Category: Erectile Dysfunction

Ginseng tea is used as an herbal remedy for a range of health conditions related to fatigue. For that reason, it makes sense to think it might help with erectile dysfunction, particularly if the problem is exacerbated by stress and tiredness. Panax ginseng (also known as Chinese or Korean ginseng) is said to promote Yang energy and stimulate the body. A 2002 study in Korea found that consumption of 900 mg of Korean red ginseng three times daily had a positive effect on erections after eight weeks. You have to be careful using ginseng long term, particularly if you also consume beverages that contain caffeine. In fact, it’s wise to avoid ginseng blends that include caffeine.

Mind your caffeine intake if you start drinking ginseng tea.

Ginger tea is a popular “feel good” tea, particularly if you’re having digestive issues. It is believed to have blood vessel dilation properties like many other herbs, and for this reason, it may be worth trying for stronger erections. Ginger tea is purported to boost blood flow, and since few people have bad reactions to it, it’s worth trying if you’re interested in improving erectile health.

Saw palmetto is an herb that has traditionally been used to treat conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a non-cancerous inflammation of the prostate gland. Supposedly, saw palmetto increases testosterone production, and for this reason many men try it in hopes of gaining better erections. The problem with saw palmetto tea is that the fatty acids that make up the herb’s active ingredients aren’t soluble in water, and tea hasn’t been tested in any scientific studies. Like other herbal teas for erectile dysfunction, if it’s going to work, it can take several weeks of regular consumption for changes to become evident.

If you’re not keen on the idea of asking for “horny goat weed tea,” you can call it by its other name, yin hang huo. This drug is believed to work similarly to how erectile dysfunction drugs work, namely by allowing better blood flow to the penis. Some alternative medicine practitioners also claim that horny goat weed boosts testosterone levels. So the answer is yes, horny goat weed tea is worth trying if you’re looking for a natural way to address erectile dysfunction. Be sure to follow the label directions to brew the tea to the right strength.

Side effects from using too much can include nosebleeds, fast heart rate, and dizziness.

It’s wise to thoroughly research any herbal products you want to make tea with.

There’s a certain amount of controversy swirling around Yohimbe, which comes from the bark of a tree that grows in parts of Africa. The herb is thought to combat both depression and erectile dysfunction, but it has side effects, including increased heart rate and altered blood pressure (lower or higher). The problem with Yohimbe (and Yohimbe tea) is that there’s no way to regulate dose. How much of the active compounds you get depends on what part of the tree it comes from, and how the tree was cultivated. If you want to try Yohimbe tea, you’re strongly advised to consult your physician first.

They may have the best hot coffee for the money, but it’s not the best place to get “treatment” for erection problems.

While checking out at your local 7-11 or corner bodega, you have undoubtedly seen products claiming to produce raging erections. Two things: First, your corner convenience store doesn’t have a pharmacist on staff to answer your questions if you have them. Two, many of these products have been seized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they contain dangerous or unknown ingredients.

You wouldn’t get your hair cut by your mechanic, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to get “treatment” for your erection problems at a gas station.

And another note. You can find endless products available online claiming to treat erectile dysfunction. Some of them claim to be genuine products like Viagra, while others claim to be “natural” Viagra or safe, “herbal” treatment for erectile dysfunction. Many of the sites that say they sell real products like Viagra like to put Canadian flags all over their websites in hopes of making Americans comfortable enough to buy things from them.

Of course, these sites may be located anywhere in the world, and when you buy so-called prescription medications from them without a prescription, you can count on them being counterfeit. Not only are they unlikely to contain any of the active ingredient in the real product, they’re highly likely to contain ingredients like paint and drywall material – not stuff you want to be ingesting.

Bottom line: what are my options for safely obtaining real treatments for erectile dysfunction?

Millions of men simply obtain a prescription for Viagra, Cialis, or another prescription treatment for erectile dysfunction from their general practitioner or urologist, and drop it off at CVS like they would any prescription.

You also have safe online options for ordering prescription drugs, as long as these companies require that you have a prescription, and offer enough information on the provenance of their products (such as lot numbers or batch numbers) that you can trace them back to the actual manufacturer to be certain you’re getting the real product. Many men prefer the relative anonymity of ordering prescription medications for erectile dysfunction online, and it can be done safely and cost-effectively if you thoroughly research your options first.

Another non-prescription approach many men take to better erection health is the use of supplements on a longer-term basis. Not a lot of scientific study has gone into these supplements, and the fact that they’re “natural” doesn’t mean they’re totally harmless. Some of the more common supplements, available at most pharmacies and big box stores, that men take regularly in pursuit of better erections include:

• Ginkgo biloba – which is said to improve blood flow. It should not be taken by people who take blood thinners like Coumadin due to risk of bleeding problems.

