Bearish Factors
1. Most Indexes can't break 200 MA
2. Inflation
3. US Housing
4. Feb stops lower rate
5. Sell in May and go away
6. Write-off by Banks have not stopped
7. best time for correction
8. Funds pushing up to off load holdings
9. More companies will announce bad news
10.No much impact of US govt assistance bonus
11.Petrochem sectors hit
12.Bankers brace for slowdown in loans growth
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Turn $451 a Month Into a Million Bucks
If you're 30 years old, you need to set aside $448 per month for next 35 years to become a millionaire -- if you earn a reasonable 8% annualized return in a retirement account. Don’t have $448 to spare -- or even $248? Maybe you do and don't realize it. Let's take a look at how you can come up with the cash.
Save $219 Per Month on Taxes
Here’s How: The average refund for the 2008 filing season so far is about $2,500. If you received an average refund and you are in the 25% federal tax bracket, you could be entitled to three extra exemptions worth $3,500 each. That would boost your take-home pay by $219 a month. A couple of reasons you might be eligible for more exemptions: becoming a new parent or buying a house.
Simple Tips to Save on Entertainment
Save $100 Per Month on Food
Here’s How: Bring your lunch and snacks to work. Considering that the average meal at McDonald’s costs $5 and Dunkin’ Donuts charges $2 for a large cup of coffee, the brown-bag windfall can be substantial.
Save $80 Per Month on Entertainment
Here’s How: We're talking about one fewer dinner-and-a-movie night every month. That assumes you and your significant other pay the average $33 per person for a restaurant meal (according to a recent Zagat survey) and that you spend $7 per ticket, the average price at the movies (according to the Motion Picture Association of America).
Save $28 Per Month on Health Care
Here’s How: The typical family spends $1,321 on out-of-pocket health expenses each year, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can pay those costs with a flexible spending account, which lets you set aside pretax dollars.
Save $10 Per Month on Auto Insurance
Here’s How: The average consumer pays $829 annually for car insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Raising your deductible from $250 to $1,000 can save you 15% or more.
Save $8 Per Month on a Well Maintained Car
Here’s How: Keep your car’s engine tuned and tires inflated to the proper air pressure. Those minor improvements can save you up to $100 on gas each year.
Save $6 Per Month on Generic Non-Prescription Medicines
Here’s How: The average American spends $185 annually on over-the-counter medications. Generics cost up to 40% less than their brand-name counterparts and work just as well.
$451 Saved in Total!
Invest the found money every month in a retirement account that earns an average of 8% return over the next 35 years, and you'll have $1 million. That wasn't too hard, right?
Save $219 Per Month on Taxes
Here’s How: The average refund for the 2008 filing season so far is about $2,500. If you received an average refund and you are in the 25% federal tax bracket, you could be entitled to three extra exemptions worth $3,500 each. That would boost your take-home pay by $219 a month. A couple of reasons you might be eligible for more exemptions: becoming a new parent or buying a house.
Simple Tips to Save on Entertainment
Save $100 Per Month on Food
Here’s How: Bring your lunch and snacks to work. Considering that the average meal at McDonald’s costs $5 and Dunkin’ Donuts charges $2 for a large cup of coffee, the brown-bag windfall can be substantial.
Save $80 Per Month on Entertainment
Here’s How: We're talking about one fewer dinner-and-a-movie night every month. That assumes you and your significant other pay the average $33 per person for a restaurant meal (according to a recent Zagat survey) and that you spend $7 per ticket, the average price at the movies (according to the Motion Picture Association of America).
Save $28 Per Month on Health Care
Here’s How: The typical family spends $1,321 on out-of-pocket health expenses each year, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can pay those costs with a flexible spending account, which lets you set aside pretax dollars.
Save $10 Per Month on Auto Insurance
Here’s How: The average consumer pays $829 annually for car insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Raising your deductible from $250 to $1,000 can save you 15% or more.
Save $8 Per Month on a Well Maintained Car
Here’s How: Keep your car’s engine tuned and tires inflated to the proper air pressure. Those minor improvements can save you up to $100 on gas each year.
Save $6 Per Month on Generic Non-Prescription Medicines
Here’s How: The average American spends $185 annually on over-the-counter medications. Generics cost up to 40% less than their brand-name counterparts and work just as well.
$451 Saved in Total!
Invest the found money every month in a retirement account that earns an average of 8% return over the next 35 years, and you'll have $1 million. That wasn't too hard, right?
Spend $10 Today, Be Out $100K Tomorrow
Little amounts can make a large difference to your finances.
As gasoline and food prices continue to rise, the squeeze to make family budgets balance each month becomes more of a struggle. After the big savings have been found and taken, smaller savings have to be found to make ends meet.
