Varicocele
By Drew Nesbitt BA, TCMP, Ac., ROHP • Filed under Male Fertility Health • October 13, 2009
A varicocele is a bundle of enlarged, varicose veins located around the testicle. Varicocele is caused by defects in the valves in the veins of the testicle. This produces an abnormal backflow of blood from the abdomen into the scrotum resulting in a rise in temperature in the testes that may interfere with testosterone levels and the production and maturation of sperm. An increase in temperature will slow down sperm production resulting in a low number of sperm and an increased difficulty in achieving a pregnancy. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to treat varicocele in China and should be considered as a viable therapy before surgical intervention. [1, 2, 3]
Resources
1. Treatment of male infertility with acupuncture. Shealy CN, Helms J, McDaniels A.. J Neurol Orthop Med Surg. 1990;11:285–286.
2. The Treatment of 65 Cases of Sterility Due to Varicocele with Yi Shen Tong Luo Fang (Boost the Kidneys & Free the Flow of the Network Vessels Formula) by Sun Zi-xue, Zhe Jiang Zhong Yi Za Zhi Zhejiang Journal of Chinese Medicine #11, 2002.
3. Comparative clinical study on treatment of varicocele caused infertility by tongling granule and surgical operation. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine. 2001 Jun;21(6):412-5.
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- Treatment of Varicocele with Chinese Herbal Medicine In issue #11, of the 2002 Zhejiang Journal of Chinese...