Caution: There is a higher rate of heart disease in men who have problems with maintaining an erection. All men with ED -- particularly older men who are more likely to have physical causes as opposed to psychological causes -- need a medical evaluation, detailed cardiac assessment, blood pressure measurement, lipid profile and blood sugar tests, as well as lifestyle advice regarding weight management, diet improvement, smoking cessation, reduction of alcohol use, sleep quality improvement, and exercise. See diet for suggestions.
If you have erectile dysfunction, make sure to have a full medical evaluation before starting therapy, whether with an herbal product or a drug. Some herbs are very potent and have a tendency to accelerate heart rate or increase blood pressure which may not be well tolerated by those who have cardiac or cardiovascular problems. Even though herbs are safer than prescription medications, they do have side effects in high doses.
Passion Rx -- Medical Doctor
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all natural performance enhancer provides results that are most often noticed between the second and fifth days. Results continue to improve
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Dr. Sahelian and his
research staff have tested various doses and extracts of dozens of herbs
from a number or raw material suppliers to determine the ideal dosage
and combination for optimal aphrodisiac properties with the fewest side
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Find out more details about Passion Rx, and to buy sex herbs such
as Tribulus, Muira Puama, Tongkat Ali, and Horny Goat weed
The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include
ashwagandha
herb, catuaba herb, cnidium, herba cistanches, horny goat weed
herb,
maca herb, muira puama,
Passion flower, Tongkat Ali (Eurygold and
LJ100),
Tribulus
terrestris extract and
Yohimbe herb. A Passion Rx version without
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I am not convinced that l arginine, by itself, is an effective
treatment for erectile dysfunction.
For the treatment of ED, if you were to personally
choose, take, and alternate between only two of the following three
herbs, catuaba, horny goat weed, and tribulus terrestris, which two
would they be and why? Or, which two of the above three herbs work
better for ED?
Different people react differently to these herbs and combinations.
I prefer using a formula that has several plant extracts. One may also
adapt to a single herb if used too often and it is a good idea to
alternate their use.
Preliminary observations on the use of
propionyl-L-carnitine in combination with sildenafil in patients with erectile
dysfunction and diabetes.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2004.
Patients with medically
documented erectile dysfunction of organic or mixed etiology and diabetes (type
1 and 2) were randomised to receive oral propionyl-L-carnitine (2 g/day) plus
sildenafil (50 mg twice weekly) (20 patients, Group 1) or sildenafil alone (20
patients, Group 2), in a double-blind, fixed-dose study. All patients had been
previously treated unsuccessfully with a minimum of eight administrations of
sildenafil. Salvage therapy with propionyl-L-carnitine
plus sildenafil was more effective in erectile dysfunction than sildenafil in the treatment of erectile
dysfunction in patients with diabetes refractory to sildenafil monotherapy.
Diet and weight loss
Exercise and weight loss may
improve sexual function in obese men.
We know that eating a healthy diet that's loaded with
fruits and veggies, fish, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a
normal weight reduces one's risk for heart attack and stroke. Research
shows that these same lifestyle changes are effective in improving ED.
Understanding the causes
Erectile dysfunction can be classified simply under two headings.
Psychological: that is, mental; or Organic: that is, due to some form of
physical or medical problem. Organic ED becomes more common as men get older.
Psychological causes are more likely in those below the age of 30.
Psychological causes
The causes
of psychological erectile dysfunction are numerous, and it is difficult to list them all,
but most often this condition is related to depression, performance anxiety, marital stress
or relationship problems, marital boredom, life crisis, financial difficulties, religious repression, or
some type of mental illness. Improving ED in these cases may
require addressing the underlying causes.
Organic causes
There are four major causes of organic erectile dysfunction:
Vascular, Neural, Hormonal, and Drug-induced. The cause of ED determines the treatment approach. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and tobacco
abuse are the three most common causes in men older than 50 years of
age.
Vascular causes involving poor blood flow
Alterations in the flow of blood to and from the penis
are thought to be a common cause. For instance, medical
conditions such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol,
hypertension, or diabetes reduce blood flow to the penis and genital organs thus leading
to difficulty with erection or genital swelling. Erectile dysfunction
could be an early indication of oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction. Patients with cardiovascular disease and patients with
diabetes represent the largest group of patients with
ED. Lowering cholesterol through diet,
supplements, or medicines improves this condition.
Metabolic syndrome can increase
inflammatory markers in blood and negatively influence endothelial
function resulting in poor vasodilation and a higher incidence of erectile
dysfunction.