This can be frustrating as it can feel like everyone is being nickled and dimed to death. That's why it's important to realize how these small amounts can make a huge difference in your overall financial health.
You've likely heard about the little ways to save money a million times. Money-saving advice includes standards like packing your lunch instead of buying it at work, skipping the Starbucks and making your coffee at home and watching videos at home instead of going out to the movies. While you may have grown tired of hearing them, they are still as true as ever and even more important when the economy is struggling.
Saving small amounts of money is good advice for everyone, it's not as essential for people that are currently living well below their means. If you spend $5 on a cup of coffee each day, but you're still able to put away five times that amount toward your savings, that coffee splurge isn't going to hurt as much as for someone who isn't saving anything. For those that are barely making ends meet, spending small amounts of money can be the difference between deep debt and a nice retirement account.
When you are faced with a budget that isn't balancing, you have two main choices: earn more money or cut more expenses. Unfortunately, many turn to a third alternative. When they can't seem to make their budget balance, they decide that it's acceptable to place the difference onto a credit card. Even though the monthly shortfall in the budget is small, placing it onto credit cards is one of the worst financial moves that a person can make. The result will be a downward cycle that will not only keep you in debt, but also create a tremendous amount of stress.
There is often a false assumption that saving $10 and spending $10, although opposite, are relatively the same. For example, if a person saves $10 a day, after a month their account will have $300 while if a person spends $10 a day, that will result in a debt of $300. While on the surface this makes perfect sense, the problem lies in that these numbers fail to take into account the interest that can be gained or charged on this money. It is this failure to understand the concept of compound interest and the dramatic effect it can have that greatly changes these results.
It's important to understand that it takes very little to start sinking into debt.
For most people, spending $10 a day would not be considered extravagant spending by any means, but $10 can result in tens of thousands of dollar of debt. It's simple to see when you compare the results of what happens when one person saves $10 a day while the other spends $10 a day that he doesn't have.
If a person were to save $300 a month (approx. $10 a day) and invest it to get a 5% yearly return, that person would have $20,402 in the bank after five years. On the other hand, if a person ends up spending $300 a month more than he has and puts it onto a credit card that he doesn't pay off over the same 5 year period, that person will owe $36,259, assuming a 26% credit card interest rate. After five years, the difference between saving $10 and spending $10 each day results in a $56,661 gap in net worth between the two.
Add another five years to the same patterns, and the results are even more dramatic. After 10 years, the person who saved $10 a day would have $46,585 in the bank, whereas the person whop spent the $10 he didn't have would be $167,470 in debt, resulting in a net worth difference of over $210,000.
Of course, there are many other factors that could alter these calculations. The interest you can earn and what your credit card interest rates are will vary from this example. There is a minimum amount that the person would need to pay on a credit card each month. If debt to this extent began to occur, the person would have their credit cut off long before this amount accumulated and would likely need to declare bankruptcy. The point is that over time, small amounts added to debt can result in far more debt than most people realize.
Once you learn that saving a small amount and overspending a small amount aren't simple opposites, you understand the importance of having a budget and strictly sticking with it. If you are able to fight through the hard times and keep your budget balanced, then you set yourself to reap great financial rewards when the economy finally turns around.
As gasoline and food prices continue to rise, the squeeze to make family budgets balance each month becomes more of a struggle. After the big savings have been found and taken, smaller savings have to be found to make ends meet.
This can be frustrating as it can feel like everyone is being nickled and dimed to death. That's why it's important to realize how these small amounts can make a huge difference in your overall financial health.
You've likely heard about the little ways to save money a million times. Money-saving advice includes standards like packing your lunch instead of buying it at work, skipping the Starbucks and making your coffee at home and watching videos at home instead of going out to the movies. While you may have grown tired of hearing them, they are still as true as ever and even more important when the economy is struggling.
Saving small amounts of money is good advice for everyone, it's not as essential for people that are currently living well below their means. If you spend $5 on a cup of coffee each day, but you're still able to put away five times that amount toward your savings, that coffee splurge isn't going to hurt as much as for someone who isn't saving anything. For those that are barely making ends meet, spending small amounts of money can be the difference between deep debt and a nice retirement account.
When you are faced with a budget that isn't balancing, you have two main choices: earn more money or cut more expenses. Unfortunately, many turn to a third alternative. When they can't seem to make their budget balance, they decide that it's acceptable to place the difference onto a credit card. Even though the monthly shortfall in the budget is small, placing it onto credit cards is one of the worst financial moves that a person can make. The result will be a downward cycle that will not only keep you in debt, but also create a tremendous amount of stress.
