10 Natural Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
March 18, 2021
4 mins
Erectile dysfunction is more common than you’d think. It’s estimated that one in every 10 men will experience erectile dysfunction within their lifetime.
The ability to sustain and get an erection has a greater impact on people's lives besides the mere physiology of “getting hard”. The effects of ED extend into the psychology and social pressures of men and can lead to additional issues.
Relationship tension, social pressures, decreased self esteem, are just some of examples of the issues that erectile dysfunction can cause.
Fortunately, erectile dysfunction is well understood by health experts and effective treatments have been developed.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 10 natural treatments for erectile dysfunction to try on their own or in conjunction with medication.
Natural Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction
Today, the medical community and public have been exploring more natural solutions to conditions such as ED.
This more conservative approach to prescribing medications encourages a more holistic treatment plan, as many ailments can be treated through natural lifestyle alterations.
Below is a look at seven natural ways that may help you overcome erectile dysfunction.
Get active
With the increasing advancement of technology and automation, many people have begun to live a sedentary lifestyle. Both leisurely activities and occupations have transitioned from being physical to sedentary.
These sedentary trends have a large impact on the overall wellbeing of people. But, reintroducing physical activity into your life can be advantageous to your health.
The CDC recommends getting 150 minutes of physical activity a week. While setting aside two and a half hours to exercise may seem like a daunting task, if broken up throughout the week it is equivalent to roughly 30 minutes of activity a day.
A systematic review found that increasing physical activity for six months was linked to decreased erectile problems.
Exercise – especially aerobic exercise – improves circulatory health, which is a vital component of getting and sustaining an erection.
Improving your cardiovascular health through regular exercise can decrease erectile dysfunction caused by poor circulation. Additionally, losing body fat and maintaining a healthier body weight can also make getting hard easier.
Eat a healthier diet
When people are presented with a situation that requires lifestyle changes to become healthier, one of their first inclinations is to diet. Participating in fad diets – while effective in losing weight quickly – is not the most effective long-term solution when adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Choosing a diet that is sustainable and one that gets you all your adequate nutrition is a much better approach.
If you have taken the initiative to start exercising more, your body will need extra nutritional support. Exercise requires you to consume even more nutrition through the food that you eat than you might need to if you weren’t being active.
With adequate nutrition and exercise, you’re able to increase the effectiveness of your lifestyle modifications.
The main component of finding a sustainable diet is ensuring you are getting your daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals.
For example, vitamin D deficiencies have been linked with erectile dysfunction. If you are trying to lose weight through a diet to decrease your ED symptoms and are depriving your body of vital nutrients like vitamin D, you could be back to square one.
Maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a health weight becomes a significant factor to alleviate the symptoms of ED.
Studies suggest that excess body weight or obesity can contribute to various underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, all of which are linked to ED.
By sustaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise improves blood flow, hormone levels, and overall vascular health. These are all studies that can potentially alleviate symptoms of ED.
Take herbal supplements
Some herbal supplements have been studied and may show potential benefits for improving erectile function, while others lack scientific evidence to support their use.
Here are some herbal supplements that have been studied for their potential effects on ED:
Panax ginseng: Also known as Korean red ginseng, this herb may help increase nitric oxide levels, which can improve blood flow to the penis.
L-arginine: L-arginine is an amino acid that the body converts into nitric oxide, a substance that helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow.
Horny goat weed (epimedium): This herb has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for treating ED. Some studies suggest that horny goat weed may have a vasodilatory effect, which could potentially improve blood flow to the penis.
Yohimbe: This herb works by increasing blood flow and stimulating the nervous system. However, yohimbe can cause side effects such as increased heart rate, anxiety, and high blood pressure, and its safety and effectiveness for ED are uncertain.
Tribulus terrestris: This herb can help increase testosterone levels and improve erectile function.
It's important to note that while some herbal supplements may show promise for improving erectile function, they are not regulated by the FDA in the same way as prescription medications.
Consider psychotherapy
Through psychotherapy, men can address issues such as performance anxiety, stress, depression, relationship problems, past trauma, or low self-esteem, all of which can contribute to ED.
Therapists use various techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapy, psychoeducation, and relationship counseling to help individuals understand and cope with these psychological factors.
By addressing and resolving these underlying issues, psychotherapy can help patients develop healthier attitudes and beliefs about sex, improve communication and intimacy in relationships, reduce anxiety and stress, and ultimately improve erectile function.
Additionally, psychotherapy can complement other treatments for ED – such as medication or lifestyle changes – by providing men with the tools and support they need to manage the psychological aspects of their condition.
Overall, psychotherapy offers a holistic approach to treating ED by addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of the condition.
Try sex therapy
Sex therapy can be a valuable approach to addressing erectile dysfunction by focusing specifically on the sexual aspects of the condition.
