Erectile dysfunction (also known as ED) is a problem of the 21th century, which deprives millions of men of the quality sexual life. According to the official data, over 30 mln of Americans have to handle this unpleasant problem. This condition shouldn’t be neglected, and proper treatment is required. A study, conducted by Kenia Pedrosa Nunes and other scientists from Georgia Health Sciences University in 2012 shows that approximately 30% of patients, who have hypertension, also suffer from ED. Many males are reluctant to take medicines, preferring various supplements. This article is about the most popular and efficient pills that work like Viagra and are sold over the counter.
DHEA
Dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural compound, which is found in a number of soy products and yams. It’s proven to be a safe and effectual component if taken in small doses. Specialists also prescribe it for eliminating Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. Moreover, athletes add it to their ration for the sake of increasing muscular strength.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) site mentions its possible use for combating ED. Besides, it can help women to boost their libido. However, you should be cautious when seeing advertisements, claiming about products with “natural” DHEA. Our organism is unable to generate its own DHEA irrespective of the consumption of any natural sources of it, so these claims are false. Only chemically synthetized supplement can work.
L-Arginine
L-arginine can be helpful in treating problems with erection by accelerating the potency of flow of blood to the man’s organ. But some adverse events, in particular nausea and cramping, can occur.
There are many experiments aimed at revealing the properties of L-arginine for dealing with ED. Experts say, that when combined with yohimbine, glutamate or other anti-ED remedies, L-arginine can work. Consequently, the real effect of this compound for treating ED (when using solely) is unclear. Despite being a powerful remedy for metabolic alkalosis, L-arginine isn’t officially recognized as a remedy for patients with ED. That’s why, further research has to be done for its FDA’s approval as an anti-ED preparation.
Yohimbine (Yohimbe)
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) considers yohimbe (aka yohimbine) a solution to problems with erection. Contrary to such statements, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine assures that the real effect of Pausinystalia johimbe is still unclear. Yohimbe is associated with a majority of adverse events, including elevated arterial pressure and high heart rate.
It’s status as an OTC supplement prevents yohimbe from being recognized as a completely safe preparation. What is more, the amount of its active ingredients is sometimes not consistent due to the absence of a common technique of assessing and extracting. Mayo Clinic warns that there are some herbs for ED, which are good for animals, but haven’t been checked on people. For instance, Epicedium, hasn’t been tested this way. However, yohimbine has been tested several times in this regard. According to Judith S. Jacobson and others (Lahey Clinic Northshore, 2002), its effectiveness was 50% among 18 men with ED.
Other Herbs
There are various supplements of herbal nature, which are used for treating ED, in particular:
- Citrulline (watermelon contains it).
- Ginseng (powerful tonic that can well affect potency)
- Horny goat weed (the plant contains icariin, which acts as Viagra, inhibiting enzyme PDE5 and improving blood flow).
- Mucuna Pruriens (Natthachai Duangnin et al. from Chiang Mai University say that this extract is helpful thanks to catechol, its derivatives and polyphenols).
- Maca (well-known Peruvian medicine, long used in Inca medicine).
Some supplements, believed to treat ED, include:
- Vitamin E
- Flavonoid rich foods
- Watermelon
- Zinc
Complex Supplements
Online pharmacies and supplement stores also sell a selection of ingredients.
One these products is Yagara. This effective natural treatment of erectile dysfunction based on 100% natural ingredients has almost no side effects. It contains a complex of Ayurvedic components that positively affect sexual function. Among them are Gokhru, Shilajit, Mucuna Pruriens, Akkal Kara, and Ashwagandha extract.
There are many advantages of this product: it provides stamina enhancement, libido increase, improvement of self-confidence and overall sexual performance. It can be taken by females with poor libido as well.
VigRX Plus is also a good remedy.
Potentially Harmful Side Effects
You should remember that possible side effects are common for such OTC supplements. Some compounds, which are not mentioned on a label, can do serious harm to your organism. In addition, OTC supplies may interact in a negative way with other medications for ED. It especially refers to drugs, containing sildenafil and nitrate medicines, taken for heart failure or diabetes.
Therefore, it may be unsafe to take it without consulting with a licensed healthcare specialist.
All in all, you should try to choose a reliable supplier of tablets, regardless of whether they are pharmaceuticals (Viagra, Cialis, etc.) or natural supplements.
