Vajikarana Tantra is the one that deals with the promotion of sexual health and the prevention and cure of sex-related disorders which show the importance and role of sexual health since ancient times. Vajikarana has been described especially to improve sexual health, to enhance the quality and quantity of Shukra, and to please the mind for sexual life.
From ancient times, people have been interested in sexuality. For the maintenance of a happy, healthy, and cheerful life, healthy sexual functioning has a prime role. It does not only fulfil the desire of the child but also the behavioural, relational as well as recreational aspect of human life. Sexual life provides a medium to express love to a partner. The absence of a healthy sexual life hampers the most intimate relationship between the married partners and also leads to frustration, anxiety, and sometimes depression too. All these hamper the physical as well as the mental health of the person. A sexual disorder includes all sorts of disturbances of coital performance and sexual relationships in males.
Ayurveda always emphasized sexual health. Ancient literature described Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha as the four Purusharthas of life and the achievement of each of these is the basic need of every individual. The concept of Kama reveals that recreational aspects like pleasure are equally important to its procreation aspects (progeny). In ancient days, it was a routine procedure to take an aphrodisiac before undertaking sexual intercourse. But nowadays, there has been a drastic change in his day by day activities including Lifestyle, Food habits and timing of diet, Sexual life, and timing due to modernization and urbanization. Increasing stress, Environmental Pollution, Industrial and occupational hazards, all these factors lead to sexual disorders and infertility which keep on increasing day by day.
Sexual disorders are more commonly observed in society nowadays, owing to the feeling of inadequacy and social stigma among males, they are less commonly reported. Studies also reported the fear of impotency among males above 40 years of age. Among the various phases of sexual response, the most essential is the achieving of normal erection with sufficient rigidity along with timely ejaculation for proper penetrative intercourse, the absence of which ends in failure, stress, and dissatisfaction. Due to the high incidence of the problem in the current era as well as social restrictions in talking about sex, unethical medical practices are more prevalent in Indian society which exploit the immature, innocent, and curious youth of India. A single mouse click takes to the tour of fantasy sexual life and behaviour which cause exploitation globally. The use of such exploitation occurs especially under the banner of AYUSH unethically. The present scenario emphasizes the need of providing adequate knowledge about healthy sexual life to the youth and the need to remove the social restriction so that people discuss sexual dysfunctions like premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction and take the treatment of the same.
Sexual Disorders:
A special group of disorders of coital performance and sexual congress in the male in total either primary or secondary is called Male Sexual Dysfunction. Major categories of sexual dysfunction are listed in both males and females.
1. Sexual desire disorders
2. Sexual arousal disorders
3. Orgasm disorders
4. Sexual pain disorders
5. Sexual dysfunction due to a general medical condition
6. Substance-induced sexual dysfunction
Among all these, Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are more prevalent sexual disorders in the present era of stress.
Role of Ayurveda:
Ayurveda is the richest and oldest heritage of the world, whose principles and guidelines are primarily laid by the Vedas, which are considered as the first available literature of the world. Ayurveda has been subdivided into 8 branches of speciality. Amongst these Vajikarana Tantra is the one that deals with the promotion of sexual health and prevention and cure of sex-related disorders which show the importance and role of sexual health since ancient times. Vajikarana has been described especially to improve sexual health, to enhance the quality and quantity of Shukra, and to please the mind for sexual life. This therapy provides potentiality for getting offspring and causes instantaneous sexual excitation sufficient enough to get satisfaction and enable the person to satisfy his/her partner too. The drugs used for this treatment are known as Vrishya drugs. Vrishya karma under the heading of Vajikarana includes all the interventions needed for shodhana karma (Purification)
Etiological factors behind sexual disorders:
1. Excessive intake Lavana, Katu, Tikta & Kashaya Rasas
2. Excessive intake of Amla Rasa and articles having Amla Vipaka and Katu Vipaka
3. Intake of Kshara
4. Intake of Viruddha Ahara
5. Aharaviharas antagonistic to Rasavaha Srotas
6. Anashana (Fasting long)
7. Alpashana (Consumption of lesser quantity of food)
8. Shukravega Nigraha
9. Shastraksharagnivibhramat (Iatrogenic)
10. Akalamaithuna (improper time of sexual intercourse)
11. AyoniGamana (sexual intercourse at any place other than the vagina)
12. Atimaithuna (Excess of sexual intercourse)
13. RajasvalaGamana(sexual intercourse with menstruating woman)
14. ApriyaGamana (sexual intercourse with a disagreeable partner)
15. Apriyacara nareegamana (sexual intercourse with disliked partner)
16. Maithuna in restricted places like Chaitya (place of worship), Shmashana (crematorium), Chatvara (the place where many roads meet), etc
Role of Mansika Bhava in Sexual disorders: The following mental factors also causes the sexual disorders-
• Chintyanam (anxious thought).