Sex therapy involves working with a trained therapist who specializes in sexual health to address both physical and psychological factors contributing to ED.
In sex therapy, individuals can explore their sexual concerns, desires, and experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
Therapists use various techniques, including communication exercises, sensate focus exercises, and education about sexual anatomy and response, to help men understand and overcome challenges related to ED.
Sex therapy also addresses relationship dynamics and intimacy issues that may impact sexual function. Couples may participate in therapy together to improve communication, enhance intimacy, and explore new ways of connecting sexually.
Overall, sex therapy provides a specialized and focused approach to addressing ED, helping individuals and couples develop the skills, confidence, and understanding needed to achieve fulfilling sexual experiences.
Quit smoking
Most people have some sort of vice. Whether that’s eating junk food, binging TV shows, or smoking. Smoking, however, has detrimental effects on many aspects of your health. This includes your circulatory and respiratory system.
The effects that smoking has on your circulatory system can also impact your ability to attain and sustain an erection. Smoking can lead to what is known as atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the buildup of plaque within the arteries causes them to narrow and harden, therefore decreasing circulatory efficiency.
During an erection, blood is delivered to the penis through arteries. When the circulatory system is operating sub optimally it can cause what is known as vascular erectile dysfunction.
Essentially vascular erectile dysfunction is the limitation of blood flow to the penis. Vascular disease is not unique to the penis as it can affect nearly every organ within your body.
Quitting your habit is one of the best things you can do for your vascular health and may be helpful in overcoming ED.
Drink less alcohol
An occasional drink is nothing to worry about, but excessive drinking could make getting hard difficult.
Drinking can impact your ability to gain an erection. This is especially the case in those that have a dependence on alcohol.
When you drink, alcohol is quickly absorbed and many feel the tipsy inducing effects within the hour. It’s thought that alcohol consumption can lead to ED through two different ways.
The first is that alcohol in some capacity interferes with the brain's signaling pathway to attain an erection. The other proposed way that alcohol induced ED is that the dehydrating effects of alcohol are to blame for impotence.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is an important process that you undergo every night. It plays a key role in maintaining a proper hormone balance.
Some forms of erectile dysfunction are caused by hormonal imbalance. Getting enough sleep can give your body the best shot at maintaining a healthy hormone balance to decrease your chances of ED.
If you have insomnia or trouble sleeping Rex MD can help.
Rex MD offers a variety of prescription sleep medications that can help you enjoy quality, consistent sleep.
Manage your stress
Stress is an inherent part of life, and while typically short lived, it can have detrimental effects on your health if unchecked. Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your health due to the release of cortisol.
Cortisol is a hormonal signal that tells your body to immediately decrease unessential bodily function and divert energy to vital organs like the heart, lungs, and muscles.
When in a constant stressed state, the body continually diverts its attention to these organs and decreases functions like digestion and other non-immediate essential functions.
Chronic stress and its associated elevated cortisol levels has shown a correlation with erectile dysfunction. If you have been feeling stressed, finding an effective means of managing your stress could allow you to treat ED associated with stress or anxiety.
Other Alternative Treatment Options for ED
Shockwave Therapy
Aside from lifestyle changes and medications, shockwave therapy – though not FDA-approved as a primary treatment for ED – is gaining recognition.
Studies indicate that it can enhance the effectiveness of PDE5 inhibitors by improving blood flow, accelerating tissue repair, and promoting cell growth through pulses sent throughout the body. This could potentially lead to stronger erections.
Acupuncture
While getting pricked with a needle may not seem natural, acupuncture is considered a holistic and natural treatment method.
Like many holistic medical treatments, acupuncture for treating erectile dysfunction is not evidence based. This means that the method is not traditionally backed by science and is not a proven form of treatment.
While it may sound a little hard to believe, multiple studies have shown that participants reported that the acupuncture treatment was helpful.
Ultimately, acupuncture as a treatment option needs more randomized clinical trials to determine its effectiveness. Until then, acupuncture for the treatment of ED remains an unproven and unvalidated possible treatment at best.
Like any other treatment, there may be some potential risks or side effects from acupuncture. While rare, these include:
Bruising
Infection
Pain where the needle was inserted
Nausea
Dizziness
Consult your healthcare provider before trying acupuncture, and be sure to find a licensed acupuncturist if you do try it.
How Rex MD Can Help
While there are many lifestyle modifications and choices you could make to improve your ED, sometimes medical intervention can be the most effective choice.
ED medications are well studied and millions of people worldwide use them as an effective means of attaining an erection. Viagra® and Cialis® are a few of these medications available.
If you find yourself having difficulty getting an erection during those intimate moments, Rex MD has got you covered.
Just answer a few questions about your needs and your medical history, and a licensed clinician may prescribe an ED treatment suitable for you. Get started today.
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