10 Herbs to Help Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)

In previous articles, we discussed different ways of indirectly treating erectile dysfunction.  We talked about using herbal or natural remedies to relieve various physical or mental conditions that are commonly the root cause of erectile dysfunction (impotence).

Now, it is time to start looking at natural and herbal remedies that work just as well as pharmaceutical drugs.  Drugs like Viagra and Cialis.  These herbals do this by attacking your erectile dysfunction – impotence – as if it were the root cause of the problem.

Finding the root cause for erectile dysfunction (impotence)

If someone is experiencing erectile dysfunction (impotence) it can be cured by figuring out the root cause. We discussed this in previous articles.

However, it is not always going to be possible to figure out the root cause.  There will be circumstances where someone is battling a serious illness or disease.  Then there is no curable or treatable reason for erectile dysfunction.

For example, there isn’t any affordable way of reversing the inevitable physical deterioration that is part and parcel of growing old unless someone decides to undergo hormone therapy.  Then they may have a chance of regaining a full erection.

Many men who use Viagra have already experienced the side effects and the levels of risk involved in taking these drugs to deal with erectile dysfunction (impotence).

One should consider natural alternatives instead of using pills like Viagra or Cialis.

Herbal Remedies to cure erectile dysfunction (impotence)

Ginseng

Ginseng has been used as Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It was originally viewed as a substance that would improve the mind and the ability to think.  It served as a whole-body tonic for anyone taking ginseng.

In modern scientific parlance, ginseng is an adaptogen. This means that it is a substance that helps the human body to restore and repair itself.

In terms of helping to prevent erectile dysfunction (impotence), the most important benefit of ginseng is…

• helps to reduce bodily stress
• improves fatigue
• one of the most effective substances known for slowing down the aging process

Impotence is likely to increase as men grow older.  Anything that can slow down the aging process is likely to reduce the severity of erectile dysfunction (impotence) or delay it.

This, combined with providing greater stamina, is the primary benefit of taking ginseng for someone suffering from erectile dysfunction.  There are many other benefits of ginseng.

Horny Goat Weed

Horny goat weed is one of the best-known herbal remedies for impotence as reported by Wikipedia.   It has shown promising signs of becoming a genuine alternative to Viagra for impotent men.

This herb has been used to treat a variety of ailments including…

• liver
• kidney
• back disorders
• best known as an aphrodisiac
• Increases sexual desire
• Improves performance

Research has shown that this happens with the usage of horny goat weed.

‘Yin Yang Huo’ in Chinese means licentious goat plant’-hence its Western name inhibits the growth of a natural enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE).

Without getting too complex or scientific, one of the main purposes of AChE is to degrade the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.  This is the primary purpose of which is to pass instructions and other information around the body as quickly as possible.

AChE destroys the neurotransmitter.  It makes it difficult for information to move around the body quickly enough in the situation where messages of sexual arousal should be speeding around the body.  AChE is slowing down and blocking these messages, therefore, there is an impotence problem.

Horny goat weed inhibits the growth of AChE.   The appropriate arousal and erectile messages are sent to the appropriate parts of the body more effectively. Horny goat weed enables the ‘messages to get through just like Viagra.

There are plenty of places where you can buy these supplements online.

L-Arginine

This supplement is another completely natural substance that its proponents claim is the new Viagra.  It is a powerful impotence treatment.

L-Arginine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body.  It serves various functions.  The most important of these is its ability to make nitric oxide. While L-Arginine is often considered to be most important for heart disease treatment.  It has also been used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Not only does L-Arginine make nitric oxide, but it also improves a man’s ability to experience a full erection.  This amino acid has the ability to enhance blood flow to the penis by relaxing the muscles surrounding the appropriate blood vessels.

Viagra works by blocking the PDE5 enzyme. L-Arginine works the opposite way by making new nitric oxide.

L-Arginine helps to make sure that enough blood gets to the extremities of the body to ensure that a successful erection can occur.  It also helps to…

• lower blood pressure
• control plaque
• lower cholesterol levels

Unlike Viagra but similar to most other natural impotence treatments L-Arginine has to be taken every day.  The effects are cumulative rather than immediate. In other words, Viagra works within an hour or so, where L-Arginine will take several days of regular dosage to start becoming effective.

Under normal circumstances, your kidneys and liver produce enough L-Arginine entirely naturally to keep you fit and healthy. However, there can be situations where more L-Arginine is required when the body has suffered severe injuries, burns, or infections.

This depends on the degree of impotence being suffered.  It may even be that this condition falls into the same category.

In this case, your focus should be on consuming foods that are rich in both animal and plant-based proteins.  Focus on eating meat, dairy produce, fish, poultry, and nuts.

For an amino acid that is produced entirely naturally by the body, there can sometimes be side effects from L-Arginine.  This can occur if the levels of the acid are higher than normal.

Excessively large doses can result in blood pressure that falls too low.  It could cause nausea, headaches, and indigestion.

Too much L-Arginine can increase stomach acid, and especially in people with liver disease, it can alter potassium levels.

L-Arginine is definitely not something that you should be taking if you have serious heart problems.

Unless you fall into a high-risk group (i.e. someone who has already suffered a heart attack) and choose to ignore sensible advice.  L-Arginine is a natural and safe way of treating your impotence.  You can buy this supplement online without a prescription.

Catuaba

According to Wikipedia, the name Catuaba refers to the infusion of the bark of several native Brazilian trees.  The most common are Trichilia catigua and Erythroxylum vacciniifolium. The other tree barks are included under this generic name.

