What natural alternatives to Viagra are there?
The most common natural alternatives to viagra are:
Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid that can help your body to make essential proteins. It can be found in foods or as a supplement. It is thought to relax blood vessels, which can help improve blood flow to your penis.
Studies on arginine have been carried out to see its effects on erectile dysfunction, but most of these contained only a small number of men and are considered pilot research. This means there is not enough evidence to prove the effectiveness of arginine for erectile dysfunction.
Korean Red Ginseng
Korean Red Ginseng is a herbal supplement that claims to enhance sexual function, so it is sold as a herbal Viagra treatment. Studies into Korean Red Ginseng are limited, making it difficult to draw a proper conclusion.
Horny Goat Weed
Horny Goat Weed is a herb that may affect the enzymes that restrict blood flow to your penis, which can help with erectile dysfunction. There are few studies on this drug's effect on men with erectile dysfunction.
Yohimbine
Yohimbine is a herbal supplement taken from the tree bark of an evergreen found in Africa. There have been no studies that definitively prove whether this supplement can help with erectile dysfunction and one study found that yohimbine had negative side effects, such as anxiety, hallucinations, and mood changes.
Jia Yi Jian
This herbal Viagra treatment is an unlicensed treatment for erectile dysfunction and has been proven to not be natural at all. In 2009, the UK government released a statement warning people against its use, as it contains ingredients that should only be prescribed to you.
Vigorine
Vigorine is the name given to a tablet containing l-citrulline, which is a supplement that claims to improve erections in men who have mild erectile dysfunction. The few scientific studies that have been carried out show that it might help, but it is less effective than Viagra. These studies were very small and not enough to prove its effectiveness.
Maca
Maca is a plant that claims to help men with erectile dysfunction symptoms. The reason why is not known. One study found that maca has more adverse (negative) effects, such as mood changes and hallucinations.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is an amino acid that can be found in food and supplements, like Arginine. It is believed to help reduce stress, so could help with erectile dysfunction if that’s causing it. However, this treatment has not been fully tested..
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that is thought to boost libido (urge to have sex) but little is known about its effects. There is no convincing scientific evidence proving this or showing how it can treat erectile dysfunction.
Saffron
Saffron is a common spice that can be found in the kitchen. Claims have been made that saffron can improve ‘sexual dysfunction, but studies are limited and not conclusive.