As diffe
rent as they sound, the development of varicose veins (men and women) and erectile dysfunction (“E.D.” in men) are often of the same origin.
Having one or both of those issues may signal underlying nervous system damage that was not repaired due to metabolic inflammation.
And there are nonsurgical, non-pharmaceutical answers that may help both of these health issues.
The Autonomic Nervous System is the central coordination system of all your organs, hormone production, inflammation control, and blood pressure regulations.
The Autonomic Nervous System may be damaged in a direct trauma such as a concussion, but it may also be silently damaged in a number of ways including metabolic injuries (pregnancy, adverse drug reaction, chemotherapy, radiation), or inflammatory injuries (excessive vaccine reaction, heat stroke, intestinal bacterial overgrowths).
The Autonomic injury may happen in a single trigger event or the Autonomic injury may happen over time from the accumulation of smaller, seemingly harmless events.
Frequently the brain is not able to repair the damage because of an underlying form of stress called metabolic inflammation. Metabolic inflammation is the abnormal release of inflammatory chemicals from the immune system that prevents stem cells and other restorative mechanisms from repairing damage in the brain and throughout the body.
When the Autonomic Nervous System is damaged a wide variety of symptoms may arise from either the Sympathetic branch (“fight or flight” commands), or the Parasympathetic branch (“rest and digest” commands).
Parasympathetic Autonomic damage may cause heartburn, bloating, constipation, bladder dysfunction, and it contributes to chronic inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune disorders, chronic arthritic pain, eczema, and neuropathy.
The Sympathetic Autonomic branch has major control over how blood vessels expand and contract which is key to pumping blood out of the lower extremities. Not surprisingly, symptoms arising from Sympathetic damage often involve abnormal blood vessel function and low cerebral blood flow.
The most commonly discussed symptoms of Sympathetic Autonomic branch dysfunction are lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, poor concentration, and fatigue.
Erectile dysfunction and varicose veins are also symptoms of poor blood flow and abnormal blood vessel (i.e., veins) dilation from Sympathetic Autonomic dysfunction.
Varicose veins of the legs most commonly occur when the brain is unable to stimulate the blood vessels to constrict when people are standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time. Over time the leg veins become so dilated the valves fail to function, the veins balloon even more, and varicose veins appear.
Surgeries or procedures that simply removes or re-routes a damaged leg vein does not correct the underlying Sympathetic Autonomic dysfunction in the brain or the metabolic inflammation in the body.
Yet conversely, the noninvasive treatment of the underlying Autonomic dysfunction in the brain and the lowering of metabolic inflammation in the body can help improve the appearance of varicose veins because they help address the underlying causes of the symptoms.
Erectile dysfunction in males is most commonly due to the brain’s inability to correctly control blood flow into the corpus cavernosum. Poor penile blood flow regulation results in erectile dysfunction. Medications for erectile dysfunction such as Viagra® or Cialis® help improve blood flow problems caused by Sympathetic Autonomic damage.
If you have either varicose veins or Erectile Dysfunction, you have likely experienced some underlying Autonomic Nervous System damage that was not repaired because of metabolic inflammation. Fortunately, advances in treatments to reverse metabolic inflammation now make it possible to repair Autonomic damage even if the original injury was 50 years ago.
Once repaired, the healthier Autonomic Nervous System will then more properly regulate blood pressure and can lead to the improvement or reversal of Erectile Dysfunction as well as varicose veins.
I am a classically trained internal medicine physician from UCLA and my private office is located in Phoenix, Arizona. My research background has been focused on the Autonomic Nervous System, brain metabolism, and metabolic inflammation.
I now use this training and experience to reverse disease by utilizing all available scientific tools to induce the nervous system and organs to repair themselves by normalizing inflammation control mechanisms, inducing natural stem cell production, and by electro modulation of the vagus nerve.
For more information on Autonomic Nervous System recovery you may call my office at 623-208-4226 or learn from my website, screencasts, and blog on www.DrBuckeye.com.
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© 2016. Dr. Patrick M. Nemechek and Jean R. Nemechek. All Rights Reserved.
Hi Dr Nemechek! Sorry for my English, it’s not my language. I am 33 years old, from Europe and 6 years ago due to a traumatism I had a small inflammation in the penis, like a mosquito bite, the diagnosis was that nothing happened, so I did not pay attention. Over time that vein of the penis became big and looks like a thrombus or varicose vein that is causing ED, I can not maintain the erection. Is it possible to reverse the situation after 3 years? Is this related autonomic dysfunction? Is it possible cure a varicose vein that… Read more »
When varicose veins occur after a trauma, they are from damage to the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
This can be greatly improved with my protocol.