There is often a false assumption that saving $10 and spending $10, although opposite, are relatively the same. For example, if a person saves $10 a day, after a month their account will have $300 while if a person spends $10 a day, that will result in a debt of $300. While on the surface this makes perfect sense, the problem lies in that these numbers fail to take into account the interest that can be gained or charged on this money. It is this failure to understand the concept of compound interest and the dramatic effect it can have that greatly changes these results.
It's important to understand that it takes very little to start sinking into debt.
For most people, spending $10 a day would not be considered extravagant spending by any means, but $10 can result in tens of thousands of dollar of debt. It's simple to see when you compare the results of what happens when one person saves $10 a day while the other spends $10 a day that he doesn't have.
If a person were to save $300 a month (approx. $10 a day) and invest it to get a 5% yearly return, that person would have $20,402 in the bank after five years. On the other hand, if a person ends up spending $300 a month more than he has and puts it onto a credit card that he doesn't pay off over the same 5 year period, that person will owe $36,259, assuming a 26% credit card interest rate. After five years, the difference between saving $10 and spending $10 each day results in a $56,661 gap in net worth between the two.
Add another five years to the same patterns, and the results are even more dramatic. After 10 years, the person who saved $10 a day would have $46,585 in the bank, whereas the person whop spent the $10 he didn't have would be $167,470 in debt, resulting in a net worth difference of over $210,000.
Of course, there are many other factors that could alter these calculations. The interest you can earn and what your credit card interest rates are will vary from this example. There is a minimum amount that the person would need to pay on a credit card each month. If debt to this extent began to occur, the person would have their credit cut off long before this amount accumulated and would likely need to declare bankruptcy. The point is that over time, small amounts added to debt can result in far more debt than most people realize.
Once you learn that saving a small amount and overspending a small amount aren't simple opposites, you understand the importance of having a budget and strictly sticking with it. If you are able to fight through the hard times and keep your budget balanced, then you set yourself to reap great financial rewards when the economy finally turns around.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Centenarian Tips for a Long Life
Everyone would love to live to a ripe old age, but not if it means looking and feeling like an over-ripe old vegetable. We need to understand that though getting older is inevitable, getting decrepit is not.
Being bent in half and wheeling around an oxygen tank should not be what we picture when we hear the phrase "the golden years." I have seen centenarians around the world who defy our stereotypes of the aging experience.In fact, 20 years ago, while in Shanghai, I took note of the thousands of seniors - a great many of them centenarians - meeting up in parks each morning to practice tai chi. I was truly amazed by their agility, sharp minds, and overall state of health.
Intrigued by this discovery, I began studying the lifestyle of centenarians around the world and anti-aging therapies. I combined these discoveries and uncovered the secrets to longevity. Here are a few secrets that will have you looking forward to your 100th birthday! Tai Chi: An Exercise in Anti-aging Tai chi, the choreographed meditative exercises that have been a healing art in China for thousands of years, is practiced by over 100 million people worldwide and owes its popularity to a simple fact - it's enjoyable and it makes you stronger.
Recent studies confirm that when practiced regularly - 30 minutes, three times a week - it has numerous health benefits including: increased energy, decreased stress, an immunity boost against viruses, lowered blood pressure, better cognitive functioning, increased joint mobility, an improved cholesterol profile, relief from fibromyalgia symptoms, and even a better night's sleep.
It also increases leg muscle strength and provides better balance and posture. Perhaps the best part is that tai chi is a gentle exercise that can be performed by anyone at any age. Click here to find out more about tai chi.Centenarians I have met also take advantage of other rejuvenation techniques the Chinese have known for thousands of years - like acupuncture, acupressure, and energy healing - that increase energy, promote health, and balance the body and the mind.Diet: The Cornerstone of LongevityIt is no surprise that diet is an essential factor to health and longevity. So what should you be eating? In my studies, I found that the centenarians of two reputed "longevity capitals" - Okinawa, Japan, and Rugao County, a rural community four hours north of Shanghai - shared a nearly identical diet.
These long-lifers eat mostly fish, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, corn, and buckwheat - and virtually no meat. Scientists have confirmed the health benefits of a diet high in fish and vegetables and low in animal products. These centenarians are living examples, as they suffer from very little heart and liver disease and have negligible rates of cancer and degenerative diseases.Environ-MentalityWhen it comes to longevity, environment is half of the equation. From the verdant valleys of Ecuador to the rugged mountains of Armenia to the pristine foothills of the Himalayas, centenarians live in environments that exhibit the same characteristics: clean air, good water, low stress, close communities, and unspoiled nature. Take a tip from these centenarians and drink only clean, filtered water. Connect with your community in a positive way. Find every way you can to bring nature into your life, from planting more trees in your area to more plants in your home.
