THE FOLLOWING ARE SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS COMMONLY TREATED BY THE WASHINGTON ACUPUNCTURE CENTER. SEXUAL IMPOTENCE Sexual impotence is usually classified as functional or psychogenic without demonstrable organic pathology. In women, sexual impotence is called "frigidity", "functional dyspareunia" or "inability to achieve orgasm" and is considered a less serious symptom than a man's inability to achieve and sustain penile erection for a normal length of time. Some men and women take large quantities of sex hormones in an effort to improve their ability to engage in coitus and enjoy it, but these may have the opposite effect and usually decrease fertility. Freud's libido theory and Bergson's theory of elan vital are consistent with Chinese acupuncture theory in that they attribute sexual impotence to a perversion or displacement of vital energy. Acupuncture corrects this situation by restoring the balance between Yin and Yang energy. During the first 10 treatments the patient should avoid sexual intercourse. If results are not satisfactory during the following two weeks, another series of 10 treatments should be given. More than half of the patients treated for sexual impotence at the Washington Acupuncture Center have had significant improvement after 10 treatments. Tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, hormones, tranquilizers and other drugs may reduce sexual desire or potency and should be avoided. Nutritional therapy should be taken along with acupuncture. next