Varying degrees of erectile dysfunction (ED) are common in men and
can significantly interfere with a healthy sex life. Often, it is simply a
manifestation of stress or emotional problems, but it can also be a sign of an underlying health problem like heart disease.
It is important that you work on finding out the foundational cause, and also
that you resist the urge to simply pop a pill like Viagra as a quick fix.
Viagra does carry a risk of potentially serious side effects, including:
Headache
|
Upset stomach
|
Flushing of the face
|
Blue/green color
blindness
|
Blurred vision
|
Vision sensitivity to
light
|
Sudden decrease or
loss of vision in one or both eyes
|
An abnormally
long-lasting erection that may cause permanent damage to your penis
|
Sudden loss or
decrease in hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness
|
Heart attack, stroke,
irregular heartbeat and death have occurred in men taking Viagra
|
As far as natural
alternatives go, there are many options to consider including L-arginine,
an amino acid that is the precursor tonitric oxide, a natural compound
that helps relax your blood vessels. Nitric oxide signals the smooth muscle
cells in your blood vessels to relax, so that your vessels dilate and your
blood flows more freely. This helps your arteries to regain their elasticity
and stay free of plaque. L-arginine may also lead to increased
microcirculation in genital tissues, which results in stronger erections and
better sexual responsiveness, via this nitric oxide mechanism.
Scientific studies have
shown that L-arginine can be particularly effective when used in combination
with another natural agent,pycnogenol, which resulted in significant
improvement in sexual function in men with ED, according to a Bulgarian study.10Similarly, a pilot study published in the
journal European Urology found 6 grams of L-arginine combined
with 6 mg of yohimbine, a compound found in the herb yohimbe, was successful in
treating men with ED.11 Aside from L-arginine, other natural
alternatives include:
·
Panax ginseng and maca
root, which have been used for centuries as libido-boosting tonics
·
Choline and vitamin B5.
The neurotransmitter that triggers sexual messages in your brain, whether
you're male or female, is acetylcholine (ACH). With too little ACH, sexual
activity goes down. One way to safely and effectively enhance your ACH levels
is to take choline supplements (1,000-3,000 mg) and vitamin B5 (500-1,500 mg).
Source: Mercola
