Impotence Treatments

Most physicians suggest that impotence treatments should proceed from least to most invasive. Cutting back on drugs with harmful side effects should be considered first. If you think a particular drug is causing erection problems, contact your doctor and ask to try a different medication.

Psychotherapy and behavior modification in select patients is considered next, followed by oral or locally injected drugs, vacuum devices, and surgically implanted devices. In rare cases, surgery involving veins or arteries may be considered.

Impotence Psychotherapy Treatments

Experts often treat psychologically-based erectile dysfunction using techniques that decrease anxiety associated with intercourse. The patient's partner can help with the techniques, including gradual development of intimacy and stimulation. Such techniques can also relieve anxiety when treating erectile dysfunction from physical causes.

Impotence Drug Therapy Treatments

Herbal Ingredients for Overall Health & Help ED Conditions

There are multiple causes of impotence and low sex drive, ranging from mild (low sex drive, weak erections, lack of energy, slow and weak ejaculation) to severe (total inability to achieve erection and complete lack of sexual desire).

These causes can be:

• Cardiovascular (i.e. restricted blood flow, high blood pressure, heart disease, hypertension, and atherosclerosis)
• Renal or urological
• Nutritional (i.e. malnutrition, vitamin or mineral deficiency)
• Endocrine (i.e. low testosterone or high prolactin)
• Neurological
• Muscular & tissue-related
• Psychological (i.e. stress, anxiety, etc.

Increasing your health in these areas, you can often resolve sexual dysfunction issues. This is perhaps where natural herbal supplements provide the greatest benefit to a man's total sexual performance.  

Three Herbs That Work Like Viagra

If you are looking for herbal alternatives to Viagra, backed by research, we present a number of such herbs below.

Shilajit (Viagra effect)

The anti-stress and adjuvant effects of Shilajit have been evaluated in numerous Indian studies. Shilajit provides an anti-oxidant defense against several reactive oxygen types. Processed Shilajit provides complete protection to methacrylate against hydroxyl radical-induced polymerization, and acts as a reversible nitric oxide-captodative agent. These findings are consistent with therapeutic uses of Shilajit as an ayurvedic (rejuvenator) against oxidative stress and geriatric complaints of erectile dysfunction.

Horny Goat Weed (Viagra effect)

Horny goat weed has been used for over 2000 years as a sexual and reproductive tonic. It acts to increase erection ability, size, and fullness.

Horny goat weed contains a flavonoid called icariin. Icariin is a cGMP-specific PDE5 inhibitor like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, as demonstrated in a 1984 University of Peking study.

It also functions as an adaptogen by increasing levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine when they are low-promoting energy-but reduces cortisol levels when elevated (an anti-stress effect), which causes fatigue and depresses sex drive.

Finally, horny goat weed can restore low levels of both testosterone and thyroid hormone back to normal, improving sex drive. 

Allium Sativum - Garlic (Viagra effect)

Yes, good old garlic. In two different 1998 studies-one from the National University of Mexico and another from the Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy in Munich, Germany-garlic was shown to "activate nitric oxide synthase", or enhance the nervous system's ability to react to nitric oxide.

Also, there are multiple studies compiled by the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute demonstrating garlic’s aid in preventing and having curative effects on several medical conditions which often cause ED. These conditions include high blood pressure, heart disease, hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Two Herbs Shown Highly Effective at Treating ED

Mucuna Pruriens

Mucuna pruriens works as a prolactin inhibitor, a growth hormone stimulant, and to increase testosterone.

A US patent was filed in 2002 on the use of mucuna pruriens to stimulate the release of growth hormone in humans. High levels of l-dopa in the mucuna seed are converted to dopamine, which stimulates the release of growth hormone by the pituitary gland. L-dopa and dopamine are effective prolactin inhibitors.

Increased levels of prolactin are considered responsible for 70% of erection failure in men. In one study, ingestion of the seeds in 56 males improved erection, duration of coitus, and post-coital satisfaction after four weeks of treatment. It also promotes spermatogenic effects in men, improving sperm count and motility.

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus is a natural testosterone enhancer. It is also said to be an excellent circulatory system tonic, and can help build muscles and strength.

Clinical studies on the sexual activity-enhancing effect of tribulus have shown it to contain protodioscin, a saponin constituent, improving libido in men with impotence due to various causes, libido in women with menopausal symptoms, and sperm motility in infertile and subfertile men.

In another study involving 59 men, ages 22-67 and suffering from a range of sexual dysfunctions, an increase in sexual desire and fantasies, as well as sexual self-confidence, was reported in almost all patients. The subjective experience of pleasure, joy and satisfaction was reported in 80%, erection improved in over 75%, and the duration of intercourse before ejaculation was prolonged in 25%.

See reviews of Herbal Supplement Products.

Impotence Vacuum Device Treatments

Mechanical vacuum devices cause erection by creating a partial vacuum, drawing blood into the penis, engorging and expanding it. These devices have three components: a plastic cylinder into which the penis is placed, a pump which draws air out of the cylinder, and an elastic band, placed around the base of the penis to maintain erection after the cylinder is removed, and remains during intercourse to prevent blood from flowing back into the body (see figure 2).

One variation of the vacuum device involves a semi-rigid rubber sheath placed on the penis which remains after erection is attained, and during intercourse.

Impotence Surgery Treatments

Surgery involves one of three goals:

• to implant a device that causes the penis to become erect.
• to reconstruct arteries to increase blood flow to the penis.
• to block veins that allow blood to leak from penile tissue.

Implanted devices, known as prostheses, can restore erection in many men with ED. Problems with implants include mechanical breakdown and infection, although mechanical problems have been reduced through technological advances.

Malleable implants usually consist of paired rods inserted surgically into the corpora cavernosa. The user manually adjusts the position of the penis and, therefore, the rods. Adjustment does not affect the width or length of the penis.

Inflatable implants consist of paired cylinders surgically inserted into the penis and expanded using pressurized fluid (see figure 3). Tubes connect the cylinders to a fluid reservoir and pump, also surgically implanted. The patient inflates the cylinders by pressing the pump, located in the scrotum. Inflatable implants can expand the length and width of the penis. They also leave the penis in a more natural state when not inflated.

Surgery to repair arteries can reduce erectile dysfunction caused by obstructions that restrict blood flow. The best candidates for such surgery are young men with discrete artery blockage because of groin injury or fracture of the pelvis. The procedure is almost never successful in older men with widespread blockage.

Surgery to veins that allow blood to leave the penis usually involves a reverse procedure--intentional blockage. Blocking veins (ligation) can reduce blood leakage that diminishes penis rigidity during erection. However, experts have questioned the long-term effectiveness of this procedure, and it is rarely done.