Avoid the environmental factors that are damaging to our wellbeing and know what to look out for. Just a few things to avoid include xenoestrogens, which are present just about everywhere, pesticides used on vegetables, hormones injected into meats and poultry, phthalates leaching from plastic bottles, and dioxins from bleached paper products. You can avoid these chemical compounds if you buy organic foods and use glass containers and unbleached paper products. Keep it Simple!Centenarians' lifestyles are simple. The centenarians I have known lead active lives and get plenty of rest. They are dedicated lifelong learners and avid travelers. Enjoy your years and you will have many more years to enjoy!I hope these suggestions further your longevity goals! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me. May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
Being bent in half and wheeling around an oxygen tank should not be what we picture when we hear the phrase "the golden years." I have seen centenarians around the world who defy our stereotypes of the aging experience.In fact, 20 years ago, while in Shanghai, I took note of the thousands of seniors - a great many of them centenarians - meeting up in parks each morning to practice tai chi. I was truly amazed by their agility, sharp minds, and overall state of health.
Intrigued by this discovery, I began studying the lifestyle of centenarians around the world and anti-aging therapies. I combined these discoveries and uncovered the secrets to longevity. Here are a few secrets that will have you looking forward to your 100th birthday! Tai Chi: An Exercise in Anti-aging Tai chi, the choreographed meditative exercises that have been a healing art in China for thousands of years, is practiced by over 100 million people worldwide and owes its popularity to a simple fact - it's enjoyable and it makes you stronger.
Recent studies confirm that when practiced regularly - 30 minutes, three times a week - it has numerous health benefits including: increased energy, decreased stress, an immunity boost against viruses, lowered blood pressure, better cognitive functioning, increased joint mobility, an improved cholesterol profile, relief from fibromyalgia symptoms, and even a better night's sleep.
It also increases leg muscle strength and provides better balance and posture. Perhaps the best part is that tai chi is a gentle exercise that can be performed by anyone at any age. Click here to find out more about tai chi.Centenarians I have met also take advantage of other rejuvenation techniques the Chinese have known for thousands of years - like acupuncture, acupressure, and energy healing - that increase energy, promote health, and balance the body and the mind.Diet: The Cornerstone of LongevityIt is no surprise that diet is an essential factor to health and longevity. So what should you be eating? In my studies, I found that the centenarians of two reputed "longevity capitals" - Okinawa, Japan, and Rugao County, a rural community four hours north of Shanghai - shared a nearly identical diet.
These long-lifers eat mostly fish, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, corn, and buckwheat - and virtually no meat. Scientists have confirmed the health benefits of a diet high in fish and vegetables and low in animal products. These centenarians are living examples, as they suffer from very little heart and liver disease and have negligible rates of cancer and degenerative diseases.Environ-MentalityWhen it comes to longevity, environment is half of the equation. From the verdant valleys of Ecuador to the rugged mountains of Armenia to the pristine foothills of the Himalayas, centenarians live in environments that exhibit the same characteristics: clean air, good water, low stress, close communities, and unspoiled nature. Take a tip from these centenarians and drink only clean, filtered water. Connect with your community in a positive way. Find every way you can to bring nature into your life, from planting more trees in your area to more plants in your home.