• Shoka (sorrow)
• Bhaya (fear)
• Krodha (anger)
• Utkanťha (regret)
• Irshya (jealousy) etc.
• Atiharsha (Immense joy)
Treatment of Sexual disorders in Ayurveda: Ayurveda described Nidana parivarjan as the first treatment modality for any disease. The diet and lifestyle modification for balancing the dosha and maintenance of harmony among dosha is the prime preventive and therapeutic aspect of Ayurveda. After the nidana parivarjana, Ayurveda divided the treatment part into two – shaman chikitsa and shodhana chikitsa.
1. Shamana chikitsa includes all the vrishya drugs which are the following:
• Rasa/ Bhasma: Abharak bhasma, shilajatu, Pushpadhanwa rasa, Makaradwaja, Kamini vidravana rasa, Vasant kusumakar rasa, Manmatha rasa.
• Vati Kalpana: Vanri gutika, Chandraprabha vati, Shilajtwadi loha, Viryashodaka vati, virya stambhaka vati, swapana doshahara vati.
• Modaka Kalpana: Kameshwar modaka
• Churna Kalpana: Ashwagandha churna, shatavari churna, narsingh churna, dhatu paustika churna.
• Asava: arishta kalpana: Ashwagandharishta, bhringrajasava, Sarswatarishta.
• Ghrita: Phala ghrita, dadima ghrita, ashwagandha ghrita, shatavari ghrita, kamdeva ghrita.
• Leha Kalapana: Narsimha rasayana, ashwagandadi leham, ajamamsa rasyana, amrit bhallataka, chywanprash.
• Paka Kalpana: Musli paka, ashwagandha paka, kauch paka.
2. Shodhana chikitsa: It includes vamana, virechana, nasya, rakkktamokshana and vasti karma. Acharya described the role of vata in sexual disorders and mentioned basti karma is the ultimate treatment of vata dosha. Basti karma includes niruha basti , anuvasana basti and yapana basti. Acharya Charaka detailed description about yapana basti yoga in siddhi sthana. He mentions about 216 yogas. As per charaka, adding honey to yapana basti increases the sexual potency of the person. It is useful for people who excessively indulge in sex. It promotes semen and muscular tissue. It helps sterile women and men to get children. Examples: Mustadi yapana basti( Acharya Sushruta called it as the king of all the yapana bastis(Raja yapanam), Erandamuladi Niruha basti etc.
Herbal remedies: Some of the home remedies useful to improve sexual health are:
1. Makhana ki kheer: Makhana is one of the food products useful to reduce sexual weakness and improve male sexual health. Ayurveda described many medicinal properties of makhana. Kheer prepared from makhana is useful to improve libido, sperm quality and quantity too.
2. Banana is one of the fruits useful to improve libido and helpful in erectile dysfunction too. The intake of bananas in any form is useful.
3. Khajur with milk is beneficial as Rasayana and also improves libido. Taking 4 to 6 khajur with warm milk at night is beneficial for male sexual health and also removes constipation.
4. Spices like garlic in vegetables are also helpful.
5. Yoga Asanas useful in Sexual health: Yoga Asana like naukasana, kumbasana, dhanurasana, Uttanpadasana are a few yoga asanas which are beneficial for boosting sexual health and improving libido.
Note: Take medicine under the supervision of a Registered Ayurvedic medical Practitioner only.