• L-arginine – an amino acid used for building proteins. Like ginkgo biloba, it is purported to improve blood flow, but some people can have dangerous allergic reactions to it.

• Saw palmetto – which is associated with better prostate health, and which has anecdotal, but not scientific evidence about its positive effects on erections.

• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) – which is a precursor to testosterone, and which decreases with age. It’s not likely to raise testosterone levels enough to make a real difference, however.

• Yohimbine – made from the bark of the African Yohimbe tree, and use as a male aphrodisiac in some African cultures. Though there’s evidence of it working, it also has side effects, and can interact with a number of prescription medications and may be dangerous for people who have liver, kidney, or heart problems.

Though supplements are widely available and easy to obtain, your doctor needs to know which supplements you take regularly, particularly if you also take prescription drugs regularly.

Don’t count on it. Though some policies may have limited coverage for injectable erectile dysfunction treatment, most do not, because the drugs are not considered medically necessary. Plus, they can be expensive. Most plans don’t cover Viagra and pill therapies for erectile dysfunction either, so it’s best to go into the treatment process understanding that it will require a certain financial investment.

Treatments for erectile dysfunction can be costly, but they can vastly improve quality of life for men with chronic erectile dysfunction.

You might be pleasantly surprised. If you are prescribed brand name injectables like Caverject and Edex, you’ll pay a per-injection cost roughly on par with a single dose of name brand Viagra – around $30 to $40 per dose. The good news is since these drugs have been around far longer, generics equivalents are available in the United States, and these can bring the per-injection cost down to around $10.

Medicare plans, in general, don’t cover injectable treatments for erectile dysfunction. Depending on dosage, expect to pay around $143-$183 for two-dose powder supplies of name brand Caverject that you mix for injection. Many men, however, qualify for drug discount cards that can confer significant savings in the form of a rebate or coupon.

Injection therapy is an option for treatment of erectile dysfunction. Though it’s not necessarily an appealing option, since it does involve injecting medication directly into the penis, actual pain associated with the process is said to be very minor. And injection therapy for erectile dysfunction offers men who can’t take oral medications like Viagra an option for regaining sexual intimacy.

Injectable erectile dysfunction drugs are dispensed by prescription only, and self-injection does require training. Getting the right dose can take a bit of trial and error, but for men who are allergic to Viagra or other PDE-5 inhibitors, or who cannot take drugs in that class due to contraindications with other drugs they take, injections for erectile dysfunction can make a tremendous difference in quality of life, both for the patients themselves, and for their partners.

Don’t count on it. Though some policies may have limited coverage for injectable erectile dysfunction treatment, most do not, because the drugs are not considered medically necessary. Plus, they can be expensive. Most plans don’t cover Viagra and pill therapies for erectile dysfunction either, so it’s best to go into the treatment process understanding that it will require a certain financial investment.

Treatments for erectile dysfunction can be costly, but they can vastly improve quality of life for men with chronic erectile dysfunction.

You might be pleasantly surprised. If you are prescribed brand name injectables like Caverject and Edex, you’ll pay a per-injection cost roughly on par with a single dose of name brand Viagra – around $30 to $40 per dose. The good news is since these drugs have been around far longer, generics equivalents are available in the United States, and these can bring the per-injection cost down to around $10.

Medicare plans, in general, don’t cover injectable treatments for erectile dysfunction. Depending on dosage, expect to pay around $143-$183 for two-dose powder supplies of name brand Caverject that you mix for injection. Many men, however, qualify for drug discount cards that can confer significant savings in the form of a rebate or coupon.

Injection therapy is an option for treatment of erectile dysfunction. Though it’s not necessarily an appealing option, since it does involve injecting medication directly into the penis, actual pain associated with the process is said to be very minor. And injection therapy for erectile dysfunction offers men who can’t take oral medications like Viagra an option for regaining sexual intimacy.

Injectable erectile dysfunction drugs are dispensed by prescription only, and self-injection does require training. Getting the right dose can take a bit of trial and error, but for men who are allergic to Viagra or other PDE-5 inhibitors, or who cannot take drugs in that class due to contraindications with other drugs they take, injections for erectile dysfunction can make a tremendous difference in quality of life, both for the patients themselves, and for their partners.

Generally speaking, no. Men who plan to take an injection to treat erectile dysfunction should not take Viagra, Levitra, Cialis, or other as-needed drugs within 24 hours of the injection. The only exception is for men who take daily Cialis therapy. These men take 2.5 mg or 5 mg of Cialis on a daily basis, either as a long-term treatment for erectile dysfunction, or to treat both erection problems and benign prostate enlargement. Under the supervision of a physician, men on daily Cialis therapy can continue to take their daily medication in addition to using injection therapy.