Experiencing reproductive and sexual health problems? Here are herbal solutions for men.
Top Herbs for Enlarged Prostate
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, will affect more than half of all men in their lifetime and 90 percent of men over 85.
Saw Palmetto Berry
Saw palmetto berry extract, at a dose of 320 mg a day standardized for 85 percent-95 percent fatty acids and sterols, has been shown to be comparable to drugs for improving symptoms and for reducing the size of the enlarged prostate. But, while it is at least as effective, it is much safer and does not cause the sexual dysfunction that the drugs often do, in fact, it improves erectile dysfunction.
A just published review compared saw palmetto to drugs and put all the evidence together.1 In a head-to-head study with the α-blocker tamsulosin, saw palmetto was just as effective at reducing International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) and at improving urinary flow and prostate volume. For men with severe symptoms, it was better.2 A second comparison study also showed saw palmetto to be as good as tamsulosin.3
Since then, other studies have proven saw palmetto to be the equal of α-blockers and 5α-reductase inhibitors.4,5 Studies have also continued to show that, unlike the drugs, saw palmetto significantly improves erectile dysfunction.6
In real-world studies, saw palmetto is better tolerated than α-blockers and 5α-reductase inhibitors. Sixteen percent of men suffer adverse events on α-blockers and 14 percent on 5α-reductase inhibitors while only 1 percent of men on saw palmetto do.7
Nettle Root
Nettle root cuts nighttime visits to the bathroom by half.8 It improves urinary volume and flow.9 When men were given 120 mg of nettle root extract or placebo for six months in a double-blind study, 81 percent improved with nettle compared to 16 percent with placebo. IPSS scores dropped by eight points on the herb but by only 1.5 points on the placebo. What is really exciting about this study is that nettle root significantly shrunk the enlarged prostate.10
The combination of nettle root and saw palmetto works just as well as tamsulosin with fewer side effects.11 Two studies have also proven this combination to be as effective as, and safer than, finasteride.12
A systematic review and meta-analysis that included five studies found that nettle root significantly lowers IPSS scores, significantly increases urinary flow rate and significantly reduces the size of the prostate gland.13
Pygeum
Pygeum is safe and effective for mild BPH.14,15 A review of 18 studies found significant improvement with pygeum. Men on pygeum are twice as likely to have their symptoms improve.16
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil works.17,18 In a double-blind study, men with BPH were given placebo or 320 mg pumpkin seed oil or 320 mg saw palmetto or 320 mg of each for a year. IPSS scores improved significantly and equally fast in all three herb groups. Quality of Life scores also improved equally fast in all three herb groups. Urinary flow improved significantly in all three, but faster in the pumpkin seed oil group.19
Rye Pollen
Rye pollen has been proven in double-blind research.20,21 It benefits 85 percent of men. It improves urgency by 76.9 percent, nighttime urination by 56.8 percent and incomplete emptying by 66.2 percent.22 Double-blind research found subjective improvement in 78 percent of men on rye pollen.23 Try 63-126 mg two to three times a day.
Pine Bark
A study of men with early stage BPH found that emptying, frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak flow, straining and nighttime urinating all improved significantly more on pine bark extract than on the drugs dutasteride or finasteride. The need to wake up at night to urinate went down by 31 percent with pine bark, but by only 9 percent with drugs.24
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to attain or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual function. Fifty-two percent of men between 40 and 70 are affected by ED.
Ginseng
1,800 mg of Korean red ginseng improves ED in 60 percent of men versus 30 percent of men given the drug trazodone.
Ginseng significantly improves rigidity and width of the erection, as well as the ability to maintain an erection and patient satisfaction.25
A double-blind study found that 900 mg of powdered Korean red ginseng taken three times a day improves ED in 60 percent of men. Erection scores increased by 41.7 percent with ginseng compared to 6 percent with placebo. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores were significantly higher on ginseng than on placebo, with an improvement of 36.2 percent versus 10.4 percent.26
Another double-blind study found that Korean red ginseng significantly improves IIEF scores from 16.4 to 21 in men with mild to moderate ED. Erections improved in 66.6 percent of the men compared to none given placebo. Ginseng was significantly better for rigidity, penetration and maintenance.27
A systematic review and meta-analysis of seven controlled studies showed that Korean red ginseng significantly and safely improves ED whether the cause is physical or psychological.28
Ginkgo Biloba
A low dose of just 60 mg a day of ginkgo extract has been shown to improve blood flow and to resolve in ED in 50 percent of difficult to treat cases who had not responded to drug treatment.29
A double-blind study found that when men who had experienced some improvement on drugs were given 240 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract, all of them responded after six months. All of them had objective improvement in erectile function, including improved rigidity at both the tip and the base of the penis, as well as improvements in arterial flow rate. Perhaps even more impressively, of the 30 men who had experienced no success with medications, 19 responded to ginkgo.30
Saffron
A systematic review that included three controlled studies on ED found that saffron significantly improved erectile function, orgasmic function, overall satisfaction and satisfaction with intercourse.31
SSRI antidepressants commonly cause sexual dysfunction. Double-blind research shows that 15 mg of saffron extract taken twice a day by men on SSRI’s significantly improves ED, intercourse satisfaction and IIEF scores. Sixty percent of the men taking saffron achieved a normal erectile function score on the IIE5 versus 7 percent of those taking placebo.32
A just published systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses found that saffron is effective for treating ED both when caused by SSRI antidepressants and when not.33
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia)
Tongkat ali raises testosterone levels. A systematic review of the reproductive effects of tongkat ali included two of ED. They found that the herb improves erectile function, sexual intercourse attempts and sexual well-being.34
Pine Bark Extract
Pine bark extract enhances the production of nitric oxide, which is needed for blood vessels to dilate, which is just what you need for an erection. That’s why 120 mg a day of Pycnogenol pine bark extract significantly improves ED.35 You get even better results when you combine it with arginine, which also increases nitric oxide. Also, 120 mg of Pycnogenol combined with arginine restores normal erections in 92.5 percent of men.36
When 80 mg of Pycnogenol was combined with 2,800 mg of arginine in men with mild to moderate ED, the IIEF score jumped from 15.2 to 27.1 in the supplement group but from 15.1 to only 19 in the placebo group.37 Other studies have found similar results.38
More Herbal Help
Other promising ED herbs include muira puama, maca and oats.VR
References:
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Linda Woolven is a master herbalist, acupuncturist and solution-focused counsellor with a virtual practice in Toronto, ON, Canada. Woolven and Ted Snider are the authors of several books on natural health. You can see their books at www.thenaturalpathnewsletter.com. They are also the authors of the natural health newsletter The Natural Path. The Natural Path is a natural health newsletter specifically designed to help health food stores increase their sales by educating their customers. The Natural Path contains no advertising and never mentions a brand name. Retailers can provide The Natural Path Newsletter to their customers. For more information, contact Snider at [email protected] or (416) 782-8211.
