According to the National Institutes of Health, almost half of the men over the age of 75 experience erectile dysfunction (ED) and it affects as many as 30 million men in the United States. Erectile dysfunction is medically defined as when a man cannot maintain or get an erection that is suitable for sexual intercourse. It is a common problem that can happen at any time and to any man. There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, an enlarged prostate gland, diabetes, persistent alcohol or tobacco use, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
However, there are natural treatments that can help with erectile dysfunction. Lifestyle changes such as curbing/cutting out alcohol, losing weight, quitting smoking, and exercising are all highly recommended during treatment. Natural alternatives can be effective and less invasive than conventional treatments. Here are five natural alternative medicine treatments to help improve your erectile dysfunction symptoms.
DHEA
A natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is converted to both testosterone and estrogen in the body. A Massachusetts male aging study revealed that men who had erectile dysfunction were more likely to have low levels of DHEA. There is evidence that DHEA helps erectile dysfunction in men and increases libido in women. In another study, forty men with erectile dysfunction either received 50 mg of DHEA and the other half took a placebo once a day for six months. At the end of the study, the men who were receiving the DHEA were more likely to achieve and maintain an erection.
Rhodiola Rosea
A small study indicated that Rhodiola rosea can help improve sexual function. In this study, a group of men were given 150 to 200 mg a day for three months, and twenty-six out of thirty five men experienced substantial improvements in their sexual function.
L-Arginine
An amino acid that is naturally present in the body, L-arginine helps make nitric oxide, which helps relax the blood vessels and facilitates a successful erection by improving blood flow. In 1999, researchers studied the effects of L-arginine for erectile dysfunction, and thirty-one percent of men who took 5 grams of L-arginine a day experienced improvements in sexual function. In addition, another study showed that when combined with pycnogenol, a plant product that is derived from tree bark, sexual ability was restored to 80 percent of the participants after two months. After three months, ninety-two percent had restored sexual ability.
Panax Ginseng
Panax ginseng, also known as red ginseng, is known as the “herbal Viagra” replacement. There were seven studies done in 2008 regarding the use of Panax ginseng and erectile dysfunction, and it was concluded that there was enough evidence found proving the effectiveness of Panax ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Acupuncture
In a 1999 study, acupuncture was found to improve the quality of erections and restored sexual activity in 39 percent of the participants. While another study published in 2003 reported that 21 percent of patients who suffered from erectile dysfunction had improved erections from receiving acupuncture.
Dr. Svetlana Kogan, Founder of Doctors at Trump Place Longevity Institute Adds: “Most men with erectile problems experience some degree of mind-body disruption, which I try to restore by by having them meditate, exercise emotional freedom technique and engage in other hypnotherapeutic modalities. Taking charge of your Mind-Body axis almost always guarantees strong and long-lasting erections.”
