6 Best Natural Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain the firmness of erection during sexual activity. It is commonly known as impotence and results in reduced sexual desire or libido. If you experience erectile dysfunction for a few weeks to months, then your doctor may diagnose it as erectile dysfunction.

It was established by studies that impaired erection or complete impotence may be due to deficient production of nitric oxide either by the nerves or by the inner lining of blood vessels in the penis (male sex organ) [1].

Erectile dysfunction can sometimes be a warning sign of underlying diseases like Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart diseases. In young men, the most common reason for erectile dysfunction is their stress and anxiety, which can impact their marital relationship and affects the quality of a man’s life [2].

The causes for erectile dysfunction can be physical and mental and there are chances of having one or more of the causes to your problem. Certain medications may also cause erectile dysfunction, so when you are given any medicines by your doctor speak to him to know what effects it may have on your health. If you start noticing erectile dysfunction happening after taking prescribed medicine, do consult your doctor immediately.

Physical causes of erectile dysfunction can be as follows [3]:

1. Addiction to alcohol or drugs
2. Heart disorders
3. Obesity
4. High blood pressure
5. Low testosterone levels
6. Trauma to spinal cord or pelvic area
7. Kidney disease
8. Metabolic syndrome
9. Stroke
10. Prostate and bowel cancer treatments
11. Hormonal issues

Mental causes that are linked with erectile dysfunction are:

1. Anxiety
2. Stress
3. Depression
4. Relaxation problems

Using some kind of herbal remedies and supplements for erectile dysfunction may help some people. Trying for some positive lifestyle changes can be a good place to start if you wish to cure erectile dysfunction naturally.

Some of the common lifestyle and natural remedies that can help for erectile dysfunction are:

1. Follow a healthy and balanced diet
2. Including regular exercises to your routine
3. To quit smoking
4. Reduce alcohol intake
5. Maintaining good sleeping habits

The above changes can naturally help you to improve your general health and thus can help to improve erectile dysfunction.

As the treatment for erectile dysfunction also depends on the treatment of the underlying cause, you should speak to your doctor if you are experiencing erectile dysfunction and get the appropriate treatment.

Alternative Natural Treatment Option for Erectile Dysfunction

There are few alternative therapies that can be considered if you wish to treat erectile dysfunction naturally. These alternative options are:

1. Acupuncture: This helps in improving erectile dysfunction symptoms by causing the stimulation of certain points on your body by inserting tiny needles. This is said to be an ancient type of alternative medicine that can benefit from erectile dysfunction.
2. Usage of essential oils: Sometimes, erectile dysfunction may be due to psychological factors like stress and anxiety. In such a case, using essential oils can help in relaxation and de-stressing.

These alternative remedies that are completely natural may give successful results for erectile dysfunction and are safe to follow.

There are some foods that have the ability to cure erectile dysfunction and can show improvement in symptoms.

The foods that are said to help with erectile dysfunction are as follows:

1. Spinach: High levels of folic acid and magnesium that are available in spinach are said to help with erectile dysfunction and can also boost testosterone levels.
2. Oats: Amino acids that are present in oats can help to relax your blood vessels and thus help with erectile dysfunction.
3. Chocolate: The two compounds serotonin and phenylethylamine stimulate the areas of the brain giving happy and positive feeling.
4. Fish: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish can help to lower your blood pressure and improve heart health. Eating fish can help with a sexual response by raising dopamine levels and by causing arousal in the brain.
5. Olive oil: This oil is rich in antioxidants and good fats and can help to make testosterone and improve your erections.
6. Watermelon: This fruit is said to be natural Viagra. It has citrulline content that can relax and increase blood flow to the penis.
7. Drumstick: The aphrodisiac properties that are present in drumstick help with premature ejaculation, and thin semen.
8. Dried fruits: Such as almonds, pistachios, dates, raisins, apricots and prunes are rich in potassium and sodium that can improve your energy.
9. Pomegranates: This fruit has plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, potassium, and niacin that are required for healthy sex life.
10. Garlic: A compound called allicin present in garlic improves blood flow to sexual organs and increases erections.

Erectile dysfunction that is caused by physical issues like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease can be managed by eating a healthy and balanced diet. Your general health as well as erectile dysfunction can also improve.

There are some vitamins that are believed to improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction and some people get the benefits out of them.

The commonly suggested vitamins for erectile dysfunction are:

1. Vitamin B9
2. Vitamin E
3. Vitamin B3
4. Vitamin D
5. Vitamin C
6. L- arginine

You should understand that these vitamins are to be used along with your prescribed medicines and that they don’t treat erectile dysfunction directly. They can aid to improve your general health and thereby taking sufficient amounts of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients regularly is very important.

Ayurvedic herbs have proven to help with erectile dysfunction disorder since ages. The effectiveness of these herbs are less studied and we shall discuss some of the herbs here.

Herbs that can improve erectile dysfunction symptoms are:

1. Panax ginseng

This is also called as red ginseng and popularized as herbal Viagra. Research of seven studies of red ginseng and erectile dysfunction that was done in 2008 suggested evidence for an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction with Panax ginseng [4]. The dosage to be taken ranges from 600 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) for 3 times daily.

Panax ginseng is proved to be an effective treatment for high blood lipid levels and for metabolic syndrome. The anti-inflammatory actions that are present in this herb can improve lung functioning capacity and improves blood flow in other diseases [5].

2. Rhodiola rosea

A study says that Rhodiola rosea may be helpful in treating erectile dysfunction. An improved sexual function was experienced by 26 men out of 35, when they took 150 to 200 mg of Rhodiola rosea per day for about 3 months. It is shown to improve your energy and decrease fatigue levels. More research is yet to be done to understand its nature of action and safety.

3. L-arginine

L-arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid in your body that makes nitric oxide, which can relax the blood vessels and promote erection and healthy sexual activity. According to research, L-arginine is proved to be effective in causing improved sexual functions in 30% of men with erectile dysfunction when taken at 5 g per day [6].

Another study says that when L-arginine is combined with pycnogenol (a product made from the bark of a tree) it helps in regaining sexual ability in 80% of men after a period of 2 months. While 92% of them regained their sexual ability after 3 months [7].

Another study (a placebo study) that was done to know the efficacy and safety of L-arginine 8g when combined with other medicines (200 mg of adenosine monophosphate AA) in treating mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction, showed that it is well-tolerated and could be given as first-line therapy [8].

4. Yohimbe

Yohimbe is the supplement that is derived from the bark of the yohimbe tree seen in Africa and is used for more than a century in treating erectile dysfunction [9]. While some studies say that it gives positive sexual effects, it is not recommended as there is less evidence on its working nature. The side effects (increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, tremors and irritability) caused by it are damaging to your health.

You should take the above medicines only under the strict supervision of your doctor as over or under dosages may cause many ill-effects.

Conclusion

Some of you may like to use the above mentioned natural remedies to overcome erectile dysfunction, in such case you should understand that the good side of using natural remedies are they are cheap and can be tried at home. Simple changes of lifestyle like regular exercise, healthy diet intake, and avoiding bad habits can cost you very little and can improve overall general health. It is always good to consult the doctor first and get suitable treatment for the underlying cause.