Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects millions of men across the world. Erectile dysfunction means the inability to build or sustain an erection strong enough for sex. While prescription medications, surgeries and vacuum pumps offer medical cures for ED, most men will turn to home remedies for the disease. In this article, we will discuss five natural erectile dysfunction remedies and their potential effectiveness.
1. L-arginine
L-arginine is an amino acid that activates nitric oxide, which thins blood vessels and enhances blood flow. This is crucial for men with ED because failure to get an erection is often caused by a lack of blood to the penis. L-arginine supplements have been shown to aid in ED, particularly in mild-to-moderately ED men. It’s also safe and well-tolerated, and it comes with little side effects.
2. Panax Ginseng
Panax ginseng or Korean red ginseng is a popular herbal ED remedy. It has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to increase sexual activity and energy. Panax ginseng has also been shown to enhance erections by promoting nitric oxide production and blood circulation. It also purported to be an aphrodisiac, and can increase sexual libido and pleasure.
3. Acupuncture
An ancient Chinese medicine practice, acupuncture involves putting small needles in specific areas of the body to stimulate flow of energy and facilitate healing. More recently, acupuncture has come to be recognised as a complementary therapy for conditions such as ED.
Many studies indicate that acupuncture can be a good treatment for ED. In a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, acupuncture led to an increase in erectile function when compared with placebo or without treatment. The second paper, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, found that acupuncture helped reduce ED in men with psychological triggers (anxiety or depression).
No one fully knows how acupuncture can reduce ED. But acupuncture is thought to enhance blood supply to the penis, enhance nerve function, and decrease inflammation. Acupuncture also has the potential to decrease stress and anxiety that contribute to ED.
4. Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice has long been touted as a health beverage, thanks to its antioxidant properties. It has been used for several years in traditional medicine to treat many disorders, such as erectile dysfunction.
Mechanism of Action
It’s been proven, through a series of studies, that the pomegranate’s juice increases erectile function in several ways:
Nitric Oxide Production: The production of nitric oxide is essential to the creation and maintenance of an erection, because of its side-effect, namely the flow of blood to the penis. Researchers have shown that pomegranate juice antioxidants can boost levels of nitric oxide and improve erections.
Oxidative Stress Management: Reduces the level of oxidative stress that can harm blood vessels and influence normal erectile functions. As the juice is rich in antioxidants, it counteracts the oxidative stress and leads to better blood flow and good erections.
Anti-inflammatory Effects: Chronic inflammation destabilizes the vascular system crucial for erectile function. The anti-inflammatory properties of pomegranate juice promote the circulation of blood, which is a major driver of erection.
Pomegranate juice is a sweet and healthy addition to the diet, due to the potential of it in curing erectile dysfunction symptoms. You can drink it or eat it as a meal, but you should definitely try it out for its health benefits as a herbal supplement.
5. Yoga and Exercise
Yoga for ED:
Yoga is a mind-body activity that incorporates movements, breathing and meditation for greater health and wellness. Yoga is currently gaining fame as a natural treatment for several ailments, such as ED.
Yoga has been shown to be a treatment for ED in several studies. In a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, yoga improved erectile function as significantly as nothing at all. According to a third study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, yoga reduced ED among men who had physical factors (for example, diabetes or high blood pressure).
It’s still not completely clear how yoga reverses ED. But yoga is thought to boost pelvic circulation, alleviate stress and anxiety, and improve overall physical health. In addition, yoga can improve body positivity and self-esteem – essential components for a healthy sexual partnership.
Exercise for ED:
Walking is an integral component of nearly any ED treatment program. Exercise improves heart health, stress levels, anxiety levels, and has the added benefit of physical vigour- all helping to improve erectile function.
Two of these findings show that exercise alone can successfully prevent ED. Its systematic review of the RCTs concluded that, compared with no treatment, exercise was strongly associated with improved erections. One report published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine demonstrated that men who did aerobic exercise regularly were less likely to suffer from ED than men who were inactive.
We’re not sure exactly how physical activity facilitates ED management, but the hypothesis is that it assists in enhancing the flow of pelvic blood, decreases inflammation and essentially corrects the causal factors of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, exercise can increase the psychosocial stressors and anxiety that contribute to ED as well.
All in all, natural treatments for erectile dysfunction are an excellent and safe treatment for men who are suffering from ED. You must, however, visit a medical professional to ensure that the natural solutions are safe and effective for them. Further, not all men respond to natural remedies; some ED men may have to seek treatment from medicine. You need to figure out what the right treatment will be for you, and identify and address any underlying health issues that might be causing your ED. By doing the right thing, ED, sexual activity and pleasure can all return to a man.