The most important fact is that Catuaba is a traditional Brazilian medicine that has been used for many generations as a natural aphrodisiac and central nervous system stimulant.

There is some doubt whether these claims have ever been validated clinically.  Many men have found taking Catuaba extract has increased their natural libido and sex drive by a considerable amount. There is sufficient evidence to support the claims made on behalf of Catuaba as an impotence treatment.  More research does need to be done.

Yohimbe (or Yohimbine)

Yohimbine is an evergreen tree that originally comes from West Africa.  The Yohimbe bark contains alkaloids.  This is the primary one is of which is yohimbine.  It is used to make the herbal treatment known as Yohimbe.

This is a prescription drug in the USA.  One that used to be extremely popular as an impotence treatment. However, since the creation of Viagra, the popularity of Yohimbe has decreased.

There is plenty of evidence that this particular treatment can be very effective for dealing with impotence.   The prescription version of Yohimbe has been extensively tested and shown to have positive effects.

It is important that you take the dosage as prescribed.

If you take too little –  it will have very little effect.

If you take too much –  it can become toxic.

In the USA, the FDA reports that some people have complained of kidney failure or seizures, and such side-effects as raised heartbeat, nausea, and increased blood pressure have been reported even from normal dosages of Yohimbe.

For this reason, although it is possible to buy Yohimbe as a stand-alone supplement to treat impotence, it is generally better to buy compound supplements where Yohimbe is only one ingredient combined with others.

Because such compound formulas tend to keep the Yohimbe content on the safer side of the line, you can ensure that your intake of Yohimbe is never likely to reach toxic levels.

Precautions

However, if you suffer from any kind of kidney or liver disease, stomach ulcers, or irregular or unusual blood pressure. For example, if your blood pressure is too high or low, you should avoid taking Yohimbe.

Maca

Lepidium meyenii or maca (as it is more commonly known) is a plant from the high Andes of Bolivia and Peru.  It is considered to be a superfood in South America. When eaten cooked (as it most commonly is) or raw, it is claimed that maca imparts great strength, stamina, and virility.

The root of the plant (the part eaten or used in supplements) also contains a substance believed to exert many beneficial effects on the central nervous system.

Maca is generally believed to be an aphrodisiac.  It is an effective treatment for impotence. Maca is also an adaptogen like ginseng. It is an excellent full-body tonic.

According to Healthline, It is also nutritious and full of nutritional value.  Maca root is a good source of carbs.  It is low in fat and contains a fair amount of fiber. It’s also high in some essential vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, copper, and iron. It contains various plant compounds, including glucosinolates and polyphenols. (1, 2, 3)

Muira puama

Muira puama is another South American herb that is believed to be an aphrodisiac.  This herb is used to treat sexual problems and impotence for many hundreds of years. Muira puama has strong stimulant qualities.  It is often used in compound herbal impotence treatments.

Schizandra (or Schisandra) berry

The berries of the Schisandra shrub have been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a sedative and tonic agent.  They can relax and energize the body.

In modern scientific parlance, schizandra would be known as an adaptogenic herb (an adaptogen).  An adaptogen can help to return the body to its normal balanced self before the erectile dysfunction occurred. In the same way that ginseng was traditionally considered to be a full body tonic, schizandra serves exactly the same purpose.

Schizandra berry relieves stress, removes anxiety and increases stamina, all at the same time. For anyone suffering from psychologically induced impotence, adaptogens like these berries, maca, and ginseng could all therefore provide a very significant boost.

Tribulus

Tribulus terrestris is another traditional medicine that has been used both in China and in India for many centuries. In the mid-1990s, Tribulus became well known in the West after East European Olympic athletes answered drug allegations by claiming that all they were taking was tribulus.

It has traditionally been viewed as a herb that can help counter low libido, erectile dysfunction, and infertility.

It has been claimed that tribulus can help to increase the levels of sex related hormones in the body such as testosterone and estrogen.  Preliminary studies on animals indicated that tribulus heightens sexual activity. This was believed to result from an increase in testosterone levels. Large research studies on humans have not been done so far.

Apart from people who suffer from hormone-dependent medical problems such as breast or prostate cancer, it does not appear that there are any significant adverse side-effects associated with Tribulus either.

It is a herbal remedy that anyone who does not have a medical condition who suffers from impotence can try without being concerned about side effects.

Velvet beans

Velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) are an annual climbing shrub found in the Caribbean, India, and Africa.

Extracts from mucuna pruriens are rich in L-dopa.  L-dopa is turned into dopamine in the human body. It is a neurotransmitter, a chemical in the brain that is very influential as far as mood and sexuality are concerned. Mucuna pruriens has been used by people worldwide.  It is considered an aphrodisiac.

It can increase libido and sexual activity.  This is why it is recommended as a supplement for impotence sufferers.

Tongkat Ali

Tongkat ali is a tree that is native to many countries in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Usually, the root of the tree is used for medicinal purposes.

Tongkat Ali has been used for many centuries in Southeast Asia as an aid to sexual performance.  It is known as the “Asian Viagra.”

Benefits of tree roots

• increase libido
• improves sexual desire
• enhances sexual performance
• treats erectile dysfunction

It is derived from the fact that Tongkat Ali is another natural substance that increases or at least enhances testosterone.  Testosterone is the main hormone behind the male sex drive.

There are few adverse side-effects associated with Tongkat Ali.  Excessive ingestion could lead to insomnia or anxiety attacks.

However, the fact that, throughout Southeast Asia, anyone can buy canned drinks containing Tongkat Ali across the counter of a normal convenience store.

This shows that there are few serious risks with this particular natural extract.