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Erectile dysfunction is a common issue that affects millions of men worldwide, and while traditional treatments often focus on prescription medication, an increasing number of individuals are turning to holistic practices for relief in many cases. From acupuncture to yoga, these ancient techniques not only address the physical symptoms of ED but also promote overall well-being and balance in your life.
Embracing a holistic approach can be transformative, offering not just a way to alleviate erectile or general sexual dysfunction but also improving your mental health, enhancing intimacy, and fostering a stronger connection with your body.
We’ll explore the benefits of various holistic practices such as acupuncture, yoga, and other integrative therapies, revealing how they can play a crucial role in improving your sexual performance and supporting your journey toward greater vitality and self-confidence.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to sustain or maintain an erection long enough to have sexual intercourse. In some cases, the penis might not get firm enough to begin with, while in others, it gets firm but softens soon after.
Erectile dysfunction is not only a problem for the elderly. It happens to more people than you think. According to the National Institutes of Health, it affects 30 million men in the U.S. alone. No wonder we see so many commercials for herbs, supplements, and easy fixes.
Although common, erectile dysfunction shouldn’t be a normal part of aging, so you should always talk to a doctor if you have doubts. Simply put, there are many causes, and they’re not always as simple as stress at work.
How Vascular and Blood Pressure Issues Lead to ED
The connection between vascular issues and erectile dysfunction is widely known. It is believed that around 70 percent of ED cases are caused by cardiovascular diseases.
The reason for this is because the penis needs a healthy and unobstructed blood flow to be fully erect. A reduction in blood flow, even the smallest one, can potentially cause issues with erection. In this case, the condition is known as vascular insufficiency, caused by:
- smoking
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- cholesterol
- diabetes
High blood pressure, in particular, is a common culprit. However, since vascular diseases and blood pressure issues are not health conditions you can only treat with over-the-counter medication; you should talk to your doctor if you experience erectile dysfunction because of one of the two.
But you can improve your overall cardiovascular health, and that’s true through lifestyle changes, a healthy diet, dietary supplements, and other natural treatments and exercises we will explore.
Other Risk Factors that Effect Sexual Desire and Performance
While problems with blood flow can dominate in the list of risk factors for ED, other causes include low testosterone levels, which happens naturally as men age, or even psychological or psychosocial factors, like stress and anxiety in daily life, depression, or even simply issues with performance or self-image problems.
Natural Treatments ED
Natural remedies can help unless the cause of your erectile dysfunction is one of the abovementioned problems with cardiovascular health. In this case, you should seek medical help.
If, however, your ED comes from everyday stress, changes in lifestyle, or relationship problems, you can try different approaches. Natural remedies are out there, and you’ve probably heard of them. Things like herbs, grains, vegetables, and a flavonoid-rich diet are all known to help. Lifestyle changes, yoga, and other exercises are also a good start.
However, as with everything, you should be careful. If possible, consult with a doctor, especially if you don’t know the reason behind your erectile dysfunction.
Herbal Remedies like Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, Yohimbine, Horny goat weed
Herbal supplements or remedies are often the first place people start when treating erectile dysfunction.
And although they can be effective, they can also be dangerous. The first and most important point is that the FDA has not approved natural and herbal remedies.
They might be effective, but there are also side effects. Plus, extensive research and studies are pending, so approach these carefully.
For example, ginkgo biloba can increase blood flow to the penis, but more research is needed to prove this. Some state the herb does not affect health whatsoever, pointing out its side effects, such as constipation, palpitations, and stomach upset.
On the other hand, one study suggests that ginseng, another popular herb for erectile dysfunction, has very little effect. This herb, too, comes with heavy-duty side effects such as high heart rate, insomnia, headaches, and high or low blood pressure.