Avoid the environmental factors that are damaging to our wellbeing and know what to look out for. Just a few things to avoid include xenoestrogens, which are present just about everywhere, pesticides used on vegetables, hormones injected into meats and poultry, phthalates leaching from plastic bottles, and dioxins from bleached paper products. You can avoid these chemical compounds if you buy organic foods and use glass containers and unbleached paper products. Keep it Simple!Centenarians' lifestyles are simple. The centenarians I have known lead active lives and get plenty of rest. They are dedicated lifelong learners and avid travelers. Enjoy your years and you will have many more years to enjoy!I hope these suggestions further your longevity goals! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me. May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
医治＋食疗让男性抬起头
年过半百，性功能开始衰退，再加上城市生活紧张忙碌，阳痿成了很多中年男士心头之痛。时至今日，很多人面对阳痿问题时，仍然觉得这是难以启齿，有损尊严的事，宁可悄悄打听，偷偷服药，希望借助药物一振雄风。
如果要服用目前已名满天下的西药处方如伟哥(Viagra)、犀利士(Cialis)和力威大(Levitra)等，必须先经医生诊断，另外，这些药物价格不便宜，一颗要20元左右，有些人负担不来，也不想看医生，于是转而购买非法春药。
但是，吞食非法春药，后果可不是闹着玩的。非法春药在本地已导致一人死亡，两人昏迷，一人中风，至少89人因服用或怀疑服用这类非法药物入院。卫生科学局所列出的非法春药包括“动力一号核桃素片”、仿冒的“犀利士”“三体牛鞭”及“中华牛鞭”等。
尽管黑市壮阳药严重危害健康的事实摆在眼前，还有人为此丢命，可是当本报记者走访一些曾服用“动力一号”和其他非法春药的德士司机时，他们依然不相信这些黑市药会危害健康。他们为了贪图价格便宜，贪图一时之快，也为了逞一时之“强”，不顾警告，冒生命风险，偷偷吞食这类药物。
卫生科学局所列出的非法春药包括“动力一号核桃素片”、仿冒的“犀利士”“三体牛鞭”及“中华牛鞭”等。
难道除了吞服这些非法春药，就没有别的方法可解决他们的问题？本报走访了本地的一些中西医，希望从中西医的角度，甚至食疗的角度，探讨这一问题。
中医西医异口同声：非法壮阳药不安全
其实，中医和西医各有一套治疗阳痿的方法，大家可以通过各种管道来解决问题，不必拿自己的健康和性命来开玩笑。胡乱服用各种来历不明的药物，就算服用后没有立刻出现并发症，不等于那就是安全的，那可能只是暂时没问题，难保日积月累，待发生问题时已经太迟了。
根据中医的看法，男性到了五六十岁，性功能自然开始衰退。本地著名中医师陈美娥指出，按照中医的说法，人上了年纪便会精气衰，自然会出现性功能障碍，这时候应该开始修身养性，寻找精神寄托，通过阅读，培养个人嗜好和兴趣来丰富生活。
专科中医院医师许振益则指出，“饱暖思淫欲”，一个人如果没有精神寄托，便会往这方面寻求刺激。至于为什么会有那么多人不顾卫生部警告，偷偷服用非法的黑市春药，许医师认为，很多男性依然把阳痿视为难以启齿，有损尊严的问题。非法春药价格便宜，也是吸引买客的一大因素。
