Natural Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

What is the condition known as Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is a condition when the man is unable to obtain a proper erection in order to have satisfying sexual intercourse. It commonly affects men over 64 but it is also possible to affect younger men.

Natural Cures for Erectile Dysfunction

Below you can find five natural remedies for erectile dysfunction.

1) L-Arginine

L-arginine is an amino acid used by the human body to produce nitric oxide – a substance that helps the muscles surrounding blood vessels to relax and dilate, so that the flow of blood is increased. Thus, if the muscles in the penile area are relaxed, more blood will enter the penis and an erection will occur.

This amino acid can be found in different foods, including fish, meat, dairy products and poultry. In addition, some oral L-arginine supplements are available and they are often called “natural Viagra”.

However, the effectiveness of L-arginine for treatment of erectile dysfunction is only explored by two studies.

The first study included 50 men who were given 5 grams of L-arginine every day or a placebo. Six weeks later more men who were taking L-arginine experienced a sexual improvement in comparison to the men who were taking a placebo. An interesting fact is that this improvement was noticed only in the men who had low nitric oxide levels at the beginning of the study.

The second study involved intake of lower dose of L-arginine for a shorter period of time. There were 32 participants suffering of erectile dysfunction who were given 500 milligrams of L-arginine three times every day or a placebo for a period of 17 days. The men who were taking the amino acid experienced no benefits.

The intake of A-arginine may cause some negative side effects, such as digestive problems. High doses promote the production of gastrin – a hormone that increases the levels of stomach acid. That is why the usage of L-arginine may cause problems to people who have ulcers or take drugs that affect the stomach.

In addition, L-arginine may change the levels of potassium in the body, so it should not be used by people with liver diseases or people who take certain medications, including potassium sparing diuretics and ACE inhibitors.

2) Propionyl-L-Carnitine

Ninety-six men participated in a study that examined two types of carnitine – propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine. All participants had erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery. A group of the men was given a placebo, while another group was given 2 grams of propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine with Viagra. A third group was given only Viagra.

The men who used propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine experienced an enhanced effectiveness of the sildenafil (Viagra). The result of this was improved erectile function, orgasm, satisfaction during sexual activities as well as better general sexual health in comparison to the men who only took Viagra.

Another conducted study examined the results of the combined usage of propionyl-L-carnitine and sildenafil. The participants were men with erectile dysfunction that have previously showed unresponsiveness to Viagra. They were given either two grams of propionyl-L-carnitine in combination with Viagra, or only Viagra. 24 weeks later the results showed greater effectiveness of the combination of propionyl-L-carnitine and Viagra than the Viagra alone.

3) Gingko

Ginkgo is an herbal plant widely used for treatment of erectile dysfunction, especially in men who experienced this problem as a side effect of antidepressants. The herb works by stimulating the muscles to relax and boosting the flow of blood to the penile area.

A study with 60 participants showed a 50-percent success rate after a treatment with ginkgo that continued six months. However, two other studies concluded that ginkgo didn’t have any successful results.

4) Zinc

Erectile dysfunction may be caused by lack of zinc in the body. Low zinc levels may be a result of a prolonged usage of diuretics, kidney and liver diseases, diabetes and digestive disorders.

5) Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a herb that is often called Indian Ginseng. It is known to boost the energy levels and stamina, and to promote better sexual function. However, there are no studies that have proven its effectiveness in cases of erectile dysfunction.

Ashwagandha may cause some side effects, including drowsiness. It shouldn’t be used in combination with sedatives.

Yohimbe

The bark of the yohimbe tree found in West Africa is believed to increase the flow of blood to the penile area, to boost the libido and to shorten the periods between ejaculations.

However, the usage of yohimbe is not recommended because even small doses of this plant may be dangerous. It causes a number of side effects, including nausea, dizziness, anxiety, rapid drop in the blood pressure, hallucinations, fatigue, abdominal pain and even paralysis.