Vitality™

TCM herbal formula for low libido, impotence, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and spermatorrhea in men and women — warms Kidney yang; replenishes Kidney jing (essence); increases testosterone, corticosterone, and cortisol secretion

⚠️ Contraindicated in exterior or excess conditions such as active infections or inflammations. This formula is warm to hot in nature — prolonged use may cause thirst, dry mouth, warm sensations, constipation, flushed face, or nosebleeds; decrease dosage or temporarily discontinue if these occur. Use with caution in patients with pre-existing hypertension as warm/hot herbs may raise blood pressure. Patients with a pacemaker or taking antiarrhythmic drugs or cardiac glycosides such as Lanoxin (digoxin) should NOT take this formula — Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata) may interact with these drugs by affecting heart rhythm and potentiating contractile strength. Contains Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) which invigorates blood — use with caution or avoid with Coumadin (warfarin) or anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy due to higher risk of bleeding and bruising.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Sexual function and performance

* Sexual desire and arousal in women and men

* Sexual disorders: low libido, impotence, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and spermatorrhea

Background: Sexual dysfunction is characterized by interference with interest or inability to engage in sexual intercourse. In men: decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, inability to ejaculate or experience orgasm. In women: lowered sexual desire, decreased sexual arousal, and absent or diminished orgasm. Possible causes include stress, anxiety, depression, diabetes, endocrine disorders, circulatory disorders, and drugs (beta-blockers, diuretics, alcohol, antidepressants, hormones, and others). In TCM, these conditions reflect deficiency of Kidney yang and Kidney jing (essence).

Important notes: Vitality nourishes the body from within to change the underlying constitution — it does not provide an immediate boost of sexual power. Continuous use for 2–3 months is required for maximum effect. Vitality and Vital Essence are frequently combined: Vitality tonifies Kidney yang to treat sexual dysfunction; Vital Essence replenishes Kidney yin and jing (essence) to treat reproductive disorders — together they complement and enhance each other's clinical success.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Yin Yang Huo (Herba Epimedii): chief herb — "horny goat herb"; originally discovered when a herder noticed increased proliferation in goats grazing on this herb; stimulates sensory nerves; increases sexual desire, activity, and sperm production; mechanism: increased production and release of testosterone; clinically: marked effect for erectile dysfunction — relaxes corpus cavernosum smooth muscle through multi-targets in nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway; 78 men with impotence treated with formula containing Yin Yang Huo, Rou Gui, Jiu Cai Zi and others — 98% effective rate

— Jiu Cai Zi (Semen Allii Tuberosi): warms Kidney yang; positive aphrodisiac properties — increases penile erection, mating performance, mount frequency, mount latency, and ejaculation frequency in male subjects

— Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni): tonifies Kidney jing; substantial stimulatory effect on sperm motility — from 25.8 ± 7.7% to 42.8 ± 10.3%

— Suo Yang (Herba Cynomorii): tonifies Kidney jing; significant increase in spermatogenesis — increases epididymal sperm count, absolute testes weights, and expression of GDNF (glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor) at both mRNA and protein levels in rat testes

— Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng): replenishes vital energy; prolongs stamina; clinically: double-blind placebo-controlled study — 143 male patients with erectile dysfunction treated for 8 weeks showed significantly higher erectile function and overall satisfaction scores vs. placebo; 24 of 27 impotence patients treated effectively

— Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii): tonifies Kidney jing; clinically: fresh Gou Qi Zi formula effectively increased sperm count and improved sperm motility — of 42 patients, 33 successfully conceived children

— Ba Ji Tian (Radix Morindae Officinalis): warms Kidney yang; excellent for chronic stress causing decreased plasma testosterone and increased plasma corticosterone — restores hormonal balance; marked antidepressant activities; antifatigue — polysaccharides (galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose) improved endurance in weight-loaded swimming subjects

— Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis): tonifies and moves blood; directs effect to lower abdomen; stimulates angiogenesis — promotes blood vessel formation; improves overall blood circulation by decreasing whole blood specific viscosity and improving hemorrheological changes associated with blood stagnation

— Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae): warms Kidney yang; vasorelaxant — decreases resistance to blood flow

— She Chuang Zi (Fructus Cnidii): warms Kidney yang; vasorelaxant — ethanolic extract exhibits vasorelaxant effect on corpus cavernosum to improve blood circulation to the penis via coumarins

— Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata): warms and revitalizes Kidney yang; warms lower body; excellent for chronic cold-type disorders of the endocrine, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems

— Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi): warms Kidney yang; strengthens Spleen

— Tu Si Zi (Semen Cuscutae): warms Kidney yang; tonifies jing

— Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata): tonifies Kidney jing (essence)

— Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae): tonifies Kidney jing (essence)

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Increases sex hormone secretion — Yin Yang Huo (testosterone↑, sensory nerve stimulation, sperm production↑); Ba Ji Tian (testosterone↑, corticosterone↓ under stress); Jiu Cai Zi (aphrodisiac, penile erection↑)

* Improves erectile function — Yin Yang Huo (corpus cavernosum relaxation, nitric oxide/cGMP pathway); She Chuang Zi (corpus cavernosum vasorelaxation, coumarins); Du Zhong (vasorelaxant, blood flow resistance↓)

* Improves sperm quality — Shan Zhu Yu (motility↑ 25.8% → 42.8%); Suo Yang (spermatogenesis↑, epididymal sperm count↑, GDNF↑); Gou Qi Zi (sperm count↑, motility↑)

* Promotes blood circulation — Dang Gui (angiogenesis↑, blood viscosity↓); Du Zhong + She Chuang Zi (vasorelaxation)