鹰阁医药中心妇产专科医生方壮威说，50岁以上的男性中，大约有一半会面对某种短暂性功能障碍。很多人买非法春药，可能是出于无知，但也可能因为价格便宜。很多低收入阶层，包括外劳，是负担不起看医生和吃合法药物的费用，当然也有一些人过度纵欲和喜欢展示雄风。
他和许多医学界朋友始终不明白，目前市面上的非法壮阳药，为何会加入大量降低血糖的格列本脲（glibenclamide）。他说，这种药物和性功能勃起毫无关系，其作用是刺激胰脏分泌胰岛素，减低血糖，但是大量服用的话，会使人全身乏力，身体发抖，最后休克死去，因此非常危险。
西医 通过抑制PDE-5酶 医治阳痿
鹰阁医药中心妇产专科医生方壮威医生说，目前最常用来治疗阳痿的药物如伟哥(Viagra)、犀利士(Cialis)和力威大(Levitra)等口服药物，主要是靠抑制体内PDE-5酶的活跃程度，协助阴茎勃起。这些药物能在短时间内起局部作用。
原来，男性阴茎是由海绵体组织构成，里面充满血管。由于血管通常处在缩紧状态，造成血液循环受到限制。一旦受到性刺激，阴茎就会释放cGMP激素，使血管松弛，让更多血液流通，造成阴茎充血。当性高潮过去后，阴茎会释放PDE-5酶，将cGMP分解，让血管恢复到原本的缩紧状态。
抑制PDE-5酶的活跃程度
随着年龄增长，有些男性的血管中会永久性地累积高成分的PDE-5酶，阻止了阴茎持续勃起，而西医处方便是靠抑制体内PDE-5酶的活跃程度，达到短暂作用。
要服用上述药物，必须先经医生诊断，每颗药物的售价约20元。方医生解释说，有些病人不适合服用伟哥，比如有心脏、肾脏和肝脏问题的病人；长期服用某种药物的病人，也不宜服用伟哥，否则对身体有害，这便是为何服药前需要医生的诊断。
方医生说，长期服用扩张血管药物的病人，如果使用这些壮阳药，可能会导致血压下降，造成危险。
西医除了通过抑制PDE-5酶来帮助阳痿病人勃起外，也有以男性荷尔蒙来增强病人性欲，这包括口服药丸、注射打针、在外部涂抹荷尔蒙药膏，或者使用贴片，让皮肤吸收男性荷尔蒙。
不过方医生指出，男性要长远解决阳痿问题，还必须从健康情况着手，如果病人有糖尿病或高血压，就必须从控制疾病开始，只有在改善了病人的健康情况后，阳痿问题才可能彻底解决。
中医：可壮阳中药、食物非常多
从中医学的角度，可用来壮阳的药物非常多，包括淫羊藿、菟丝子、鹿茸、人参、冬虫草、枸杞子、补骨脂、肉苁蓉、巴戟、黄精等。
本地资深中医师陈美娥说，中医治疗阳痿等男性病，至少有几千年历史，累积了很丰富的经验，因此能被用来壮阳的药物不胜枚举。另外，中医还有各种可治阳痿的传统处方和成药，以及各种能加强性功能的食疗。
今年初离开人世的本地著名中医师李金龙，出版过一本畅销书《性不性由你——中医说房事》，当中便提到中国很早便有各种论述男女性生理和病理问题的古书籍，包括《素女经》《内经》等。
《内经》清楚地阐明男子到了“二八”16岁时，便有了精虫，女子到了“二七”14岁时，便有卵子和月经。男子到了“七八”56岁、“八八”64岁时，生精功能开始衰退，对性生活越来越没兴趣。女子“七七”49岁不再生产卵子，开始停经，步入更年期。
李金龙在他的书中说，早在三千年前，周朝皇帝周穆王便已懂得用强精壮体的中药补身，而他最推崇的便是中药大枣。现代医学认为大枣能医治神经系统衰弱，因此有一定道理。
中国民间过去有一句古话：“男子出远门，不可吃枸杞”，说的是男子吃枸杞会增强性欲，出门在外容易寻花问柳，由此可见，枸杞也是一种壮阳药。
“壮肾阳”和“滋肾阴”
中医是怎样治理阳痿的？陈美娥医师说，阳痿不一定要用壮阳药，还可能取“清热利湿”和“滋肾阴”的做法。
中医认为，阳痿可能是“命门火衰”，也可能是“湿热下注”。如果是“命门火衰”，便采用“壮肾阳”的做法，但如果是“湿热下注”，便要“清热利湿”了。
可以用来“壮肾阳”的壮阳药，包括鹿茸、淫羊藿、补骨脂，以及各种动物鞭（牛、羊、虎、鹿、鳄鱼等）。这当中的淫羊藿相当有趣，据说古代名医陶弘景观察羊只吃了这种叶子后，可一日交配“数次”，因此得出这种叶子有壮阳作用，还称它为“淫羊藿”。
至于“滋肾阴”的药物，则有人参、冬虫夏草、菟丝子、枸杞子、肉苁蓉、黄精等。
许振益医师说，中医治疗阳痿，一般不主张单用一味药。这是因为中医认为每个病人体质不一样，加上不同药物有不同药性，因此需要调配使用。
中医既然是从调理病人体质着手，便需要一段时间才能见效，不像西医的壮阳药那样，让病人迅速勃起，应付几个小时之需。话说回来，一旦把身体调理好了，其作用比较持久。
陈美娥医师说，中医也有用针灸治疗阳痿的，针灸比较立竿见影，更快见效，但要持久效果，就必须长期针灸，还要配合药物。
