Many herbal supplements have proven scientific effects when it comes to increasing or enhancing male sexual response and performance. So called "Natural Viagra" can consist of many herbal ingredients, including, Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, Horny Goat Weed, Saw Palmetto, L-Arginine, Damiana, Tongkat Ali, Maca, and Yohimbe.
Some of these male aphrodisiacs have been found more effective than others, and some may have more or less side effects than traditional prescription pills for ED or impotence. This overview looks at the best herbal alternatives to Viagra and Cialis.
Natural Viagra For Men
Aphrodisiacs have traditionally been known as substances that increase sexual desire, especially for men. Many of these supplements have focused on impotence, or erectile dysfunction. According to WebMD, there are only four FDA-approved drugs to treat ED in men -- Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn, and Viagra.
All of these drugs act in a similar fashion. They all initiate or prolong erections by increasing nitric oxide concentrations in the blood, which causes vasodilation in the smooth muscle of the penis. Viagra and these other drugs also have many of the same side effects, like heartburn, headache, priapism, chest pain, and fainting. Many men would like to increase sexual performance without these undesirable side effects.
Natural ED Enhancers
Some men turn to natural remedies for erectile dysfunction. Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D. is a noted expert in natural supplements. He is amazed that Western Medicine has essentially ignored many of these effective herbal means to improve sexual health. He says, "While the media focuses on Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, dozens of potent herbs from Africa, China, India, and South America are ignored, and they work equally well in men and women."
Some of these natural supplements work in almost the same way as traditional pills, by altering the levels of nitric oxide in the penis, which dilates penile blood vessels. However, these natural substances seem to have less severe side effects. L-Arginine and Horny Goat Weed have both been proven to improve erection quality in men. A 2003 study in The Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy found that L-Arginine helped those afflicted with ED. Italian researchers found in 2008 that a chemical in Horny Goat Weed, icariin, was as effective as Viagra for erectile dysfunction.
Natural Male Enhancement Pills
There are other ways that supplements might improve sexual health. Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, Maca, and Yohimbe all have been found to improve erections. This effect is achieved through the various vasodilation qualities of the individual supplements. ArginMax is an OTC supplement that contains Ginseng, Ginkgo, and L-Arginine. ArginMax was found to improve sexual satisfaction by 75% in a pilot study published on their site.
Some natural sex boosters achieve their goal through hormonal changes. Saw Palmetto can relieve prostate symptoms caused by testosterone conversion in the gland. Improved prostate health can often lead to better sex lives for men. Also, Damiana and Tongkat Ali have both been shown to boost testosterone levels in men, which can lead to stronger erections and more satisfying orgasms.
While many people experience fewer side effects using natural alternatives instead of pills, there are still potential risks, side effects, or drug interactions. As with any supplement, please check with you doctor before you start a new regimen.
Sources
Mayo Clinic, "Erectile dysfunction herbs: A natural treatment for ED?" (Accessed February 15, 2011).
Mario Dell’Agli, Germana V. Galli, Esther Dal Cero, Federica Belluti, Riccardo Matera, Elisa Zironi, Giampiero Pagliuca and Enrica Bosisio. Potent Inhibition of Human Phosphodiesterase-5 by Icariin Derivatives. J. Nat. Prod., 2008, 71 (9), pp 1513–1517. (Accessed February 15, 2011).
WebMD, "Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction" (Accessed February 15, 2011).
WebMD, "Erectile Dysfunction: Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn, and Viagra to Treat ED" (Accessed February 15, 2011).
Mayo Clinic, "Is 'herbal viagra' safe?" (Accessed February 15, 2011).
Ray Sahelian, M.D., "Sexual Enhancers for men and women that work naturally to enhance overall pleasure and stamina" (Accessed February 15, 2011).
The University of Maryland Medical Center, "Sexual dysfunction" (Accessed February 15, 2011).
Mayo Clinic, "Do natural aphrodisiacs actually work?" (Accessed February 15, 2011).
Brian Downing - Graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of Mount St Joseph with a Bachelor's Degree in Socio-Psychology. Subsequently co-authored an ...
