Prof. Gurdip Singh, Dr. B.L. Mehara
A compound drug named as Vajikarana Yoga was formulated to evaluate its role in the management of two male sexual dysfunctions viz. premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunctions. It comprises of equal parts of powder of the following 11 drugs:
Ashvagandha (Withania somnifera)
Akarakarbha (Anacyclus pyrethrum)
Amalaki (Emblica offcinalis)
Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens)
Kokilaksa (Astracantha longifolia)
Jatiphala (Myristica fragrance)
Bhallataka (Semicarpus anacardium)
Vidarikanda (Ipomea digitata)
Sveta Musali (Asparagus adscendis)
Satavari (Asparagus racemosus)
Salmali (Salmalia malabarica)
Vajikarana Yoga was administered in the dose of 6 gms. Three times a day with milk and sugar for a period of six weeks. A placebo control and sex psychotherapy control group were also maintained. The placebo group patients were given two capsules filled with 500 mg. of Bengal gram powder three times a day with milk and sugar for six weeks. Similarly, sex psycho-therapy was also advised and practised for six weeks and thereafter the effect was assessed.
Effect of Vajikarana Yoga in Premature Ejaculation
45 patients of premature ejaculation were treated in three groups viz. Vajikarana Yoga Group, glucose placebo control group and sex psychotherapy control group.
The Vajikarana Yoga provided remarkable improvement in the symptoms of premature ejaculation patients like premature ejaculation (61.5%), unsatisfactory orgasm (22.3%), diminished coitus frequency (36.2%) and diminished duration of the sexual act (120.8%). In this group 60% of patients showed complete remission, 28% were markedly improved, 12.0% were improved and none remained as unchanged.
Placebo treatment also provided some improvement in the signs and symptoms of premature ejaculation but all these effects were statistically insignificant. In this group, 30% of patients showed improvement and 70% of patients remained unchanged.
Obviously, the relief was provided by Vajikarana Yoga and psychotherapy was significantly better than the placebo group. Further comparison showed that Vajikarana Yoga provided significantly better relief in comparison to psychotherapy on premature ejaculation as well as on other symptoms such as unsatisfactory orgasm, diminished duration and frequency of coitus. The overall effect of the Vajikarana yoga was also better in comparison to the sex psychotherapy.
Effect of Vajikarana Yoga in Erectile dysfunctions
48 patients of erectile dysfunctions were treated in three groups as mentioned above. The results of this study showed that Vajikarana Yoga provided highly significant (P<0.001) improvement in erectile difficulty (60%), diminished interest in sex (42.3%), diminished sexual enjoyment (95.1%) and diminished frequency of coitus (40%). The consideration of total effect showed that Vajikarana yoga provided complete remission to 45.2% patients, marked improvement in 32.3% patients and improvement in 22.6% patients.
The sex psychotherapy provided significant relief (P<0.05) in the symptoms of erectile dysfunctions (42.3%), the diminished interest rate in sex(9.7%), diminished sexual enjoyment (42.5%) and diminished coitus frequency (44.4%). In this group, 11.1% of patients showed complete remission, 44.4 patients had marked improvement and 33.3% of patients showed improvement. Remaining 11.1% of patients of this group were also found unchanged.
Placebo control treatment provided some relief in the above-mentioned symptoms but it was statistically insignificant. In this group, 37.5% were found improved and remaining 77.2% of patients were recorded as unchanged.
Obviously the relief provided by Vajikarana Yoga and the sex psychotherapy was significantly better in comparison to the placebo group. Further comparison showed that the relief provided by Vajikarana Yoga in the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, diminished sex interest, unsatisfactory orgasm and diminished coitus frequency was better in both percentage and significant point of view than the sex psychotherapy group. Similarly, the complete remission provided by Vajikarana Yoga was also far better than the sex psychotherapy.
In this way, the improvement provided by Vajikarana Yoga in the symptoms of erectile dysfunctions was significantly better in comparison to the sex psychotherapy.