中医：传统成药和食疗可治阳痿
中医也有一些传统成药，具有增强性功能作用，这包括六味地黄丸、金锁固精丸、金匮肾气丸、右归丸（补阳）、左归丸（滋阴）、龟鹿大补丸、十全大补汤、五子地黄汤、五子衍宗丸等。但是陈美娥医师指出，用成药前，同样必须先了解体质和造成阳痿的原因，对症下药。
另外，一些人也通过食疗来补气强身，比如韭菜炒虾仁、核桃炖瘦肉、核桃炒虾仁、巴戟炖瘦肉等，便据说有“壮阳”作用。
按按照现代医学研究，男性要产生精虫，需要两种物质起作用，那便是锌元素和精氨酸。
哪些食物含有丰富的锌元素？答案是牡蛎，也就是蚝，每100克可含100毫克的锌元素。相比之下，牛肉每百克是8毫克，鸡蛋3毫克，猪肉3毫克。
含精氨酸的食物又有哪些？答案是冻豆腐，每百克含4.11克，其他包括木松鱼（含3.97克）、豆腐皮（含3.66克）、花生（含3.61克）、核桃（含2.19克）、大豆、芝麻等。
有壮阳作用的药材和食品
药材
枸杞子 巴戟
食品
韭菜 虾 牡蛎 淡菜 泥鳅 冻豆腐 核桃 芝麻 蜂蜜 葡萄 莲子 核桃 羊肉
如果要服用目前已名满天下的西药处方如伟哥(Viagra)、犀利士(Cialis)和力威大(Levitra)等，必须先经医生诊断，另外，这些药物价格不便宜，一颗要20元左右，有些人负担不来，也不想看医生，于是转而购买非法春药。
但是，吞食非法春药，后果可不是闹着玩的。非法春药在本地已导致一人死亡，两人昏迷，一人中风，至少89人因服用或怀疑服用这类非法药物入院。卫生科学局所列出的非法春药包括“动力一号核桃素片”、仿冒的“犀利士”“三体牛鞭”及“中华牛鞭”等。
尽管黑市壮阳药严重危害健康的事实摆在眼前，还有人为此丢命，可是当本报记者走访一些曾服用“动力一号”和其他非法春药的德士司机时，他们依然不相信这些黑市药会危害健康。他们为了贪图价格便宜，贪图一时之快，也为了逞一时之“强”，不顾警告，冒生命风险，偷偷吞食这类药物。
卫生科学局所列出的非法春药包括“动力一号核桃素片”、仿冒的“犀利士”“三体牛鞭”及“中华牛鞭”等。
难道除了吞服这些非法春药，就没有别的方法可解决他们的问题？本报走访了本地的一些中西医，希望从中西医的角度，甚至食疗的角度，探讨这一问题。
中医西医异口同声：非法壮阳药不安全
其实，中医和西医各有一套治疗阳痿的方法，大家可以通过各种管道来解决问题，不必拿自己的健康和性命来开玩笑。胡乱服用各种来历不明的药物，就算服用后没有立刻出现并发症，不等于那就是安全的，那可能只是暂时没问题，难保日积月累，待发生问题时已经太迟了。
根据中医的看法，男性到了五六十岁，性功能自然开始衰退。本地著名中医师陈美娥指出，按照中医的说法，人上了年纪便会精气衰，自然会出现性功能障碍，这时候应该开始修身养性，寻找精神寄托，通过阅读，培养个人嗜好和兴趣来丰富生活。
专科中医院医师许振益则指出，“饱暖思淫欲”，一个人如果没有精神寄托，便会往这方面寻求刺激。至于为什么会有那么多人不顾卫生部警告，偷偷服用非法的黑市春药，许医师认为，很多男性依然把阳痿视为难以启齿，有损尊严的问题。非法春药价格便宜，也是吸引买客的一大因素。
鹰阁医药中心妇产专科医生方壮威说，50岁以上的男性中，大约有一半会面对某种短暂性功能障碍。很多人买非法春药，可能是出于无知，但也可能因为价格便宜。很多低收入阶层，包括外劳，是负担不起看医生和吃合法药物的费用，当然也有一些人过度纵欲和喜欢展示雄风。
他和许多医学界朋友始终不明白，目前市面上的非法壮阳药，为何会加入大量降低血糖的格列本脲（glibenclamide）。他说，这种药物和性功能勃起毫无关系，其作用是刺激胰脏分泌胰岛素，减低血糖，但是大量服用的话，会使人全身乏力，身体发抖，最后休克死去，因此非常危险。
西医 通过抑制PDE-5酶 医治阳痿
鹰阁医药中心妇产专科医生方壮威医生说，目前最常用来治疗阳痿的药物如伟哥(Viagra)、犀利士(Cialis)和力威大(Levitra)等口服药物，主要是靠抑制体内PDE-5酶的活跃程度，协助阴茎勃起。这些药物能在短时间内起局部作用。
原来，男性阴茎是由海绵体组织构成，里面充满血管。由于血管通常处在缩紧状态，造成血液循环受到限制。一旦受到性刺激，阴茎就会释放cGMP激素，使血管松弛，让更多血液流通，造成阴茎充血。当性高潮过去后，阴茎会释放PDE-5酶，将cGMP分解，让血管恢复到原本的缩紧状态。
抑制PDE-5酶的活跃程度
