IMPOTENCE
BENEFICIAL HERBS
- Potency wood, also known as Muira puama, can be used for erectile dysfunction or lack of libido.
- Gingko biloba is effective in treating erectile dysfunction due to lack of blood flow.
- Panax ginseng is a great fertility and virility aid
- Saw palmetto and/or schizandra may improve sexual performance.
Caution: Schizandra should be avoided by epileptics, those with high blood pressure or severe hypertension, and those with “high acidity” - Damiana is reputed to be a sexual organ tonic. It produces urethral irritation and can produce increased sensitivity to the penis. Take in tea form.
- Yohimbine bark from yohimbe is used for impotence. Yohimbine increases blood flow to erectile tissue. Because of the yohimbine content of yohimbe bark, the Food and Drug Administration FDA classifies yohimbe as an unsafe herb.
- Caution: Yohimbe can be toxic and should be avoided. Self-medication is strongly discouraged because of its side effects. Yohimbine from yohimbe bark can produce significant side effects even in moderate to small amounts, especially if taken over a long period of time.
- Other herbs that may help include American ginseng, and pygeum africanum
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Include in the diet pumpkin seeds.
- Follow a low fat, low cholesterol diet. Approximately half of men over age 50 with erection problems are known to suffer cholesterol deposits in their arteries, including the one that directly supplies to the penis.
- Eat lots of garlic, oats and beans for their cholesterol lowering effects.
- Eat more shellfish (especially oysters), liver, cheese, lean beef, whole grain cereals for their zinc. Zinc is essential for sperm formation and sexual function.
- Avoid alcohol particularly before sexual encounters
- Weight loss might be the key to improving problems with impotence
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION
A well balanced diet is a more natural source of nutrients and it is best to get as much as possible from food. If you are not eating a varied mixture of the main food groups or foods high in a certain nutrient needed for your health situation then make up the remaining through vitamin and mineral supplementation.
- Selenium 200-400 micrograms. Deficiency leads to reduced sperm count and has been linked to sterility in men and infertility in women.
- Vitamin C: 500 milligrams 4 times a day. Caution: Doses of vitamin C larger than 1,200 milligrams a day can produce diarrhea in some people.
- Vitamin E: 400 IU. If you are taking anticoagulants, you should not take vitamin E supplements
- Zinc: 15 milligrams. Caution: Do not exceed a total of 80 milligrams daily from all supplements. Taking over 80 milligrams of zinc daily can weaken the immune system
In some cases, herbal products can interact negatively with other medications. Such interactions can be dangerous. Herbal remedies are not regulated and their quality is not controlled. Moreover, while there is an abundant supply of information circulating about herbs, not much of it has been scientifically proven. Consult your physician. Informing your doctor and pharmacist of what herbal products you are using is just as important as letting them know what drugs you are taking. Your physician and the pharmacist on duty at your pharmacy can assist you in deciding which herbs
are safe.