Sexual Health
Prostate (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia)
If you're a man over the age of 50, you probably have a prostate problem - usually a benign enlargment of the gland. Herbal and nutritional therapies can help ease discomfort and even preclude or delay the need for conventional drugs or surgery.
What is it?
These disorders typically cause urinary complaints because they affect the prostate, the walnut-size gland that is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the tube that transports urine out of the bladder). By far the most common problem is BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or hypertrophy), a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that occurs in more than half of men over the age of 50. The condition can progress for many years, with few or no symptoms at first, and is not a risk factor for developing prostate cancer. But be sure to see your doctor to rule out cancer and prostate inflammation (prostatitis), which are more serious.
Cystitis (Urinary Tract Infection)
Modern science has proved what folk healers have long claimed: these troublesome and potentially serious infections, one of the most common health problems for women, can often be relieved with some of nature's own remedies.
What is it?
Also known as cystitis (bladder inflammation) or a bladder infection, a urinary tract infection (UTI) inflames the bladder or urethra (the tube that transports urine out of the bladder). The problem most frequently affects females; in fact, one in five women suffers from a UTI at least once a year. These infections should be treated promptly - and antibiotics may be necessary - because recurring UTIs can lead to potentially serious kidney infections.
Impotence
For one man in four over the age of 50 - and some much younger men, too - a durable erection is an elusive thing. In most cases, the cause of what doctors call 'erectile dysfuntion' is physical and correctable, often by making some surprisingly simple changes.
What is it?
An erection occurs when blood vessels in the penis fill with blood, stiffening the organ. The process is sparked by sexual stimulation, which causes nerves in the brain and spine to signal arteries in the penis to expand. The inbility to get or maintain an erection is called impotence.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease. The cause is a strain of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This virus enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes.
What is it?
The illness is characterized by pain, itching and sores in your genital area. Sexual contact is the primary way that genital HSV spreads. It's almost impossible to get the infection through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by an infected person, because the virus dies quickly outside the body.
Warts
They are the single most common skin complaint - and sooner or later, one in every ten people develops at least one. Many warts disappear on their own, but a variety of natural treatments can hasten healing for the millions of people who suffer from these unsightly blemishes.
What is it?
Although warts may sometimes look serious, in most cases these small skin growths are harmless. There are many different kinds, including common warts, usually found on the fingers or hands, and plantar warts, which appear on the feet. Genital warts are considered the most serious because, unlike other types of warts, they are highly contagious, and some types may increase the risk of skin, cervial or penile cancers.