Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Herbal Drugs: Ethnomedicine to Modern Medicine pp 67–80Cite as

Herbal Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction

  • Chapter

  • 3084 Accesses

Abstract

Evidence for herbal treatments for ED is contradictory. This could be due to differing definitions of ED, non-standardized outcomes and different procedures used in the preparation of plant extracts. Additionally, animal studies are not accurate because they do not allow cerebral aspects of sex to be evaluated and instead rely solely on basic mechanical or instinctive sexual function. Preliminary research on a few drugs such as ginseng, PLC and DHEA is encouraging, but well-designed randomized controlled clinical trials are lacking. It is likely that the use of medicinal plants will increase in popularity as men seek subtle methods of treating themselves. However, whilst it is easy to purchase many ‘natural Viagra’-like substances over the Internet, the safety and reliability of many of these drugs is poor, and patients should be cautious when acquiring these products. Information about how these herbal products interact with prescribed drugs is also limited.

Keywords

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Herbal therapies
  • Impotence

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   229.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. NIH Consensus Conference: impotence (1993) NIH Consensus Development Panel on Impotence. JAMA 270:83

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  2. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Erectile Dysfunction. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); (eds: Melman A, Hirsch M. NIH Publication, 2003; No. 04-3923. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/impotence/index.htm)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wagner G, Fugl-Meyer KS, Fugl-Meyer AR (2000) Int J Impot Res 12 Suppl 4:S144

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  4. Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou D, Krane RJ, McKInlay JB (1994) J Urol 151:54

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Jarrow JP, Nana-Sinkam P, Sabbagh M, Eskew A (1996) J Urol 155:1609

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  6. Barnes J (2003) Br J Clin Pharmacol 55:226

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  7. Morris CA (2003) JAMA 290:1505

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, Kessler RC (1998) JAMA 280:1569

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hirt HM, M’Pia B (2001) Natural Medicine in the Tropics. Anamed. 2nd edn. Druckerei Bauer, Winnenden

    Google Scholar 

  10. Piacente S, Camargo EE, Zampelli, Gracioso JS, Broti AR, Pizza C, Vilegas W (2002) Z Naturforsch [C] 57(11–12):983

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hnatyszyn O, Moscatelli V, Garcia J, Rondina R, Costa M, Arranz C, Balaszczuk A, Ferraro G, Coussio JD (2003) Phytomedicine 10(8):669

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  12. Arletti R, Benelli A, Cavazzuti E, Scarpetta G, Bertolini A (1999) Psychopharmacology 143(1):15

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  13. Reiter WJ, Pycha A, Schatzl G, Pokorny A, Gruber DM, Huber JC, Marberger M (1999) Urology 53(3):590

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  14. Li RW, David Lin G, Myers SP, Leach DN (2003) J Ethnopharmacol 85(1):61

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  15. FDA warns about products containing gamma butyrolactone or GBL and asks companies to issue a recall. Food and Drug Administration talk paper. April 13, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  16. Report serious adverse events associated with dietary supplements containing GBL, GHB, or BD. UD FDA Medwatch. August 25, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  17. “Date-rape” drug curbs become law. Statistics from Drug Enforcement Agency as reported in the Washington Post/Associated Press. February 19, 2000:A02

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hobbs C (1991) Gingko: Elixir of Youth. Botanical Press, Capitola, CA

    Google Scholar 

  19. He SA, Yin G, Pang ZJ (1997) Resources and prospects of Gingko Biloba in China. In: Hori T, Ridge RW, Tulecke W, Del Redicini P, Tremouillaux-Guiller J, Tobe H (eds) Gingko Biloba – A Global Treasure. Springer, Tokyo, p 373

    Google Scholar 

  20. Sohn M, Sikora R (1991) J Sec Educ Ther 17:53

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sikora R, Sohn MH, Engelke B, Jaske G (1998) J Urol 159(S5):240

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cohen AJ, Bartlik B (1998) J Sex Marital Ther 24:139

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ashton AK, Ahrens K, Gupta S, Masono PS (2000) Am J Psych 157:836

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Foster S, Yue C (1992) Herbal Emissaries. Rochester, VT, Healing Arts, p 102

    Google Scholar 

  25. Stitcher O (1998) Chemtech 28:26

    Google Scholar 

  26. Choi YD, Xin ZC, Choi HK (1998) Int J Impot Res 10:37

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gillis CN (1997) Biochem Pharmacol 54:1

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Choi YD, Rha KH, Choi HK (1999) J Urol 162:1508

