as little as 10 mg per day (over a two-week period) will increase sperm count and motility. In one study, men with low sperm counts were given CoQ10 (60 mg per day for about three months). No significant change was noted in most sperm parameters, but a significant improvement was noted in in-vitro fertilization rates.
* Vitamin E deficiency in animals leads to infertility. In a preliminary human trial, 100–200 IU of vitamin E given daily to both partners of infertile couples led to a significant increase in fertility. Vitamin E supplementation may enhance fertility by decreasing free-radical damage to sperm cells. In another preliminary study, men with low fertilization rates in previous attempts at in vitro fertilization were given 200 IU of vitamin E per day for three months. After one month of supplementation, fertilization rates increased significantly, and the amount of oxidative stress on sperm cells decreased. .
* Preliminary research suggests that oral SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), in amounts of 800 mg per day, may also increase sperm activity in infertile men.
* Calcium is a key regulator of human sperm function. The concentration of calcium in semen determines sperm motility (i.e., the ability of sperm to move spontaneously). However, calcium deficiency has not been confirmed as a cause of male infertility nor is there any evidence that calcium supplementation improves male infertility.
* Asian ginseng may prove useful for male infertility. One preliminary study found that 4 grams of Asian ginseng per day for three months led to an improvement in sperm count and sperm motility.
* A small clinical trial found that healthy men who took dried maca powder had increased sperm counts and enhanced sperm motility.
* Other helpful herbs: Damiana, sarsparilla, saw palmetto, yohimbe, velvet bean, catuaba, chuchuhuasi and muira puama.
 Posted 266 days ago
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