* Antistress / antidepressant / antifatigue — Ba Ji Tian (stress hormones normalized, antidepressant constituents, polysaccharide endurance↑)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Warms Kidney yang (Yin Yang Huo, Fu Zi, Rou Gui, Jiu Cai Zi, Du Zhong, Tu Si Zi, Ba Ji Tian, Suo Yang, She Chuang Zi)

* Replenishes Kidney jing (essence) (Shan Zhu Yu, Shu Di Huang, Gou Qi Zi, Shan Yao, Suo Yang)

* Tonifies and moves blood; directs to lower abdomen (Dang Gui)

* Replenishes vital energy; prolongs stamina (Ren Shen)

* Increases sexual desire (Yin Yang Huo, Jiu Cai Zi)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach with warm water. The last dosage after dinner or before bedtime can be taken with grain-based liquor such as vodka to enhance the overall effect, as this formula was traditionally prepared as an herbal tincture.

Supplementary formulas: Boost energy and vitality — use with Vibrant or Imperial Tonic. Constitutional weakness and deficiency — use with Cordyceps 3. Adrenal deficiency — add Adrenal +. Poor memory and forgetfulness — add Enhance Memory. Male infertility — use Vital Essence. Female infertility — use Blossom (Phase 1–4). Tonify Kidney yin — add Kidney Tonic (Yin). Tonify Kidney yang — add Kidney Tonic (Yang). Vaginal dryness — add Balance Spring.

Nutrition: Eliminate alcohol — it decreases the body's ability to produce testosterone. Increase vitamin E: wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, soybeans, whole wheat products, and asparagus. Kiwis and fresh oysters can be taken together as an aphrodisiac. Shellfish, oysters, shrimp, cashews, beef, and mushrooms contain high protein or zinc that may increase libido — do not over-consume as excess cholesterol causes the opposite effect. For circulatory impotence: increase niacin (eggs, peanut butter, avocado, fish) and vitamin E (raw wheat germ, vegetable oil). Zinc prevents impotence and reduced sperm count — found in pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, oysters, soy, and eggs. Avoid alcohol and coffee as they deplete zinc.

Tao of Nutrition (Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease) — Impotence: Recommended foods — scallions, scallion seeds, lamb, sea cucumber, shrimp, rooster, bitter melon seeds, ginseng, black beans, kidney beans, yams, and lycium fruit. Maintain a calm composure. Make lamb stew with daikon radish and Chinese black dates — drink the broth and eat the lamb. Steam rooster with ginger. Make tea from walnuts, lotus seeds, pearl barley, Chinese black dates, and goji berries — drink 3 times daily. Cook scallions, shrimp, and egg together — eat with a shot of white liquor. Avoid pornography, masturbation, overwork, and excessive sexual activities. Reduce dairy products and sweets.

Lifestyle: Avoid cigarette smoking or secondhand smoke. Avoid vigorous exercise, hot tubs, saunas, and tight underwear — these increase testicular temperature and reduce sperm count. Refrain from sexual activity when exhausted or under stress. Do not overindulge when any weakness in function or performance is present. There are five conditions when sexual activity should be avoided: when hungry, full, drunk, emotionally unstable (angry, sad, fearful, hateful, or worried), or recovering from chronic illness.

Exercises for men (impotence and premature ejaculation): Tip-toe and clench teeth while urinating — this tightens and strengthens the muscles surrounding the groin to condition Kidney qi. Also helpful for terminal dripping in elderly patients.

Exercises for women (low libido): Walk on the balls of the feet with the navel pulled toward the spine and heels off the ground, breathing deeply. Practice the Kegel exercise (use vaginal muscles to stop and start urine flow rapidly and frequently while urinating) while clenching the teeth and breathing through the nose. Women can also squat and tip-toe over the toilet while urinating to strengthen muscles and ligaments surrounding the reproductive organs — helps treat prolapse of the bladder and uterus, frequent urinary urges due to Kidney yang deficiency, and tightens vaginal muscles. Results expected in a few months if practiced daily and consistently.

CASE STUDIES

— 65-year-old male: Generalized male sexual dysfunction possibly due to age and/or blood pressure medications; Kidney yang and qi deficiencies. Vitality prescribed. Result: good results noted within 1 week.

— 61-year-old female (R.R.): Low libido, low back pain, low energy, brittle hair beginning to fall out; Kidney yang deficiency with jing (essence) deficiency. Vitality 3 capsules 3x/day + acupuncture 2–3x/week. Result after 2 months: increased sex drive, improved low back pain and energy.

— Female (T.S.): Joint pain of the limbs, coldness of fingers, difficulty falling asleep; icy cyanotic fingers, abnormally tight leg muscles; BP 110/80 mmHg, HR 78 bpm; monthly rheumatoid arthritis shots; Western diagnosis: fibromyalgia; TCM diagnosis: yang deficiency. Vitality prescribed. Result: formula worked well in improving condition and relieving pain.

Related Reading

Also see: Vital Essence – for male infertility and Kidney yin/jing replenishment | Vibrant – for immediate energy and vitality boost | Imperial Tonic – for long-term vitality | Cordyceps 3 – for constitutional weakness and deficiency | Adrenal + – for adrenal deficiency | Enhance Memory – for poor memory | Blossom (Phase 1–4) – for female infertility | Kidney Tonic (Yin) – to tonify Kidney yin | Kidney Tonic (Yang) – to tonify Kidney yang | Balance Spring – for vaginal dryness | Men's Health & Vitality Collection.