Holistic healing journal

Here is a link that not only discusses the properties of adaptogens but also focuses on how they can remedy a dead libido:

https://doctorherdmanclinic.com/res...o-ashwagandha-eleutherococcus-rhodiola-blend/

In our clinic, our male patients generally report better improvements in libido from taking rhodiola when they include a blend of ashwagandha and eleutherococcus along with balanced doses of vitamins B5 and C, for 3 to 6 months. These men frequently say they feel increased ardor as their adrenal function stabilizes, sleep improves, and energy builds up steadily over several months or longer.

Everything makes sense to me now! Since childhood and well into adulthood my body has absorbed an overwhelming amount of stress, both physical and psychological. 5+ years into sobriety and after having implemented a bunch of positive habits into my life there was still something wrong. Intense exercise wasn't the answer. Intermittent fasting wasn't the answer. Drinking a gallon of water a day wasn't the answer. Improved sleep wasn't the answer. Meditation wasn't the answer. Semen retention wasn't the answer. Ending toxic relationships wasn't the answer. Here I am about to tear my fucking hair out while wondering WHY IS THERE STILL SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME?

None of these things were actively targeting my endocrine system which had been shellshocked from decades of abuse. Sure enough I start ingesting some funky, earthy smelling capsules and I notice positive effects immediately! I have only been taking these capsules for a week and a half, I can only imagine how I would feel after six months of treatment.

Adaptogens really are a miracle tonic with two catches: they are not a quick fix and they are not meant to be a substitute for clean living. If somebody wants a quick erection, take a dick pill. If somebody plans on doing the 3-6 month treatment while being overweight, eating like shit, etc. then it is probably an exercise in futility.

When I see the practitioner on Friday I'm going to tell him that I want to take these herbs for as long as possible and then never have to take them again for the rest of my life. Once my endocrine system has been restored, clean living should be more than enough to sustain me.

 

BREAKTHROUGH

I'm going to have to make this brief as I'm leaving for work soon. Friday I had my second acupuncture appointment and I've been continuing with my herbal treatment.

This morning I jumped out of bed at 4:00, ready to go, and instantly knew that something was different. Long story short I've had an erection pretty consistently for over four hours straight. After my morning coffee I went to the gym and today was leg day for me. In between strenuous deadlifts my hardon kept creeping up again which really surprised me. I wasn't even consciously thinking about sex but it just wouldn't go down.

I'm trying to remember the last time I had a spontaneous and long lasting erection like that. Probably looking at 15 or 20 years ago.

This treatment is working.

 

My libido has been strong since I posted the update two days ago. I had some difficulty falling asleep last night.

My practitioner has said that he wants me to do this treatment for at least two months and I had a breakthrough in two weeks. I'm genuinely surprised at how quick and effective this has been.

 

I don't think I was completely healed last time, in fact I've had plenty of false starts. Now I've decided to do semen retention again while I'm on this treatment in hopes of getting over this for good.

 

Quick checkin as I want to enjoy the extended weekend. Today marks three weeks since I've started the treatment, I've been dutifully taking my herbal medication and I have my third acupuncture appointment this Friday.

Today I feel energized and jubilant. I've mentioned my facial hair is growing faster than usual, I think it's growing even faster than the last time I commented on it. I did a close shave two days ago (manual razor going against the grain) and it's crazy how thick it is already.

Libido is healthy this morning as well. So far so good.

 

What specifically do you have questions about?

 

I'm taking an adaptogenic herbal cocktail in capsule form, prescribed to me by the practitioner. These herbs are supposed to slowly heal the adrenals and tonify the kidneys. In addition, I have gone for two acupuncture treatments with the third scheduled for Friday.

My belief is that people on nofap, especially those reporting flatlines, are in various stages of adrenal fatigue. For me personally there is no doubt that I was in Stage 4 for many years. It was apparent to me that lifestyle changes alone were healing me, albeit at an extremely slow pace. The prospect of simply waiting for another year, two years, three years, etc. was not appealing so I decided to be proactive in my recovery.

I shared this link earlier in the thread, if you haven't seen it there is some good information in here:

https://doctorherdmanclinic.com/res...o-ashwagandha-eleutherococcus-rhodiola-blend/

 

Overall my sleep was fine, it was my energy levels that were low. Some mornings I would wake up feeling energized, some mornings like there was an anchor in my head. Some days I would have energy throughout the day, some days I'm done by the afternoon. Some days my libido would be fine, some days it would be completely gone. I thought I was out of flatline a few times already but I kept getting back in.

I'm hoping this treatment raises my overall baseline energy levels and so far it seems to be working.

 

The price of the treatment is well within my range and I did research on adaptogenic herbal supplements before I committed to anything. I don't mind continuing with the treatment for at least three months just to see where my baseline levels are at vs. just sitting around and doing nothing.

I am interested to hear your opinions though. Either on here or PM whatever you feel more comfortable with.

 

I found another great article that could potentially be of interest:

https://www.acenterfornaturalhealing.com/livingafulfilledlifeblog/low-libido-feeling-down

This will be a brief update as I'm going to hit the gym in 10 minutes. Yesterday I had my third acupuncture appointment and Monday will mark four weeks since I've started the herbal treatment. My overall baseline energy levels are rising and I'm increasingly optimistic about this treatment.

 

Ok now I have some time...

All last week I've been waking up feeling refreshed without any afternoon slumps. This is the first consistent week I've had in that regard, especially waking up. Before that it was patchy, some mornings I'd be refreshed and some mornings it would feel like a lead block was firmly stuck in my cranium.

When I saw the practitioner one of the questions I asked him is if my facial hair growing faster has anything to do with the treatment. He seemed quizzical about it but did say that it was a positive sign of vitality. All three times that I've had the acupuncture the needles have gone in the same area, wrists/forearms and feet/ankles. He told me that the spots he picks are meant to stimulate the kidneys. When inserting the needles there is no pain and he tells me to let him know when I feel it as he penetrates deeper under the skin.

Yesterday for the first time he was inserting a needle into my foot when out of nowhere the nerve came alive big time and electricity jolted across my body. I winced from the pain but then after a moment I could feel energy swimming throughout my body, a sensation which lasted for the duration of the session. This had not happened during the first two sessions. I told him about the feeling and he said that it was a positive sign.

After getting home and having dinner I was laying on my bed, watching TV, and out of nowhere I got a fully hard and random erection. It stayed for quite a while, maybe a half hour or so. This morning while having coffee I had another random erection. At the gym I was checking out girls and getting horny. After getting home and jumping into the shower I tugged on my penis a few times to see what would happen and it started coming to life quickly.

Unbelievable. That needle in my foot seemed to have done something.

I know I'm sounding like a broken record but I think my facial hair is still growing even quicker. I've started to get the proverbial five o'clock shadow even if I do a close shave with a manual razor in the morning.

So far I'm not deviating from the regimen. I'm dutifully taking the herbal tonic twice daily and going for acupuncture every two weeks.

I've had false starts before related to the flatline (I thought I was out but it was only temporary). This treatment has so far exceeded my expectations for a full recovery.

 

Today marks the completion of five weeks of treatment. I'm feeling good.