Hi Dr Nemechek,
I have recently been diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome, essentially varicose veins in my pelvis. This has occurred following pregnancy. Would your protocol help with this also? Would it typically involve VNS for this type of problem?
I think it would help and I think the VNS would almost be mandatory for a decent level of recovery.
Hello Doctor. I am 33 years old and have varicose veins in my left testicle and a very bad case of ED. I have been told by the one doctor I have seen that there’s not much they can do and write me a prescription for viagra and sent me home. viagra does absolutely nothing. I could take 2-3 of them and nothing. So the problem is that once I get a erection and have sex I ejaculate in 20-30 secs and no more. This is driving me crazy. I a pretty healthy guy and I am just looking for… Read more »
Peter,
This all related to autonomic dysfunction. We have had a great amount of success with cases such as yours.
Our treatment does not require long term prescription medications but requires initially visiting our office in Arizona and the long term use of a vagus nerve stimulator as well as some inexpensive supplements.
Dear Dr Nemechek, I have struggled sexually since quite a young age with very erractic erections. I am now 35 and in the last 2 years, my testicles have atrophied considerably, my penis is covered in thread and varicose veins, my testicles hang very low and generally my genitals look and act as if they have aged 50 years. I have no morning erections and little libido. I have been to many endocrinologists etc and they have identified free testosterone towards the low end of the spectrum, “but not low enough for TRT”. Please could you advise as I have… Read more »
Low testosterone levels and the accompanying loss of libido is a result of pituitary dysfunction often because of impaired parasympathetic dysfunction.
The varicosities are due to sympathetic dysfunction. Both of these underlying conditions are often reversible.
Sir I used to have hydrocele and for that I didn’t took any treatment but after few months I felt like I can’t stand for long period of time. After few years it became too bad I didn’t sleep for two nights and dint took food for a day. The I felt a slight ED by that time my age was 18. And I dnt masturbated by that time. but it effected me. now I am 22 it is getting serious as the errection is too low. My normal size of the pennies is also getting smaller. I am from… Read more »
You need to find someone who can specializes in lowering systemic inflammation.
Read my articles on DHA is Brain Food, another on SIBO, and the last on Chronic Pain is Chronic Inflammation as a third for a general strategy.
Good luck – Dr. N
Hi Dr., im from cape verde and im 28 years old. I have E.D., i went to a doctor and he found i have varicocele in testicle. I have week morning woods, and i lose my erection fast if i stop stimulation. I used to have a health sexual function, but now i have low sexual arousal, and problems with maintaining an erection,. Do you think varicocele is the cause of my erections problems? Thanks in advance.
In my experience, autonomic dysfunction is usually the cause of erectile dysfunction in patients with an otherwise normal physical exam and lab work. Even low testosterone levels recover once autonomic function is returned to normal.
Dr. Nemechek, Thank you for this article. I also find it very convincing. I have been experiencing erectile dysfunction for a little over a year now. The trigger for me was road bicycle cycling which I took up again in July 2015, finally giving up in August 2016. A lack of libido became ED in May of last year when my long distance partner was visiting. It gradually got worse even after quitting cycling to the point now where I have no interest in sex and can’t achieve more than a 70% Erection. I developed very bad bladder issues in… Read more »
Sounds like your gut bacterial balance is off (SIBO) and along with some general dietary issues (excessive omega-6 and deficient omega-3), you have significant enough metabolic inflammation that your autonomic nervous system which controls erections is damage. Having had problems for a while can also add an additional layer of psychological distress to the mix but I find that is often that is relatively mild compared to the autonomic issues. You need an aggressive approach to reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels within the brain. It takes more that popping this or that supplement. A few visits with us will almost… Read more »
Hello Dr. Nemechek I have been suffering with ED for several years and i find your explanation as to the cause of ED very convincing and interesting .i live in Melbourne Australia and i have also been looking at having done prolozone treathment for my feet as i have some plantar fasciatis inflammaton as well as some arthrites on my ankle and i have some varicouse veins , now interestingly this ozone tgerapy supposedly helps the body to regeneratestem cells and thus regenerate the cells and help healing ,is this some thing along the same line of your treathment ?… Read more »
My approach is quite a bit more potent. Ozone therapy does have some positive effects but the potency is similar in strength to green tea or intermittent fasting. My approach utilizes a series of components that all focus on the reduction of one thing, chemical (otherwise known as metabolic) inflammation within the brain. If this is reduced enough, there is a robust production of stem cells (see my recent post on omega3:omega-6 balance). Coupled with vagal stimulation, rebalancing of the intestinal flora and a special CNE penetrating fish oil, results in substantial recovery of autonomic brain function. We have several… Read more »