In the early 1990s, a magical drug was introduced in the medical world with the name of Viagra which was said to have the ability to help men who were suffering from Erectile Dysfunction. However, this was not the first time a cure was discovered for Erectile Dysfunction as humans have been using many natural foods and products for a very long time now to treat problems of Erectile Dysfunction.

Humans have been using many natural aphrodisiacs ranging from ground rhinoceros to topa chocolate, which have been used to increase the sexual libido, increase potency and even increase the pleasure during sexual activities. These natural remedies are preferred over synthetic chemical drugs because these natural products are free from side effects which the synthetic drugs are often accompanied with.

Some research studies have shown that there are five main natural plants which are quite effective in treating problems of Erectile Dysfunction:

1. Panax Ginseng
2. Maca
3. Yohimbine
4. Gingko
5. Mondia Whitei.

Why is Erectile Dysfunction caused?

Erectile Dysfunction as many people often believe is not a problem but is a symptom to a bigger problem probably. An erection is not a simple process but it is a result of different complex multisystem processes of our body. Sexual arousal and erections happen when there is an interaction between various organs of our body like:

1. Body
2. Nervous System
3. Muscles
4. Hormones
5. Emotions

However, these interactions can be affected and intervened if you are suffering from problems like Diabetes or Stress which might lead to Erectile Dysfunction. Research studies have also concluded that Erectile Dysfunction is often caused if there are some problems with your blood vessels. Research studies have also shown that nearly 40% of men above the age of 50 years suffer from Erectile Dysfunction because of plaque buildup in their arteries.

Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction

With the advancements humans have made in the field of medicine, treatment options for Erectile dysfunction have now surfaced. However, treatment of underlying problems is much more important than the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction. Some of the most commonly prescribed treatments for Erectile Dysfunction include the likes of:

1. Injections or Medicines which are prescribed.
2. Penis Suppository.
3. Replacement of Testosterone
4. Usine a Penis Pump which is an erection device working on the concept of vacuum.
5. A penile implant.
6. Surgery of the blood vessels.

You can also make some changes to your lifestyle like the following:

1. Counseling your Sexual Anxiety.
2. Considering psychological counselling.
3. Maintaining your body’s weight.
4. Reducing the intake of alcohol and tobacco.

Alternative Natural Treatments

We have discussed some methods to treat Erectile Dysfunction above but many people often do not want to undergo these chemical processes or consume these Synthetic Drugs because they are often accompanied with some major side effects which can do more harm to your body than the good it does.
Many medical stores these days have started selling some natural drugs and herbs which have some potency to treat Erectile Dysfunction and are often accompanied with almost zero to no side effects. Many times, these natural alternatives are cheaper than the chemical methods.

However, unlike modern chemical treatments, these natural alternatives have very little research studies to back the claims they make and their effectiveness is still to be measured using some uniform testing methods. Most of the results displayed and advertised are on the basis of self-evaluation of these drugs which can be difficult to interpret provided their subjective nature.

In this article, we will be talking about some natural herbs which have been used by humans for a very long time now and are known for their ability to treat various sexual problems like Erectile Dysfunction. However, before starting the use of any of these natural elements, one should always consult their doctor if they are on any medication because these herbs can often alter the effects of the medicines you take.

Natural Herbs to Treat Erectile Dysfunction

1. Panax Ginseng, Korean and a Chinese Herb

   Chinese civilizations were one of the earliest civilizations to start the use of these natural herbs to treat various sexual disorders and Panax Ginseng was a magical herb which they discovered to treat this disorder. Both Chinese and Korean men used to consume this drug for their health and longevity. The root of the Panax Ginseng is called the Red Ginseng and Korean people used to consume this product for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction. Other benefits of this plant are:

   1. Increases stamina.
   2. Improves Concentration.
   3. Reduces stress.
   4. Improves the overall well-being.

   Clinical studies have been conducted to test the benefits of this herb and the following results were obtained about Panax Ginseng:

   1. Improves penile rigidity.
   2. Increases its girth.
   3. Increases the duration of erection.
   4. Improves the libido.
   5. Improves the overall sexual satisfaction.

   Panax Ginseng also has the capabilities of working as an antioxidant because it is known to release Nitric Oxide (NO) in our body which is known to help in various erectile dysfunction and related problems. Some people also use cream of Panax Ginseng to help them fight the problem of Premature Ejaculation.

   Dosage amounts

   For best results it is recommended that you should take nearly 900 milligrams of Panax Ginseng 3 times a day for a period of 2 months or 8 weeks. This herb is considered to be safe for human use but doctors recommend that one should consume this herb only for short periods of time ranging from 6 to 8 weeks.

   Side Effects

   Panax Ginseng is considered to be safe and the only side effect associated with its use is Insomnia. However, Ginseng has a history of interacting with alcohol, caffeine and some medicines and these reactions are often not positive.

   

2. Maca

   Maca is a root vegetable plant which is native to Peru and it is a great addition to your diet provided the numerous health benefits associated with the use of this herb. The medical name of this plant is Lepedium Meyenii and it is considered to be rich in the following:

   1. Amino Acids
   2. Iodine
   3. Iron
   4. Magnesium

   Usually, there are three types of Maca found in nature namely: Red, Yellow and Black. Maca is known for its stress alleviating properties and it is also known to be effective in improving memory. Stress is one of the major causes of ED and thus Maca can be effective in curing ED.