随着年龄增长，有些男性的血管中会永久性地累积高成分的PDE-5酶，阻止了阴茎持续勃起，而西医处方便是靠抑制体内PDE-5酶的活跃程度，达到短暂作用。
要服用上述药物，必须先经医生诊断，每颗药物的售价约20元。方医生解释说，有些病人不适合服用伟哥，比如有心脏、肾脏和肝脏问题的病人；长期服用某种药物的病人，也不宜服用伟哥，否则对身体有害，这便是为何服药前需要医生的诊断。
方医生说，长期服用扩张血管药物的病人，如果使用这些壮阳药，可能会导致血压下降，造成危险。
西医除了通过抑制PDE-5酶来帮助阳痿病人勃起外，也有以男性荷尔蒙来增强病人性欲，这包括口服药丸、注射打针、在外部涂抹荷尔蒙药膏，或者使用贴片，让皮肤吸收男性荷尔蒙。
不过方医生指出，男性要长远解决阳痿问题，还必须从健康情况着手，如果病人有糖尿病或高血压，就必须从控制疾病开始，只有在改善了病人的健康情况后，阳痿问题才可能彻底解决。
中医：可壮阳中药、食物非常多
从中医学的角度，可用来壮阳的药物非常多，包括淫羊藿、菟丝子、鹿茸、人参、冬虫草、枸杞子、补骨脂、肉苁蓉、巴戟、黄精等。
本地资深中医师陈美娥说，中医治疗阳痿等男性病，至少有几千年历史，累积了很丰富的经验，因此能被用来壮阳的药物不胜枚举。另外，中医还有各种可治阳痿的传统处方和成药，以及各种能加强性功能的食疗。
今年初离开人世的本地著名中医师李金龙，出版过一本畅销书《性不性由你——中医说房事》，当中便提到中国很早便有各种论述男女性生理和病理问题的古书籍，包括《素女经》《内经》等。
《内经》清楚地阐明男子到了“二八”16岁时，便有了精虫，女子到了“二七”14岁时，便有卵子和月经。男子到了“七八”56岁、“八八”64岁时，生精功能开始衰退，对性生活越来越没兴趣。女子“七七”49岁不再生产卵子，开始停经，步入更年期。
李金龙在他的书中说，早在三千年前，周朝皇帝周穆王便已懂得用强精壮体的中药补身，而他最推崇的便是中药大枣。现代医学认为大枣能医治神经系统衰弱，因此有一定道理。
中国民间过去有一句古话：“男子出远门，不可吃枸杞”，说的是男子吃枸杞会增强性欲，出门在外容易寻花问柳，由此可见，枸杞也是一种壮阳药。
“壮肾阳”和“滋肾阴”
中医是怎样治理阳痿的？陈美娥医师说，阳痿不一定要用壮阳药，还可能取“清热利湿”和“滋肾阴”的做法。
中医认为，阳痿可能是“命门火衰”，也可能是“湿热下注”。如果是“命门火衰”，便采用“壮肾阳”的做法，但如果是“湿热下注”，便要“清热利湿”了。
可以用来“壮肾阳”的壮阳药，包括鹿茸、淫羊藿、补骨脂，以及各种动物鞭（牛、羊、虎、鹿、鳄鱼等）。这当中的淫羊藿相当有趣，据说古代名医陶弘景观察羊只吃了这种叶子后，可一日交配“数次”，因此得出这种叶子有壮阳作用，还称它为“淫羊藿”。
至于“滋肾阴”的药物，则有人参、冬虫夏草、菟丝子、枸杞子、肉苁蓉、黄精等。
许振益医师说，中医治疗阳痿，一般不主张单用一味药。这是因为中医认为每个病人体质不一样，加上不同药物有不同药性，因此需要调配使用。
中医既然是从调理病人体质着手，便需要一段时间才能见效，不像西医的壮阳药那样，让病人迅速勃起，应付几个小时之需。话说回来，一旦把身体调理好了，其作用比较持久。
陈美娥医师说，中医也有用针灸治疗阳痿的，针灸比较立竿见影，更快见效，但要持久效果，就必须长期针灸，还要配合药物。
中医：传统成药和食疗可治阳痿
中医也有一些传统成药，具有增强性功能作用，这包括六味地黄丸、金锁固精丸、金匮肾气丸、右归丸（补阳）、左归丸（滋阴）、龟鹿大补丸、十全大补汤、五子地黄汤、五子衍宗丸等。但是陈美娥医师指出，用成药前，同样必须先了解体质和造成阳痿的原因，对症下药。
另外，一些人也通过食疗来补气强身，比如韭菜炒虾仁、核桃炖瘦肉、核桃炒虾仁、巴戟炖瘦肉等，便据说有“壮阳”作用。
按按照现代医学研究，男性要产生精虫，需要两种物质起作用，那便是锌元素和精氨酸。
哪些食物含有丰富的锌元素？答案是牡蛎，也就是蚝，每100克可含100毫克的锌元素。相比之下，牛肉每百克是8毫克，鸡蛋3毫克，猪肉3毫克。
含精氨酸的食物又有哪些？答案是冻豆腐，每百克含4.11克，其他包括木松鱼（含3.97克）、豆腐皮（含3.66克）、花生（含3.61克）、核桃（含2.19克）、大豆、芝麻等。
有壮阳作用的药材和食品
药材
枸杞子 巴戟
食品
韭菜 虾 牡蛎 淡菜 泥鳅 冻豆腐 核桃 芝麻 蜂蜜 葡萄 莲子 核桃 羊肉
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)