Men’s Health – The Ayurvedic Perspective

It is a fact of life that men are far less likely to look after their health than women. Perhaps this is the reason that women have a greater life expectancy. In fact, men often even tend to be in denial about any premature signs of aging. This is a pity, as there are some simple steps which, if taken at the right time, can greatly slow down the aging process and effectively avert some of the most common ailments suffered by men of middle age and beyond.

Between the ages of 30-40, a man’s hormone levels gradually start to decline. This can lead to any of a wide variety of problems. It is common for men at this time to develop low self-esteem and libido, and frequently impotence or even depression. Middle-aged men are particularly prone to the urinary tract and prostate problems. In spite of being tired for much more of the time they often find it hard to sleep. As the tissues dry out there are obvious physical changes: the skin becomes thinner and drier and the arms and legs lose their tone.

After the age of 50, a man becomes susceptible to more serious health problems, such as arthritis and gout, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

For as long as Ayurvedic texts have been in existence they have shown in detail practical ways in which good health can be maintained through these years. In fact, it was for a very long time common for men to ridicule the suggestion of taking virility medicines in middle age, but the benefits of this practice have been underlined by modern scientific knowledge. We now know that as the body becomes more acidic the brain hormones are gradually depleted. In my own practice, I found that prescribing medicines as an early stage for virility, for the brain and neurotransmitters, and for digestion can help men avoid many problems in later life.

Yogic practices can also be very beneficial in slowing down the aging process, but these need to be selected in accordance with the capabilities of the individual, and the advice of the practitioner should be followed as certain practices can be harmful if the body’s tissues are excessively dry.

Please follow this link to learn more about ways in which we are helping men to age gracefully.