Alternative Treatments for Sexual Dysfunction

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) or low sex drive, you are not alone. ED is a common problem affecting approximately 30 million males in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These issues may not only have a physical impact on quality of life, but they may have emotional consequences as well. Currently, there are prescription medications that aid in sexual enhancement, such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors for men and hormones for women. Also, you may have heard that certain foods, such as raw oysters, honey, and chocolate are aphrodisiacs (i.e. they boost sexual desire), but what you might not know is that some complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) may help with sexual enhancement as well. The Natural Standard Research Collaboration website (www.naturalstandard.com) provides a table of these potential therapies (some are discussed below). However, these natural treatments have unclear or conflicting scientific evidence to support their use (evidence grade C), and you should consult a health care professional before starting any alternative medicine.

Arginine

Arginine is an amino acid found in high-protein foods like meats and nuts. In the body, it is made into nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels, thus decreasing blood pressure. Arginine is generally well tolerated, but may cause bloating, stomach upset, and rash. Arginine supplementation should be avoided in people who are taking blood pressure medications, nitrates, or diuretics; have asthma, a history of or risk for a heart attack, or breast cancer; or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Theoretically, arginine would benefit those who suffer from ED by helping the body make nitric oxide, which relaxes the smooth muscle of the penis (corpora cavernosa), causing an erection. However, according to Natural Standard, arginine has unclear or conflicting evidence to support its use in treating ED.

Coleus

Coleus is a newer herb introduced to the United States around the 1970s, but has been used in Asian medicine for a long time. The root extract (forskolin) has been used mainly for its ability to kick-start the production of cAMP. Some studies suggest that the root extract may cause relaxation of smooth muscle in the penis by working with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). More studies are needed to fully evaluate its safety in large patient populations, as well as for sexual enhancement use.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a fungus that grows in China, Nepal, and Tibet. It is normally used in adults at a dose of 3-9g daily for four to eight weeks, at which it is generally well tolerated. Cordyceps should be avoided in some cancers, as well as for those who have diabetes as it can lower blood sugar. It may interact with numerous medications, and your health care provider should be consulted before use. Some low-quality studies suggest that cordyceps may increase libido (sex drive), but evidence remains unclear or conflicting to support its use in treating sexual dysfunction.

Damiana

Damiana grows in subtropical areas of North and South America and Africa. It is traditionally used as an antitussive (anti-cough), diuretic, and an aphrodisiac. Damiana may cause diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, and hallucinations. Therefore, it should be used with caution in those individuals with psychiatric disorders. Studies havealso shown damiana to affect breast cancer cells and should be used with caution in people with a history of the disease. New animal studies support the use of one damiana species as a sexual stimulant; however, good scientific evidence to support its use in humans for sexual dysfunction is lacking.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

DHEA is a hormone in the body that is made into male and female sex hormones (estrogens and androgens), thus supplementation may possibly aid in sexual enhancement. However, the effects DHEA may have on libido and on ED are still unclear. Side effects of DHEA may include heart palpitations, acne, insulin resistance, and nausea.

Gingko

Gingko is one of the most commonly used herbs in the United States. It is normally well tolerated, but can cause bleeding. Therefore, caution should be taken when a patient is on anticoagulation therapy or with use before a surgical procedure. Gingko interacts with many conventional medications, such as anticonvulsants. Gingko has been shown to help with ED in human studies, but evidence is still conflicting.

Ginseng

Ginseng is widely used around the world for various ailments. There are two common types: American ginseng and Asian ginseng. It is well tolerated, but does interact with conventional therapies like anticoagulants and diabetes medications. Many studies have looked at ginseng's role in sexual enhancement, and as of right now, there is unclear or conflicting evidence to support its use.

Maca

Maca is a vegetable mainly obtained from the Peruvian Andes. It is used as a source of food for those native to the highlands. If not prepared correctly, maca may cause stomach upset. It has traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac, a stress reliever, and a fertility enhancer. Therefore, clinical trials have looked at the possible role maca may have in promoting the sexual desire of healthy men. However, clear evidence is currently lacking to support use for this indication.

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Yohimbe

Yohimbe bark extract is from the tree Pausinystalia yohimbe. Yohimbine hydrochloride is a prescription medication used in the U.S. for male impotence and unwanted sexual side effects of other medications like antidepressants. However, yohimbe bark extract only has a very tiny concentration of yohimbine and there is a lack of clinical research to support its use for the same indications.

Conclusion

These therapies might better the quality of life for people suffering from sexual dysfunction . Information on other alternative medications and modalities for sexual enhancement are available at the Natural Standard website (www.naturalstandard.com). Again, these therapies have unclear or conflicting scientific evidence to support their use. Your health care professional should be consulted before beginning any alternative therapy for sexual enhancement.

References

1. Natural Standard. www.naturalstandard.com. Accessed February 8, 2012.

2. National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/KUDiseases/pubs/ED/index.aspx. Accessed February 9, 2012.