From the peaks of the Andes to the very heart of central Africa, mother nature has peppered the globe with a host of natural remedies for erectile dysfunction.
But with so many to choose from – and with so much hearsay surrounding the topic – how do you know which ones really work?
If your head has been left spinning by tall tales, dubious anecdotes, and popular myths, then this article aims to set the record straight.
Maca
Maca (also known as Lepidium meyenii and Peruvian ginseng) is a “cultivated root belonging to the brassica family used in the Andean region for its supposed aphrodisiac properties.” In other words, it helps to put the motion in your ocean - though it’s still not clear exactly how it works.
How effective is Maca?
A study found that men affected by mild erectile dysfunction (ED) saw an improvement in their erections after being treated with maca. In a glorious trinity of sexual wellbeing, maca increased the men’s psychological, physical, and social satisfaction after twelve weeks of treatment.
How safe is Maca?
Although the side effects of Maca ingestion are "uncommon and mild", side-effects can include moodiness, cramps, gastritis, and insomnia.
L-citrulline
L-citrulline (also known as citrulline and citrulline malate) is a naturally-occurring amino acid that helps to improve blood flow to the penis. It is converted to L-arginine in the body, which is then used to create nitric oxide – an essential molecule needed to allow blood vessels to relax, allowing for a healthy erection.
How effective is L-citrulline?
Evidence shows L-citrulline can restore the erections of those with mild ED. In a trial consisting of 24 men, 50% of the men regained normal erectile function after taking L-citrulline.
How safe is L-citrulline?
Although one paper reports L-citrulline is “less effective than phosphodiesterase type-5 enzyme inhibitors” (like sildenafil and tadalafil), it concludes that “L-citrulline supplementation has been proved to be safe and psychologically well accepted by patients”.
Panax ginseng
If sildenafil and tadalafil are the trendy, fresh-faced poster-boys of male sexual enhancement, then Panax ginseng (also known as Korean ginseng or red ginseng) is the wise, grey-bearded grandfather.
Its supposed adaptogenic qualities have been used for 2000 years to boost everything from concentration to sexual stamina - and recent clinical studies are finding new evidence to support the latter.
How effective is Panax ginseng?
Panax ginseng has been found to increase penile rigidity, girth, and duration of erection in men with ED. Among its erection-enhancing qualities, it has also been shown to boost libido and satisfaction.
How safe is Panax ginseng?
In general, Panax ginseng "appears to be well tolerated.'' However, common adverse reactions can include headache, insomnia, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Caution is advised when using Panax ginseng in combination with certain pharmaceuticals such as warfarin, oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin, and phenelzine, so it's best to talk to your doctor before trying it out.
Propionyl-L-carnitine
Propionyl-L-carnitine (also known as Glycine Propionyl-L-Carnitine) is a naturally occurring amino acid found in the body. It’s thought to help treat erectile dysfunction by helping blood vessels to relax.
How effective is Propionyl-L-carnitine?
In summary - it’s something to consider for people with diabetes, where sildenafil doesn’t seem to have worked. One study discovered taking propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) in combination with sildenafil was more successful in treating patients with both ED and diabetes than sildenafil alone.
How safe is Propionyl-L-carnitine?
In the study mentioned above, only two patients reported mild gastric pain after taking propionyl-L-carnitine with sildenafil.
Yohimbe
Perhaps the most exotic-sounding addition to our list, yohimbe (also known as yohimbine) is an extract of the bark of the central African tree Pausinystalia yohimbe.
Given its natural and tropical origins, you may be tempted to over-romanticise this particular natural erectile dysfunction cure. However, its effectiveness as a treatment is relatively, ahem, anti-climactic.
How effective is Yohimbe?
Not very. Only a handful of men have claimed yohimbine had any significant impact on their erections. Among the men who reacted positively to yohimbe, only a fraction of them (5%) reported being completely satisfied with the results.
How safe is Yohimbe?
Again, not very. The reported side effects of over-the-counter preparations of yohimbe include gastrointestinal upset, anxiety, increased blood pressure, headache, agitation, rash, fast or irregular heart rate and frequent urination.
Horny goat weed
Another natural erectile dysfunction treatment that has its roots buried in ancient tradition is the aptly-named horny goat weed.
Horny goat weed (also known as barrenwort, yin yan huo, and Epimedium grandiflorum) hails from the Berberidaceae family of plants. Its aphrodisiac properties were discovered (and legendary name coined) after a Chinese goat herder noticed his goats became particularly randy after eating the plant.
It is believed that the active ingredient in horny goat weed is icariin, a flavanol glycoside. Icariin has been shown to increase the production of nitric oxide in the penis (a key molecule for stimulating erections) and inhibit PDE5 – the enzyme that causes an erection to subside.
How effective is horny goat weed?
Surprisingly, there are no published studies on the effectiveness of horny goat weed on humans. There are, on the other hand, studies highlighting its efficacy on rats. Icariin has been shown to effectively treat ED in aged, diabetic, and even castrated rats.
How safe is horny goat weed?
As of yet, there have been no long-term toxicity studies for horny goat weed (or icariin) in any animal species. Until more is known, consult your doctor before attempting to treat your ED with horny goat weed.
The science behind natural remedies for erectile dysfunction: the final word
Scientific studies that investigate the effectiveness of natural remedies for erectile dysfunction can be helpful when it comes to dispelling common myths about ED.
It is worth noting that although they provide useful results, many of the studies exploring the effects of natural ED remedies are conducted with only a small number of participants.
Larger, secondary studies (such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses) are also helpful when coming to conclusions about the efficacy of an ED treatment.
For example, one landmark study which reviewed 6659 men in total revealed that sildenafil was an effective treatment for ED. 78% of men reported improvements in their erections, and 57% were able to successfully have penetrative sex.
Studies with large sample sizes tend to give pretty accurate evidence - and this is important when it comes to choosing the right ED therapy for you.
The numan take
Some natural remedies for erectile dysfunction (ED), such as Panax ginseng and maca, have been shown to improve erectile function in men. On the other hand, others (such as yohimbe) have been found to be relatively ineffective. While some natural ED treatments are generally well-tolerated, others have potential side effects that you should be aware of before taking them. Therefore, it’s always worth speaking to your doctor about possible interactions with other medicines and side effects of natural supplements.
