Depression

Question
Hi Dr.Davis......I'm 58 and have been taking 200mg of Sertraline a day for mild depression. Quite simply...I would like my orgasms back! Trying to achieve orgasm seems like an endless journey my wife of 34 years tells me is much too long for her. I can maintain an erection but I have to go forever. "Forever" is not working for my wife and I. She asked me why I couldn't have had this issue when we first got married in '76. We're still madly in love, the sex is still great but enough already with the "no orgtasm thing". The psychiatrist who prescribes my Sertraline recommends I try Wellbutrin to help alleviate the sexual side affects. There must be a herbal remedy that can help my depression and allow me to get my orgasms back......Do you have any suggestions?


Answer
Hello Jim,



It is good to hear that you and your wife are still madly in love with each other! I know intimacy issues can cause a strain on relationships, and it is great that you and your wife are able to get through this.



I don't know anything about your medical history or the true underlying cause of your depression, so I am flying blind as to what herbs would be specific for your case.  But I can tell you that I help dozens of people recover and heal from their depression using herbs alone, with absolutely NO side effects, except that of feeling better.



I'll give you a little background from my perspective.  Pretend for a moment that your Liver is like a mattress spring.  The Liver basically regulates the hormones and chemical process in your body. The spring moves thought out the day. It extends and it contracts to help regulate your hormones depending on what is happening in your day.  If there is an imbalance or disharmony in your body, you can get this upward rising of energy that extends the spring, causing headaches, mood swings, anxiety, depression (among other symptoms).  Drugs help to control symptoms by putting a weight on the spring.  This pushes the spring down and back into place.  But the down side of this, is that now the Liver or spring is restricted from movement.  It is oppressed, which causes a list of unhealthy side effects.  And if you try to stop taking the drugs, the contracted spring no longer has a weight on it and..wham! The spring extends way out causing worse symptoms then the depression alone (suicidal tendencies, relapses, heart attacks, etc). That is why I never advise anyone to just stop taking depression medication.  Some people can do it and have no ill effects, especially if they are on a very low dose and have not been on it very much.  Since I am unaware of your medical history, it is best to consult your doctor or psychiatrist, to lessen your dosage over time and wean off of it.



Now enter the herbs.  Herbs don't work like drugs.  They gently guide your body to the best possible solution for YOU.  Instead of weighing down the spring, herbs soothe the Liver, calm it down, so it doesn't extend and contract so wildly.  Some people notice immediate improvement right away.  With others it takes time, a few months before their systems are back in balance and their symptoms are gone.  I am not sure how it will work for you--that depends on a lot of different factors.  I can only recommend general herbs that may help for your condition, without doing a formal evaluation.  If you like one, I can do consultations over the phone and recommend specific herbs that will help correct the imbalances.



In general a good herb that will help with the depression and strengthen the Kidney Essence that is in charge of ejaculation, is Ashwaghanda.  Ashwaghanda is an Ayurvedic herb that helps to kindle the fire of desire, both physically and spiritually.  You can order high quality capsules from a company called Banyan Botanicals.  Another good herb would be Dandelion Root and Chaste Berry (aka Vitex).  You can order these from Star-West botanicals or find them in your local health food/herb store. I don't get any cut-back from recommending these companies.  These are just the ones I order from and I trust their quality and they are not aldulterated.



Depending on your size, if you are a typical sized male for your age, take 2-3 caps of the Ashwaghanda, 2 times a day.  The Dandelion root and Vitex can be taken as a tea, or in tincture form.  In tincture form take 60-90 drops or 1/4tsp 3x day in some water.  As a tea, drink a cup twice a day.  The brand Traditional Medicinals makes a good Dandelion Root boxed tea.  You can find that any most major stores in the tea section.



I hope this answers your question.  Good luck and let me know your progress.  

Cheers,

Dr. C