Flavonoid Rich Diet
According to Harvard Medical School, a flavonoid-rich diet can lower your risk of erectile dysfunction. Three main types of flavonoids that have the biggest effect on erectile function are flavones, anthocyanins, and flavanones, all of which can be found in:
- strawberries
- cherries
- blackberries
- blueberries
- grapes
- apples
- citrus fruit
- pears
It is not fully known how flavonoids help, but a daily diet rich in at least three portions of these fruits can reduce your risk of erectile dysfunction by 10 percent. It’s believed that the herb chemicals help make arteries more flexible, which, in turn, improves your blood flow. And, compared to other natural remedies for erectile dysfunction, there are no side effects from eating berries, which is great.
Grains and Vegetables
Apart from flavonoid-rich berries, apples, and pears, you should also try grains and vegetables for erectile dysfunction. Research shows that watermelon that contains L-citrulline can stimulate blood flow and thus help with erectile dysfunction. However, this research was done on animals, so take it with a grain of salt.
Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and dark leafy greens contain high folic acid levels. Men with sexual dysfunction typically have low levels of folic acid, so these foods can help increase those levels. However, further research is needed to prove that increasing folic acid levels could impact your ED.
Grains like oatmeal contain L-arginine, a naturally occurring amino acid, which could also be effective in treating erectile dysfunction. On top of being natural remedies for erectile dysfunction, you’ll be focused on getting a balanced diet in your life, improving your cardiovascular health at the same time.
Therapies and Exercises to Help with ED
Therapies and exercises can help reduce symptoms of erectile dysfunction. This might include pelvic floor exercises, yoga, aerobics, and even pilates, according to Medical News Today.
Many men only need an extra workout or two in their lives to improve their sexual health because the problem might be that they’re simply too tired to function or they lack strength in certain key muscles during sexual performance.
Aerobic Exercises
Physical activity, in general, can improve your erection, and it’s up to you to decide which activity you want to pursue. According to a 2018 systematic review, those who practiced aerobics four times a week saw the best results with regard to their erectile function.
Exercise should last at least 40 minutes and can be either moderate or high intensity. You can try:
- spin classes
- boxing
- cycling
- running
- skipping
- and rowing
Yoga
One study showed that yoga can help with erectile dysfunction as well as premature ejaculation. Yoga is effective and safe, so it’s a good place to start if you experience any of the two. Plus, it can give you sexual desire and confidence and improve your quality of life in general.
Acupuncture
Many believe that acupuncture as well can help with erectile dysfunction. While this is not entirely false, further research is needed to prove this.
According to a 2016 systematic review, acupuncture combined with psychological therapy is better than psychological therapy alone. However, this is still not enough to prove acupuncture alone is safe and effective to treat erectile dysfunction.
Lifestyle Changes
One of the first things any doctor will ask you is whether you drink, smoke, or are under stress. Many will also ask if you’re physically active, anxious, or taking any antidepressant medications.
This is because these factors have an impact on your erection and sexual health. Changing any of these habits can be highly beneficial for your erection and well-being as a whole, more than many natural supplements or fads.
Besides, a healthy lifestyle leads to several health benefits, not just in your sex life.
Walking and Improving Cardiovascular Health
Since cardiovascular health is directly connected to your erection, improving it could help avoid dysfunction. Walking more is a good way of improving your cardiovascular health, but so is swimming, jumping a rope, running, cycling, and playing tennis.
When you improve your cardiovascular health, you have a higher chance of getting your erection sufficient blood flow. In this case, you’re most likely to get a lasting erection.
Reducing or Stopping Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is harmful in more ways than one, so it’s no surprise that it can also affect your erection. Even small amounts of alcohol interfere with the brain, which can make it difficult for your brain to tell the penis it’s time to fill with blood.
On another note, alcohol reduces testosterone production, and if taken chronically, alcohol can also cause vascular damage, making it that much more difficult to get an erection.
No Smoking
Although half of men over the age of 40 are likely to have a varying degree of erectile dysfunction, smokers have an even higher chance regardless of their age. Smoking makes your erectile dysfunction worse because it damages your vascular mechanisms.
Sadly, it’s hard to tell if quitting smoking will help improve your erection. Some literature suggests it will, but most experts think this only applies to younger men who don’t have a long history of smoking. Either way, stay clear of cigarettes. Your lungs will thank you, too.