Additional factors that can impede blood flow include penile injury
and surgery in the pelvic and abdominal area.
Heavy smoking is an important risk factor for ED in men and quitting
smoking, over time, improves this condition.
Stopping cigarette smoking leads to improved penile tumescence and rigidity.
Chronic periodontitis is characterized with inflammation of the gingival
tissues, which causes endothelial dysfunction in different organs. There
seems to be an association of chronic periodontitis with ED.
Neural causes
Nerve damage from disorders such as multiple
sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, diabetes, and stroke affect the brains ability to respond
to sexual stimulation and cause erectile dysfunction. In women, abdominal or pelvic operations can occasionally lead to
nerve damage. ED is common in men undergoing surgical treatment for
prostate enlargement or cancer.
Hormonal causes
Low levels of androgens, such as
testosterone, are sometimes a component of erectile dysfunction. Testosterone levels decline about 1 percent each year in men, which may
contribute to erectile dysfunction with aging. Testosterone also declines with age in women
leading to a decrease in female libido.
Replacement of androgens can sometimes be helpful in those with age related
erectile dysfunction.
Testosterone is available by prescription only. An over the counter hormones, such as DHEA, converts into testosterone and thus
has a positive influence on erectile dysfunction. Pregnenolone is another over the counter hormone that may increase testosterone
levels and thus improve erectile dysfunction. Many herbal
aphrodisiacs also have a positive influence on erectile dysfunction. Routine
hormone blood studies for erectile dysfunction evaluation are not needed
during the initial evaluation but perhaps later if treatment modalities
are not successful. Prominent diseases of the endocrine system, such as
diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, and hyperprolactinemia, may cause
erectile dysfunction. Sometimes erectile dysfunction treatment with
hormones such as DHEA
or testosterone can be effective.
Drug or Medication-induced ED is quite common, even
some herbs and supplements can be a cause
Drugs that interfere with erectile function
include antihistamines used for allergy treatment, some anti-hypertensives used
for high blood pressure, SSRIs (like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and others), sedatives
(such as Zanax, Valium, prescription sleeping pills, and others),
narcotic pain medications such as codeine and morphine, and beta-blockers. SSRIs - treatment for depression - cause
ED mostly due to their effect on serotonin
metabolism. Serotonin has an inhibitory effect on erectile function and
sexuality. Beta blockers such as propranolol, atenolol, and others, are
some of the most common medications that cause erectile dysfunction. DHT
blockers such as Avodart and Proscar, Propecia, are also known to cause
ED. The generic names are dutasteride and finasteride.
Surprisingly, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen
also cause erectile dysfunction. Regardless of the reason for taking them,
painkillers classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
apparently increase the likelihood that middle-aged and elderly men will
develop erection difficulties.
I am a sufferer of ED caused from Propecia drug. I live in Cyprus, many young men can reach finasteride from local pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. I'm 30 years old and had a very good sexual life strong erections and good sex drive all my life until I took Propecia for two months. My prolactin level increased from normal ranges 3-15 to 35. MRI showed no pituitary tumor.
Natural herbs and
supplements as cause
Certain dietary supplements, such as 5-HTP that converts into serotonin, and the
herb kava, can, if used frequently, reduce sex drive, urge, and sensation.
Medical diseases and metabolic disorder
Certain medical conditions cause erectile dysfunction or reduce libido,
performance, or enjoyment. These include hypertension, diabetes, high
cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, obesity, peripheral vascular disease, neurologic disorders, and insomnia.
In diabetic men with ED, the severity of their sexual
performance problem increases as control of blood sugar levels worsens.
Sitting on a bicycle too long. Men
who log several thousand miles a year on their mountain bikes suffer scrotal
damage that could reduce their fertility or cause erectile dysfunction.
Have you heard of the metabolic syndrome or Syndrome X? Symptoms of metabolic syndrome include a large waistline, high
blood pressure, raised insulin levels, excess body weight and abnormal
cholesterol levels. If someone has three or more symptoms they have the
syndrome and a higher risk of suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Patients
with metabolic syndrome have an increased prevalence of erectile
dysfunction.
Insomnia is a common cause.
Cardiac Patients and heart disease
Erectile dysfunction is common in
cardiac patients and shares the same risk factors - smoking, hypertension,
hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. Sexual activity is not unduly stressful to
the heart and, providing patients are properly assessed using established
guidelines, sexual intercourse can be enjoyed without increased risk. ED in asymptomatic patients may be a marker of silent vascular disease
or increased vascular risk factors and should alert the physician to the need
for cardiac risk screening.