Obviously Vajikarana Yoga provided highly significant relief in both the diseases viz. premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunctions selected for this study, but further comparison showed that the relief provided by Vajikarana Yoga was comparatively better in the premature ejaculation in comparison to that of erectile dysfunctions.
Effect of Vajikarana Yoga on Semen Parameters
The Vajikarana Yoga caused a significant increase in the sperm count from 50.1 million/ml. to 56 million/ml. Similarly it highly significantly increased the sperm motility from 60.2% to 78.5%. Whereas such effect on the semen parameters was found neither in placebo control group patients nor in sex psychotherapy group patients.
Experimental study
An experimental study was carried out to evaluate the aphrodisiac properties of Vajikarana yoga in rats. An attempt was also made to elucidate its mode of action for this purpose. The following two types of studies were carried out:
To evaluate the role of Vajikarana Yoga on the sexual behaviour of male rats.
To evaluate the possible androgenic activity of Vajikarana Yoga.
The significant findings of the study are being presented here under separate headings.
Effect of Vajikarana Yoga on Sexual Behaviour of Rats
This study was carried out in two phases viz. normal rats and sexually hypoactive rats. The results of this study showed that in sexually hypo active rats Vajikarana Yoga significantly increased the number of mounts by 438.8% and total duration spent in sexual activity by 230.7%. Insignificant decrease of 33% in the latency of onset of sexual behaviour was also observed. While this type of effect was not observed in the control group rats.
Androgenic Activity of Vajikarana yoga
To elucidate the probable mode of action of Vajikarana yoga its androgenic activity was assessed in young male rats, which were about to enter the maturation stage. For this purpose three groups viz. milk group, testosterone and Vajikarana yoga group of albino rats were maintained. The effects of these drugs were observed on the body weight and weight of seminal vesicle, ventral prostate and testis as well as the effect of these drugs was observed on histopathological slides of these organs.
Effect on Microscopical feature and indices of seminal vesicles
In the milk control group, the ventral prostate and seminal vesicle showed the features of immaturity. In contrast to this, in Vajikarana yoga and testosterone groups a significant increase in capsular thickness and the epithelial layer was observed. In Vajikarana yoga groups secondary, tertiary and even fourth’s fold were observed in certain lobules in contrast to the milk control group.
The epithelial layer is particularly sensitive to androgenic activity and it is indicated by its proliferation. Hence, this finding indicates the androgenic activity of Vajikarana yoga-like that of testosterone.
Effect of Microscopical features and indices of ventral prostate
A significant increase in the number of alveoli showing stratified epithelium was observed in both Vajikarana and testosterone groups.
Effect of Microscopical features and indices of the testis
Increase in length and width of seminiferous tubules was observed in Vajikarana yoga and testosterone groups in comparison to the control group. This effect of Vajikarana yoga was significantly better in comparison to testosterone group. There was also a significant increase in the percentage of seminiferous tubules showing significant spermatogenesis in both Vajikarana yoga and testosterone groups.
In this way, ventral prostate and seminal vesicle slides of Vajikarana Yoga and testosterone administered groups showed features of intense activity. In the prostate, the percentage of alveoli showing stratified epithelium was found significantly increased. In seminal vesicle, the epithelium showed secondary and tertiary branching and there was a significant increase in the size of the epithelial layer. All these features indicate the presence of androgenic activity in Vajikarana Yoga like that of testosterone.
In Vajikarana Yoga and testosterone administered group’s increase in the size of the seminiferous tubules and an increase in the percentage of seminiferous tubules showing significant spermatogenesis was observed. This activity profile indicates that Vajikarana Yoga possessed androgenic activity, which might be responsible for its sexual enhancing properties.
On the basis of the results of these clinical and experimental studies, it may be concluded that Vajikarana yoga possesses significant aphrodisiac action due to its androgenic activity like that of testosterone. Hence, this may be recommended for the patients of erectile dysfunctions, particularly in premature ejaculation.
The authors are attached to Department of Kayachikitsa, Institute of Post Graduate Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurveda University Jamnagar.