   Maca has been tested on some animals to study its effect on Sexual improvements mainly in rats. However, the reports were not that convincing as researchers could only gather minimal evidence to prove its ability to cure erectile dysfunction because other research studies have shown that its use might put individuals in a placebo effect and neither does it have an effect on the levels of hormones in our body.

   Dosage

   It was observed that when compared to a group of men who did not consume Maca at all, those who consumed 3 grams of it daily for a period of 8 weeks witnessed an increase in in their sexual desires.

   Experts believe that one should consume nearly 1 gram of Maca per kilogram of their body weight.

   Side Effects

   Maca is one of the safest products for human use but some research studies found that people who already suffered from heart conditions suffered from elevated blood pressures if they just took 0.6 grams of Maca everyday.

   

3. Yohimbine

   Yohimbine is a tree bark which is usually found in West Africa and is the bark of an evergreen tea. People have been using Yohimbine for a little over 70 years now for treating Erectile Dysfunction because of the following reasons:

   1. It activates our body’s penile nerves to facilitate the release of more Nitric Oxide or NO.
   2. It widens the vessels of our blood to improve the flow of blood to our penis.
   3. It stimulates the pelvic nerves of our body to boost the supply of Adrenaline.
   4. It increases our sexual desires.
   5. It makes our erections last long.

   A research study found that amongst a group of people to study the effects of this bark of a tree, nearly 14% of the entire group witnessed their erections to be stimulated fully, other 20% witnessed some improvements while 65% reported Yohimbine to have no positive effects as well. Another research study conducted on 29 people to study the effects of Yohimbine, 16 of these reported that once the treatment and prescribed dose was over, they were able to reach orgasm and ejaculate as well.

   When Yohimbine is taken in a combination with L-Arginine, it shows drastic improvements in erections of those who are suffering from Erectile Dysfunction. L-Arginine is an essential Amino Acid which helps in expanding our blood vessels. It is regarded as one of the safest and most effective treatment options for ED.

   Dosage

   It is considered that for optimum results, you should consume nearly 20 milligrams of Yohimbe bark extracts everyday.

   Side Effects

   A combination of Yohimbine and L-Arginine often leads to some side effects like:

   1. Nausea
   2. Diarrhea
   3. Stomach Cramps

   It is recommended that one should avoid using L-Arginine and Yohimbine with High Blood Pressure medications, Nitrates and Viagra.

   Alos, the adrenaline effects of Yohimbine might lead to some secondary side effects including the likes of :

   1. Headaches
   2. Sweating
   3. Agitation
   4. Insomnia
   5. Hypertension

   One should always consult their doctors before beginning the use of Yohimbine if you are taking any antidepressants or any other suppressing medicines.

   

4. Mondia Whitei

   Mondia Whitei is an African plant’s root and the locals also know it by the name of White Ginger. It is extremely popular in countries like Uganda where the people still have more faith in natural herbs rather than Chemical drugs. It is effective in increasing an individual’s sperm count and is also known to be effective in increasing Libido.
   Research studies believe that, it might have some similar positive effects as Viagra because it:

   1. Increases an individual’s sexual desires.
   2. It improves the motility of Human Sperm.
   3. It boosts the Testosterone levels.
   4. Improves erections.

   You can even find yourself a drink which goes by the name of “Mulondo Wine” and the main ingredient used in this drink is Mondia Whitei. Because of its abilities to increase libido, pleasure during sex and potency of sperm, it is also considered to be an Aphrodisiac and it is also considered to be a non toxic compound.

   

5. Ginkgo Biloba

   Ginkgo Biloba might be effective in increasing the flow of blood to the penis. Research studies have studied and discovered the effects Ginkgo Biloba has on ED as the participants in this study reported an improvement in their erections.

   Another group of researchers believe that Ginkgo might be effective in curing those men who are experiencing ED because of various medicines because another trial study conducted on men taking antidepressants medicines and nearly 76% of men showed improvements.

   However, there are some other research studies too which show no improvement after they consumed Ginkgo which means that this drug is much better in managing ED rather than curing the problem all together.

   Dosing

   It is recommended that one should consume 40 to 60 milligrams capsules of Ginkgo two times a day for a period of four weeks. They were also on suppressing medicines.

   

Other herbs for the treatment of ED

Apart from these herbs mentioned here, there are some other herbs as well which can be effective in curing ED like:

1. Horny Goat Weed or Epimedium.
2. Musli or Chlorophytum borivilianum
3. Saffron or Crocus Sativus
4. Tribulus Terrestris

However, before trying any new herbal supplements like these male enhancement pills, you should always consult your doctor before because of the little scientific evidence that they have to prove their effectiveness. They might even have some interactions with your current medicines and this might lead to some unwanted side effects.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

None of the herbs mentioned in this list has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a medical treatment option. One of the main reasons is that very often these herbs are imported by other countries and they may be contaminated. Also these herbs are not that well studied and neither are tested like other prescription medicines namely Viagra.

FDA strictly advises men to refrain themselves from purchasing products which are advertised as “Herbal Viagra” like creams because these products often contain various prescription medicines or might mark the presence of some other harmful ingredients which might have some potential side effects on your body.