Physical
fitness positively influences sexual desire and performance.
Moderate exercise may help boost sexual function in men with heart
failure.
Diabetes
Diabetic men are
much likely to develop ED as
non-diabetic men. The cause is multifactorial, but most commonly reflects
endothelial dysfunction and autonomic neuropathy. Diabetes and vascular disease
may be a marker for silent occlusive
arterial disease. Treatment is effective in the majority and all options should
be considered, beginning with the much preferred oral phosphodiesterase type 5
inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil).
Review of Cialis, Levitra, Viagra and erectile dysfunction pills
Viagra (sildenafil), approved by the FDA in 1998, has been the most popular
medicine for the treatment of ED. Viagra works very well in dilating
blood vessels in the genital region leading to an erection or increased blood flow to the
vaginal tissues, however it does little to directly increase libido or sexual arousal. The
effect of Viagra is often noticed within an hour after taking a pill of 50 or 100 mg, and
ease of erection may last up to 12 hours. Side effects of Viagra include headache,
flushes, nasal congestion or runny nose, malaise, nausea, changes in blood pressure,
irregular heart beats, visual disturbances including rare cases of blindness, and chest
pain. Viagra may cause stickiness of blood platelets.
Trimetazidine, a drug that prevents heart-related chest pain, is a better choice
than "nitrate" drugs, such as Nitro-DUR and Isordil, for men with heart disease
who are taking Viagra (sildenafil) for
erectile dysfunction treatment. There have been concerns about
dangerously low blood pressure when Viagra is combined with nitrates, the
authors explain, yet many men with heart disease are currently seeking
treatment for erectile dysfunction.
I personally find natural sex boosters quite effective and preferable
to pharmaceutical erectile dysfunction drugs.
Drugs to treat erectile dysfunction need stronger warnings on their packaging about the risk of blindness, U.S. consumer group Public Citizen said in 2005, in a petition filed with health regulators. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should "immediately add a black box warning regarding the risks of drug-induced blindness for the three phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors that are prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction," Public Citizen's Health Research Group wrote. Pfizer Inc.'s pulmonary hypertension drug Revatio, which has the same active ingredient as its impotence drug Viagra, should also carry a similar black box warning. Earlier drugmakers agreed to put information on their impotence drug labels about the possible vision loss, called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Viagra, Cialis, sold by Eli Lily & Co. and Icos Corp., and Levitra, sold by GlaxoSmithKline , Bayer AG and Schering-Plough Corp., now carry the new labels, which say the condition "has been reported rarely."
Research studies
Natural treatment emails
Q. What is a common symptom
of erectile dysfunction? What erectile dysfunction solution do you recommend?
A. Basically, the inability to have an erection strong
enough to penetrate the vagina and sustain intercourse. There are varied degrees
of erectile dysfunction. An erectile dysfunction cure can be achieved through
medication such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis, or an herbal approach is a great
alternative.
Q. Is there any supplement that will benefit a male
with erectile dysfunction after having a heart
attack and quad bypass surgery. Since my heart attack and surgery I have had a
problems and it is so frustrating. Sexless in Oregon.
A. Most of the sex herbs can stimulate heart tissue and
are not indicated for those with heart disease. Eating a healthy diet can
improve cardiovascular function. Eating more fish, perhaps fish oil capsules,
and maybe Prostate Power Rx one capsule a few times a week. As a rule, those
with heart disease should be cautious about using herbs that have a cardiac
stimulating nature, and most sexual enhancement herbs do have such stimulation
potential.
Q. Does
alcohol make erectile
dysfunction disorder worse?
A. Heavy alcohol use can cause ED.
Alcohol is an anesthetic and has hormonal affects.
In a study they mentioned that grape seed extract in similar
dosage was found to have the same effect as Pycnogenol for less money as a
natural treatment for erectile dysfunction. That got me to wondering about other
pine bark extracts and what the comparison would be to those three items, taking
into account whatever it is in Pycnogenol coupled with L-arginine that caused
the high rate of success.
There are not enough such studies regarding pine bark extract,
grape seed extract or other similar compounds to know which are effective as
natural erectile dysfunction treatments.
In general are there any herbs that one would be taking that could
result in erectile disfunction?
Kava herb is one
example, and 5HTP nutrient is another.