Lower Stress Overall
Stress as a whole affects the brain, and when something affects the brain, it also affects its ways of signaling the body. Both stress and anxiety can lead to a series of physical conditions. Some people get a rash, others a headache, but some also get erectile dysfunction.
Stress interrupts how the brain signals the penis, preventing it from getting the full blood flow it needs to perform as it should. Reducing stress can help, so try meditation or talking to a therapist.
Losing Weight Lowers ED Prevalence
Obesity can damage the blood vessels, and we already said damaged blood vessels affect ED. Not only that, but obesity sometimes goes hand-in-hand with hypertension and diabetes, both of which can also make it difficult for the penis to get the blood it needs.
Try to lose weight to see your erection and health as a whole improve.
Psychological Therapy to Reduce Performance Anxiety and Improve Self-Esteem
As mentioned earlier, psychological factors like stress and anxiety can easily be to blame for erectile dysfunction. But performance anxiety can make things even worse if you have already experienced ED and are scared you will experience it again.
The best way to deal with this is psychological therapy. Talking to a professional and potentially taking adequate medication can help reduce performance anxiety while also improving your self-esteem.
Change Antidepressant Medications
If you’re taking antidepressant medications, they might very well be the reason why you’re having an erectile dysfunction. A simple change of meds can fix the problem, but you can’t do this on your own.
It’s best to talk to a doctor who will help you get to the root of the problem, prescribing other antidepressants that will work for you.
Remember to Check for Cardiovascular or Other Medical Conditions that Might Affect Sexual Function
We can’t emphasize enough how important cardiovascular health is for sexual function. If you notice any erectile dysfunction symptoms, it’s best to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. They will ask you a series of questions to help them understand the most likely cause of the problem.
If not, they’ll help scan you for different conditions that might affect sexual function, like hypertension, diabetes, or cholesterol.
Common Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
All these natural or alternative treatments should always go hand-in-hand with proven treatments under the advisement and supervision of a sexual health professional.
Some of these ED treatments are simple and affordable, while others might be a bit more costly. Different methods also have varying effectiveness.
Oral Prescription Drugs for ED
Don’t jump straight into over-the-counter drugs for ED. These might be effective, but they don’t help take away the issue of why this is happening to you in the first place. And they have serious side effects, too. For this reason, always consult with a professional before taking any medication for ED.
Try oral prescription drugs that you take with your doctor’s guidance. These can include Sildenafil, Verdenafil, Tadalafil, and Stendra, among others.
ICP Treatment
ICP treatment is not as commonly used, although it’s very effective. It involves an injection of FDA-approved vasodilators directly into the penis via an auto-applicator. The combination of these vasodilators expands the arteries and tissues in the penis, increasing the blood flow and developing an immediate erection. While this erection will feel natural, it does not go away after you ejaculate but after the medicine wears off.
At Boston Medical Group, we use this and other treatments to treat erectile dysfunction.
Rejuvapulse™ Therapy
Rejuvapulse™ is a proprietary treatment using pulsed sound waves to improve blood flow in the penis. This non-invasive treatment helps rejuvenate penile tissue and can be beneficial even for those without ED who simply want to improve their performance.
The therapy includes low-intensity pulsed sound waves that go directly into the penis, clearing up plaque while activating dormant stem cells.
PRP
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is done by taking a small sample of your blood and spinning it at a high speed. This separates white and red blood cells from the plasma that’s rich in platelets. These platelets can repair and heal damaged tissue.
Book a Consultation with Boston Medical Group for a Comprehensive ED Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Have you experienced ED a few times recently? The first step is not to panic. Maybe it’s just recent stress at work or the few extra drinks you’ve had over the last month.
Either way, it helps to have it diagnosed and treated. Erectile dysfunction is not something you have to live with, so make sure to talk to professionals sooner than later. At Boston Medical Group, we treat ED continuously using multiple methods and therapies.
Book a consultation to get your treatment plan as well as professional advise on how to get your erection and sexual function back.
