What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile Dysfunction (formerly known as impotency) is defined as an inability to achieve or maintain an erection for a long enough period of time for sexual intercourse to take place; in some cases it may mean having a problem getting aroused in the first place or losing the erection during intercourse. Also called Sexual Dysfunction (SD), this condition usually affects men over the age of 40. It can be a one-off incident that may or may not reoccur, but in some cases it is chronic.
Causes
The cause can be physical, psychological, and emotional. Physical diseases such as diabetes can lead to ED. Other causes include a history of sexually transmitted disease, use of certain drugs and medication, alcohol, cigarettes.
Complementary Approach
The following information does not constitute a prescription or recommended dose – studies have been conducted using the dosages stated and are included for your information only.
Diet
Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. Be sure to include in your diet lots of bee pollen, pumpkin seeds, and royal jelly.
Don’t eat processed, fried, fatty, or junk foods.
Nutrients
The nutrients mentioned here are often recommended by healthcare practitioners.
DHEA: Low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone have been found in men who have ED (1). Take 50 mg 4 times a day.
Vitamin E: Increases circulation. Take 200 IU daily and slowly increase the dose to 400 IU, and then again to 1,000 IU.
Zinc: Important in reproductive growth and prostate gland function. Take 80 mg a day in lozenge form. If taking other supplements, check that you do not exceed 100 mg daily of zinc.
Herbs
Yohimbe (2,3,4): This herb must only be used under the instruction of a qualified practitioner. Amounts of yohimbe considered safe in the treatment of ED: Take 15-30 mg daily. Or in tincture form take 5-10 drops per day. Do not take if you have kidney disease or a peptic ulcer.
Ginkgo biloba: Increases arterial blood flow, which may improve erectile function (5). In the referenced study, the men took 200 mg per day (6).
The herbs mentioned here have historically been considered beneficial in the treatment of various conditions including ED. Therefore, these, and previously mentioned herbs are often recommended by healthcare practitioners.
Damiana: Long hailed as an aphrodisiac and used to treat various sexual disorders. It is usually used in conjunction with other herbs, but be aware that it has a minor laxative effect. In capsule form, take 400-800 mg 3 times daily. To make a tea, add 1 gram of dried leaves to a cup of boiling water, steep for 10-15 minutes, and drink 3 cups per day. In tincture form, take 2-3 ml 3 times a day.
Asian ginseng: Find a standard of ginseng that contains 5-7% of ginsenosides and take between 100-200 mg per day, every day for 2-3 weeks. Follow this by having a rest period of 1-2 weeks before resuming. Not to be taken by people with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Further Information
Stress, smoking, and consuming alcohol should be avoided. Check any medication you might be taking as certain drugs can cause ED.
There is a way to test if your ED is due to a physical or a psychological problem as those with physical problem do not get erections, and those with psychological problems do (they may think they don’t because they usually get them during the night, when they are asleep). Night-time erections can be checked by sticking a row of postage stamps around the shaft of the penis before going to bed, if the strip of stamps is broken in the morning then you must have had an erection in the night.
Psychological issues, such as repressed anger or a fear of intimacy can result in ED and should and can be treated by a trained counsellor.
(See our article Men’s Health Matters: Top 10 Health Risks for Men)
References
1. Reiter WJ, Pycha A, Schatzl G, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A prospective, double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study. Urology 1999;53:590–95.
2. Ernst E, Pittler MH. Yohimbine for erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Urol 1998;159:433–36.
3. Carey MP, Johnson BT. Effectiveness of yohimbine in the treatment of erectile disorder: Four meta-analytic integrations. Arch Sex Behav 1996;25:341.
4. Ernst E, Posadzki P, Lee MS. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction in older men and women: an overview of systematic reviews. Maturitas. 2011 Sep;70(1):37-41. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas. 2011.06.011. Epub 2011 Jul 22. PMID: 21782365.
5. Sohn M, Sikora R. Ginkgo biloba extract in the therapy of erectile dysfunction. J Sec Educ Ther 1991;17:53–61.
6. Cohen AJ, Bartlik B. Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. J Sex Marital Ther 1998;24:139–43.