Best 12 Herbal & Natural Erection Supplements
Millions of men across the globe succumb to symptoms of erectile dysfunction or ED, on a yearly basis. It’s estimated that erectile dysfunction will affect about 322 million men worldwide by 2025. Having said that, medical science has improved to the extent that such problems can be easily addressed with the help of medications and therapeutic treatments. However, some are of believe that some dietary supplements might also help in this regard which addresses the issue in a much more natural or herbal way. Let us dig deeper into this.
What are Supplements?
The purpose of a supplement is to “supplement” your overall diet, helping to bridge the gap between your usual dietary intake and nutrient needs. Supplements can be useful in situations when the requirement for certain nutrients is higher. This demand might be due to some medical condition or some deficiency syndrome diseases.
Supplements are taken in various forms such as a pill, gels, capsules, gummies, powders, drinks, or food. The most common examples of supplements are multivitamins, herbal supplements, probiotics, protein powders, and weight loss supplements.
What are Erection Supplements?
Some research supports that there are certain micronutrients like vitamin D, red ginseng, L-alanine, L-carnitine, and Tribulus Terrestris which can be quite helpful to treat mild to moderate symptoms of ED. In some cases, these might even improve the effectiveness of ED medicines like Viagra.
Best Supplements to Boost Your Erection
There are numerous natural and herbal supplements such as ginkgo biloba, saw palmetto, Yohimbe, etc. that are addressed as sexual enhancers, and a lot of men have already tried some of them to keep their symptoms of erectile dysfunction under control. Let us check the Natural and Herbal Supplements for ED.
Herbal Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction
Herbal supplements for erectile dysfunction are specifically made from botanicals or plants or herbs; to treat or keep the symptoms under control.
1. Ginkgo
Yet another potent vasodilator, this herb may help increase blood flow to the penis, which could improve sexual desire and counter ED. However, ginkgo should never be taken in combination with warfarin (Coumadin), which is a blood thinner, or in case anyone is having a bleeding disorder.
2. Ginseng
Ginseng, or Panax ginseng, is thought to promote the relaxation of the body’s smooth muscles and increase blood flow, helping produce an erection. Its primary side effect is insomnia, which increases ED risk, thus more research needs to be done to determine its overall effectiveness.
3. Yohimbine
For years, the bark from this African tree was a go-to supplement against the symptoms of ED. Interestingly, some clinical trials involving yohimbine have shown improvement for people who have sexual problems due to depression medicines. This herb is a traditional aphrodisiac for the treatment of ED. However, yohimbine may have some serious side effects, including anxiety, increased blood pressure, heart attack, and seizures.
4. Horny goat weed
Epimedium grandiflorum, also known as horny goat weed, is a traditional remedy for increasing fertility, but there is not enough evidence to support its use for ED problems.
5. Rhodiola Rosea
Also known as “golden root,” this plant is a relatively new herbal remedy in the U.S. for erectile dysfunction issues. It’s been used to boost endurance and sexual function in Russian folk medicine for decades.
6. Tribulus Terrestris
Tribulus Terrestris has long played a role in traditional medicines in India and China. It often features in male sexual health products and is supposedly helpful to boost erectile function, increase sexual behavior and possibly increase testosterone levels, although there are no measures to confirm this. It also appears to increase nitric oxide production and boost vasodilation. However, more evidence is needed to show how it works and how effective it is.
7. Saw palmetto or Serenoa repens
Saw palmetto or Serenoa repens is a tree that grows up to 10 feet tall with thorn-shaped leaves arranged like a fan. Its ripe fruit is used to make medicine. Some are of the opinion that saw palmetto might help increase testosterone levels, apart from improving prostate health, reducing inflammation, preventing hair loss, and enhancing urinary tract function.
Natural Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction
Natural supplements not only include supplements made from herbs but also ones made from other natural sources like dairy products, poultry products, food grains, fruits, vegetables, etc. Hence in addition to the above-mentioned supplements, there are some natural supplements that can be considered helpful for ED symptoms.
8. L-arginine
L-arginine is an amino acid that is a potent vasodilator. This essentially means that it can open up the blood vessels, allowing an increased blood flow to the penis. Hence technically this is supposed to offer penile erections. It is found in most of protein-rich foods, including fish, red meat, poultry, soy, whole grains, beans, and dairy products. But studies have had mixed reviews on it. Thus, it is still in need of some more research in order to confirm its safety and effectiveness.
9. Propionyl-L-carnitine
Some are of believe that taking propionyl-L-carnitine along with Viagra might work to improve erectile function better than taking Viagra alone. Animal products like meat, fish, poultry, and milk are its best natural sources. However, more research is needed to prove its efficacy. Its potential side effects include skin rash, nausea, diarrhea, and heartburn. Hence, taking propionyl-L-carnitine is not recommended for those with vascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or liver cirrhosis, among some other conditions.
10. Pomegranate
The juice of this fruit is known for being loaded with nutrients. It can also help arteries expand and remain supple, although there is no real proof establishing its connection to erectile dysfunction.
11. Vitamin B3 or Niacin
Vitamin B3 or niacin may improve erections by increasing penile blood flow. Niacin is naturally found in foods like turkey, avocado, and peanuts. However, too much of niacin can cause problems like uncomfortable flushing, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and arrhythmias.
12. Folic acid or Vitamin B9
Folic acid or vitamin B9 is linked to nitric oxide production and erectile response. Hence a possible correlation between folate deficiency and erectile deficiency is assumed; which gave rise to the opinion that taking folic acid may help in reducing ED symptoms. One may get folic acid from oranges, leafy green vegetables, bread and grains, cereals, pasta, rice, and beans, or by taking a B-complex supplement.
Risks of ED Supplements
None of the above-mentioned supplements has been approved by the FDA or even supported by any reliable scientific studies proving their efficiency in preventing, treating, or improving erectile dysfunction, although preliminary studies suggest that some may be helpful.
Being unregulated, these supplements may have many side effects or interfere with prescribed medications that are already been followed, or may even contain undisclosed ingredients, inappropriate doses of prescription drugs, or different doses of ingredients than the label suggests. All these factors somehow undermine the importance of such medications and supplements that one takes, post having a consultation with a healthcare professional.
Precautionary Measures for ED problems
Apart from following the right kind of treatments, the following precautionary measures also need to be taken care of, for the erectile dysfunction symptoms never to come back.
- Reduce stress
- Quit smoking or alcohol consumption
- Get rid of any substance abuse
- Eat healthy foods and maintain a regular healthy diet
- Include some physical exercise or activities in your daily routine
- Talk to authorized doctors and avoid self-diagnosis
- Most importantly, work through relationship issues with your partner.