Is any alternative medical treatment, dietary supplement, etc.
available to remedy or improve the male disorder known as Corporal
Veno Occlusive Dysfunction ("Venous Leak")?  Please do not comment on
surgery, implants, or rings, as I have already received advice on
these treatments.

The American Medical Association estimates that 95% of erectile
dysfunction cases are treatable.. [source:
http://www.econdoms.co.uk/pages/info/erection.html]
Aside from surgery, implants, rings etc... alternative options
proposed are Psychotherapy - to teach techniques that can decrease
anxiety associated with intercourse - and "The Potency Diet" [see
below]

THE POTENCY DIET 

MONDAY
Oranges, Lemons, Kiwi Fruit, Mango, Papaya, Raspberries and
Blackberries, Green Vegetables

TUESDAY
Grapes, Redcurrants, Garlic, Onion, Green Pepper, Bulgur Wheat,
Tomatoes, Parsley

WEDNESDAY
Wholemeal Rice, Liver, Milk, Egg Yolks, Cabbage, Beetroot, more Green
Vegetables

THURSDAY
Eggs, Mushrooms, Tuna fish

FRIDAY
Fish, Veal, Walnuts, White Wine

WEEKEND
Any of the above plus Chocolate, Bananas and Treacle or Molasses


According to Othniel J. Seiden, M.D., "a man should consider a
composite health program: low-fat, high-antioxidant diet;
vitamin/mineral/phytochemical supplemental mixture with a
nutritionist's advice; reduction of stress; an appropriately tailored
aerobic exercise schedule; the avoidance or moderate use of alcohol;
and abstinence from tobacco. This regimen can enhance total blood
flow, cardiovascular fitness, digestion and nutrient absorption."

It is suggested that a diet rich in whole foods—particularly
vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes—is extremely important.
Likewise, adequate protein from tofu, legumes, fish, chicken, turkey
and lean beef is crucial.
[http://www.healthwell.com/delicious-online/d_backs/Jun_01/passion.cfm]

Omega-3 essential fatty acids, sarsaparilla, which increases
testosterone, and vitamins A, B6 and E. to enhance sexual function, is
also recommended.

"Poor eating habits with excessive animal fats and saturated fats can
result in obesity, heart disease, hypertension and erectile
dysfunction brought about by atherosclerosis," says Seiden. Neal
Barnard, M.D., president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine in Washington, D.C., agrees: "The same high-cholesterol and
low-density lipoprotein diet that causes atherosclerosis of the
coronary arteries can cause blockage in the arteries that feed blood
to the erectile tissues of the penis," he says.

I hoope this information helps you

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Request for Answer Clarification by will7898-ga on 18 Oct 2002 13:25 PDT

Thank you for your reply.  I agree with your remarks.  I am sure the
diet you recommend would be beneficial to me in many ways.

However, the problem, diagnosed now by three urologists, all using
ultrasound, is not potency, but the ability to sustain erection.  Good
erection is achieved; however, the trapped blood escapes, especially
when in the prone position.  Blood supply, energy, etc., are all above
average.

I am afraid the problem is very specific, and maybe no alternative
methods are viable in this case.

---

Clarification of Answer by jackburton-ga on 18 Oct 2002 22:38 PDT

There does not seem to be convincing evidence for an effective
alternative medical treatment.

Dr's Korenman and Cohan warn:
"Be aware that no complementary medicine has been convincingly shown
to be both effective and safe for the treatment for ED; however, if a
patient has success with a safe agent, do not discourage its use."
["Approach to the Patient with Erectile Dysfunction
by Stanley G. Korenman, MD and Pejman Cohan, MD, Best Practice of
Medicine. October 2001.]
http://merck.praxis.md/bpm/bpmviewall.asp?page=BPM01EN04

Dr. N.K. Lin, a well-renowned expert in the area of sexual health and
therapy, recommends a product called "POWER V" for "venous leaks".
"How to Solve A Venous Leak in the Penis That Contributes to ED" -
Case study #9085
http://www.herbolove.com/article.asp?Art=71

To find out more about Power V and a detailed list of its ingredients
visit
http://www.herbolove.com/shopping/product.asp?pid=1032

Herbolove.com offers advice for all sexual matters, and you can ask
the experts for specific advice on alternative treatments. You could
also try using their message board to determine if people with this
condition have benefited from any treatments. HerboLove.com was named
the "one of the best sexual health community" by New York Times.

I hope this information is helpful to you, and I wish you luck with
this.

---

Clarification of Answer by jackburton-ga on 07 Nov 2002 12:42 PST

just wanted to check whether you were satisfied with response you
received re. venous leaks alternative medical treatment
-------------------------------------------------------
Jack Burton

I would reccommend seeing an absolute ED expert at a university, not a
private practice guy who makes money by operating.

I am very familiar with your problem, I am in the filed, and I think a
prosthesis is your best alternative.  Otherwise, see an expert (there
is one at UCSF, but I don't want to give you the name you will find
it)  There are vascular procedures.

There has never been any scientific study that will show that these bs
natural things will help.  people makle a lot of money by preying on
your insecurities.

will7898,

Unfortunately, while many herbal remedies may claim to be effective in
treating the effects of venous leak, there is no clinical evidence of
their effectiveness.

I checked MedScape's Clinical Update entitled "New Horizons in
Erectile Dysfunction Therapy". (I have a logon for Medscape, so I
don't know if you will be able to access the article, but if not, your
doctor should be able to get it for you:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/416423_6 .)

The article is written in VERY technical terms. Again, if you do not
understand what it says, your doctor should be able to explain it to
you. The relevant part of the article states:

"At one time, surgery for cavernous veno-occlusive dysfunction was
also thought to be "the answer" to many cases of ED. Typically,
veno-occlusive dysfunction involved younger men who reported an
ability to achieve an erection but difficulty in maintaining it. A
variety of surgical procedures to ameliorate restore veno-occlusive
dysfunction were described in the mid-1980s to early 1990s.
Unfortunately the durability of response in the vast majority of these
men was unsatisfactory...

Penile alprostadil (PGE1) has received approval by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ED and may be administered
via 1 of 2 routes: intracavernosal injections (Caverject, Pharmacia &
Upjohn; and Edex, Schwarz Pharma) or transurethral suppository (MUSE,
Vivus).[26-28] In addition, a topical alprostadil preparation
(Alprox-TD) is under active investigation.

Alprostadil assists in causing relaxation of cavernosal smooth muscle
and dilatation of cavernosal arterioles. These actions permit
increased penile blood flow and address secondary veno-occlusive
mechanism by compression of the venules against the surrounding tunica
albuginea.[26] Both administration routes result in dose-response
improvements in frequencies of erection sufficient for intercourse.

Side effects with PGE1 have been minimal, although about one third of
patients receiving intercavernosal alprostadil noticed
mild-to-moderate penile pain at some point, which was ascribed to the
injection per se or interfered with sexual activity in about 10% of
men.[26,27] In double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical
trials in men with mild-to-moderate ED, sexual function as indicated
by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) revealed
significant benefits of penile alprostadil compared with
placebo.[27,28]"

If you have not tried it already, you may want to find out from your
doctor if treatment with Alprostadil would be a good option for you.

I hope that you find this information to be of assistance to you!

aceresearcher