In issue #9, 2003 of Gan Su Zhong Yi (Gansu Chinese Medicine), Qiu Lian-li of the Gansu Provincial Chinese Medical School in Lanzhou published an article titled, “A Small [i.e., Short] Discussion of the Treatement of 54 Cases of Impotence with Acupuncture & the Application of Medicinals to the Navel.” This article appeared on pages 26-27 of that journal. As a response to the growing use of drugs like Viagra and Cialis, and because this treatment is relatively simple and uses commonly available food ingredients, a summary is presented below.

Cohort description

Among the 54 patients enrolled in this study, the oldest was 58, the youngest was 20, and the average age was 39 years old which seems to me young for patients suffering from impotence. The shortest duration of impotence was three months and the longest was two years. All patients met the diagnostic criteria for impotence, although that criteria was not stated in the article.

Treatment method

Black pepper was ground into powder and mixed with ginger juice in order to make a paste. This paste was spread on cotton gauze and affixed with adhesive directly over the navel. This application was changed once per day. Acupuncture was also performed at: Shen Shu (BI 23), Ming Men (GV 4), Guan Yuan (CV 4), Zhong Ji (CV 3), San Yin Jiao (Sp 6), and Tai Xi (Ki 3). The first two points were needled without retention. The other points were needled with 30 minute retention. One treatment was administered per day, five times per week. Ten treatments equaled one course of treatment. During this treatment, sexual activity was forbidden. After one course of treatment, if patients were able to get an erection, they were allowed to have sex. The longest duration of treatment was five courses and the shortest was one course.