Men - have you been referred to you as a Grumpy Old Man?

Women – have you referred to your husband/partner as having Male Menopause?

Did you think there was really such a thing?

Well, Practicing Osteopath and Herbalist Timothy Corbishley of Duke Street has been looking into this condition and has come up with an answer.

Apparently he says as men get older there is a gradual decline in the circulating testosterone levels producing a gradual increase in the levels of blood proteins, which bind this hormone producing a significant decrease in the free active form of testosterone. Because this happens gradually it is probably not helpful to refer to this process as a male “menopause”. The term Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Aging Male (PADAM) has been adopted as being a more accurate description of this gradual process. Despite the large body of evidence that testifies to a decline in testosterone with age, it is by no means universal. Numerous studies have demonstrated that fit and healthy men in their seventies can achieve levels of testosterone within the range expected for young men, provided they take regular exercise, are non-smokers, not over weight and in general good health.

The herb Tribulus has gained a reputation as helpful in the treatment of male and female infertility and menopausal symptoms, The mechanism of action of this herb is thought to be via a group of chemicals called saponins which have been shown to effect the release of factors from the hypothalamus, part of the brain, which in turn release increased levels of the hormone which stimulates the testes to produce more testosterone.

Fatigue, Sleep Disturbance, Depression, Poor Libido, Grumpy are some of the signs to look out for.

If you would like in depth information on the subject, Tim would be happy to help you.

You can contact Tim. P. Corbishley PhD. Dip Phyto, MNIMH, Medical Herbalist, Darlington Tel. 01325 466022.