Alternative Medicine and Male Impotence
One of the most common uses for alternative medicine is in the management of chronic illness. Many of the alternative medical systems work hand in hand with conventional treatments for illnesses like cancer, heart disease, asthma, arthritis and diabetes. Most of the chronic conditions are considered incurable, and treatment is aimed at slowing the progress of the disease and alleviating symptoms.
Most official bodies of medicine that deal with chronic disease have adopted the attitude that providing information on alternative therapies is the best policy. Thus, you'll find information about the use of alternative therapies, ongoing clinical trials and ways that treatments like massage, aromatherapy, herbal medicines and other complementary therapies can impact treatment or ease side effects and symptoms of male impotence on the National Institutes of Health web site.
Male impotence may be caused by a number of different conditions, some psychological but most physical. These include:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Deficient blood flow to the penis
- Excessive drainage of blood from the penis
- Damage to the nerves around the penis
- Hormone abnormalities
- Side effects of drugs
- Alcoholism and drug abuse
- Heavy smoking
- High cholesterol
- Diseases affecting the erectile tissue of the penis
- Stroke and neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis
- Kidney and liver failure
Not surprisingly, male erectile dysfunction is one of the disorders for which there exist literally hundreds of possible 'cures' in alternative and folk medicine. Some of these therapies may be useful. For instance, any treatment that effectively treats the cause of impotence will, by default, also treat the impotence problem. Some of the most effective of those treatments include:
Herbal Cures
-- Horny goat weed
-- Horny goat weed is the most popular herbal treatment for impotence in the world. It's based in Chinese traditional medicine and research shows that it contains the same kind of chemical from which Viagra is made.
-- Garlic
-- Studies at two universities show that garlic helps the body react to nitric acid, which is important in maintaining an erection.
-- Gingko improves vascular function in the body, which means that it increases blood flow and release in the penis as well. In one study, 100% of the men who took gingko for at least six months reported improvement in their ability to achieve and maintain an erection.
-- Yohimbe root
-- Yohimbe is approved by the FDA for the treatment of impotence. Yohimbine, an extract of yohimbe, has proven effective in treating erectile dysfunction in scientific studies.
In addition, men may benefit from any therapy that supports relaxation and the relief of tension, which is often a major component in continuing impotence problems.