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Choi HK, Seong DH, Rha KH (1995) Int J Impot Res 7:181

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Bradley PR (1992) British Herbal Compendium, 1. Bournemouth, Dorset, England p 115

    Google Scholar 

  31. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database 2000, 3rd edn, 403

    Google Scholar 

  32. Zhang CZ, Wang SX, Zhang Y, Chen JP, Liang XM (2005) J Ethnopharmacol 98(3):295

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  33. Chen KK, Chiu JH (2006) Urology 67(3):631

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  34. Partin JF, Pushkin YR (2004) Psychosomatics 45(6):536

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  35. Klotz T, Mathers MJ, Braun M, Bloch W, Engelmann U (1999) Urol Int 63(4):220

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  36. Chen J, Wollman Y, Chernichovsky T, Chernichovsky T, Iaina A, Sofer M, Matzkin H (1999) BJU Int 83(3):269

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  37. Stanislavov R, Nikolova V (2003) J Sex Marital Ther 29(3):207

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  38. Saka M, Tuzun A, Ates Y, Bagci S, Karaeren N, Dagalp K (2004) Turk J Gastroenterol 15(1):56

    Google Scholar 

  39. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, Chung A, Vega K, Villena A (2001) Asian J Androl 3(4):301

    Google Scholar 

  40. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, Chung A, Villena A, Gonez C, Castillo S (2002) Andrologia 34(6):367

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  41. Lentz A, Gravitt K, Carson CC, Marson L (2007) J Sex Med 4(2):332

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  42. da Silva AL, Bardini S Nunes DS, Elisabetsky E (2002) Phytother Res 16(3):223

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  43. Cavallini G, Caracciolo S, Vitali G, Modenini F, Biagiotti G (2004) Urology 63(4):541

    Google Scholar 

  44. Gentile V, Vicini P, Prigiotti G, Koverech A, Di Silverio F (2004) Curr Med Res Opin 20(9):1377

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  45. Cavallini G, Modenini F, Vitali G, Koverech A (2005) Urology 66(5):1080

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  46. Hobbs C (1995) Medicinal Mushrooms: An Exploration of Tradition, Healing, and Culture, 2nd edn. Botanical, Santa Cruz, CA

    Google Scholar 

  47. Matsumoto K (1979) The Mysterious Reishi Mushroom. Woodbridge, Santa Barbara, CA

    Google Scholar 

  48. Liu GT (1999) Int J Medicinal Mushrooms 1:63

    Google Scholar 

  49. Tongkat Ali – Malaysia’s very own ‘Viagra’. Asian Economic News, Jan 3, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  50. Ang HH, Ngai TH, Tan TH (2003) Phytomedicine 10:590

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Ang HH, Lee KL, Kiyoshi M (2004) J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 15:303

    Google Scholar 

  52. Neuchev VK, Mitev VI (2005) J Ethnopharmacol 101:319

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  53. Gauthaman K, Ganesan AP, Prasad RN (2003) J Alt Complement Med 9(2):257

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  54. Bourke CA (1987) Research in Veterinary Science 43(3):347

    Google Scholar 

  55. Jameel JK, Kneeshaw PJ, Rao VS, Drew PJ (2004) Breast 13(5):428

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  56. Reid K, Surridge DH, Morales A, Condra M, Harris C, Owen J, Fenemore J (1987) Lancet 2(8556):421

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  57. Guay AT, Spark RF, Jacobson J, Murray FT, Geisser ME (2002) Int J Impot Res 14(1):25

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  58. Ernst E, Pittler MH (1998) J Urol 159(2):433

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  59. Carey MP, Johnson BT (1996) Arch Sex Behav 25(4):341

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  60. Lebret T, Herve JM, Gorny P, Worcel M, Botto H (2002) Eur Urol 41(6):608

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  61. Kunelius P, Hakkinen J, Lukkarinen O (1997) Urology 49(3):441

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  62. Mann K, Klingler T, Noe S, Roschke J, Muller S, Benkert O (1996) Arch Sex Behav 25(1):1

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  63. Morales A (2001) World J Urol 19(4):251

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, St. George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 OQT

    Jyoti Shah

Authors
  1. Jyoti Shah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Dept, M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur-313002, India

    K.G. Ramawat (Prof. Dr.) (Prof. Dr.)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Shah, J. (2009). Herbal Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction. In: Ramawat, K. (eds) Herbal Drugs: Ethnomedicine to Modern Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79116-4_5

Download citation

search

Navigation