Alternatives to Viagra: Natural Herbs for Erectile Dysfunction

Almost everyone has heard of the drug called Viagra, a well known treatment for erectile dysfunction. It has shown to be very effective, but it is not a cure and as with any drug there are risks and side effects. Some of them are common, like headache,stomach upset, diarrhea and dependency. With Viagra, there is also a possibility of congestion, blurred vision, dilution of blood vessels and even blood clotting. There are even more on the market today besides Viagra. Viagra could be dangerous to a man who takes nitrates for chest pain. There have also been reports of possible links to heart attack. Sometimes all that is needed is a healthier diet. Viagra does not work well with large meals or with the use of alcohol though there are others such as Cialis that supposedly don't have that particular problem. Sometimes because of medical conditions Viagra or Cialis is just not an option. Those with any sort of cancer, ulcer, or other bleeding disorder will not be able to use these drugs, but that does not mean they should not have a normal sex life. Erectile dysfunction medicines may not be in most peoples financial range either, costing around ten dollars per pill! In any case it is not a cure but only a quick fix.

This article is for those who might want to first, or alternatively try natural herbal treatments. Ginseng and carnitine have been helpful to some men. Ginko can help with blood flow, if that is the primary cause of erectile dysfunction as well as L-arginine. Yohimbe, comes from the bark of an African tree and is helpful when the ED is psychological, but can also be harmful to blood pressure. Chinese horny goat weed raises testosterone levels and has been used for centuries. Zinc can be harmful to the immune system if too much is taken, but can be very helpful for ED in the right dosages.

Even all of these natural remedies can have adverse effects and potential risks. Talk with your doctor before trying anything new. Some of these herbs can cause high blood pressure, low blood pressure, breathing problems, nausea, cramps, breathing problems and fast or irregular heartbeats. Another good reason to get a doctors recommendation is that the best treatment, herbal or not, will depend on the cause of the erectile dysfunction. There can be many contributing factors that can cause this problem such, drug and alcohol abuse or prescription drugs. The cause can also be psychological, neurological or hormonal. A common cause is vascular disease. Therefore, treating the main cause may take care of the ED altogether.

www.urologychannel.com/erectiledysfunction/diagnosis.shtml

www.mayoclinic.com/health/erectile-dysfunction-herbs/MC00064