11 Natural Solutions For Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get and keep an erection, which is commonly known as impotence. Millions of men of all ages suffer from it, though it certainly becomes more likely as a man gets older. While men generally would love nothing more than to avoid talking about the topic out of shame, luckily there are methods to help the issue.

Before we get to the solutions for ED, it’s important to look at some of the root causes of it. Whether it’s your heart, the drugs you’re taking, or your mental health situation, solving a root issue will help with ED.

Vascular Conditions

If you are experiencing ED, it could be a warning sign of heart problems that may be down the road. A few possible issues that may lead to your ED problem include diabetes, atherosclerosis, and high blood pressure.

Diabetes ends up causing nerve and blood vessel damage that usually occurs from not controlling blood sugar. Men who have diabetes may end up getting ED earlier in life than men who aren’t diabetic.

Men with higher blood pressure can also end up experiencing ED as well. Having a higher blood pressure prevents the dilation of arteries that carry blood to other parts of the body.  It also can may cause an inability for a man to relax, necessary before arousal. Some of the high blood pressure medications like diuretics and beta-blockers may also cause ED.

Like with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries and blood vessels, which can cause cholesterol to build up, forming plaque and subsequently slowing down the blood flow all over the body.

 

Drugs You’re Taking

While medications can work on treating conditions, sometimes they can lead to negative affects on your libido and erections, as well as decreasing your blood flow. Antihistamines are what’s known as vasopressors, which slow your blood flow, limiting the necessary amount of blood flow you need for arousal. Muscle relaxers might also be a culprit as they have sedative properties and can get in the way of producing testosterone. Some blood pressure medications, such as diuretics, can decrease your levels of zinc, which is what’s needed to produce testosterone.

Antidepressants can shift your serotonin levels, which can lower your sex drive if those serotonin levels are too high. With more serotonin, dopamine goes down, and less dopamine can end up impacting your ability to get aroused.

Mental Health

If you’re suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression, they can hurt the way your brain sends its signals to the rest of the body. Additional stress increases the amount of cortisol that’s released, which in turn lowers how much testosterone the body creates. Gut health can affect your mental state, especially when you have unbalanced gut flora. If unwanted bacteria is more abundant than the good, anxiety and depression can become a result. Your mental state can end up being a major factor for ED, leading to more stress and anxiety, and repeating the cycle again.

Natural Treatments For ED

There are some natural treatments for ED that you may want to give a try, from getting rid of bad habits to eating healthier to being more mindful of what you’re putting in your body.

Exercise More, Consume Healthy Whole Foods and Flavonoid-Rich Foods

If you have ED, try doing pelvic exercises to strengthen your base and promote blood flow to the lower parts of your body. Your doctor can also recommend safe workouts depending on your age and condition.

Aside for exercise, you can work on your diet to help with getting healthy. Carrots, spinach, kale, tomatoes, watermelon, and berries are just a few of the healthy foods rich in antioxidants. Eating fruits, veggies, and other healthy whole foods with antioxidants will promote nitric oxide production and prevent it from breaking down. Nitric oxide helps erectile function by relaxing vessels to assist with overall blood flow.

Many berries have anthocyanins, which are flavonoids. Flavanones are in citrus fruits, too, and both are considered flavonoid-rich foods. These have tons of antioxidants, which can help increase blood supply. Flavonoid-rich foods are packed with antioxidants to help increase blood supply and lower the chance of erectile dysfunction.

Take Ginseng, Plant Sterols, and Parasite-Killing Herbs

Taking ginseng can naturally enhance your life in the bedroom. Not only will it improve cardiovascular conditions, but ginseng will increase blood flow in your body, specifically where you need it.

Plant sterols can also help. You can discover natural plant sterols in fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts. Consuming more plant sterols can lower your cholesterol because they partially block its absorption. That means you can reduce your harmful cholesterol levels without lowering the good cholesterol. Doing this can increase your blood flow and reduce your chance of having ED.

Additionally, since many parasites contribute to erectile dysfunction issues, you can eat herbs that naturally kill parasites. If you want a true parasite cleanse, reduce your sugar intake, too.

Limit Vices Like Smoking or Alcohol and Get Better Sleep

Since smoking decreases your oxygen delivery, it equally increases your chances of ED. Smoking is a primary cause of erectile dysfunction because the toxins damage your vessels, that reduce your blood flow.

Although drinking wine in moderation may have health benefits, long-term erectile dysfunction and heavy alcohol use have been linked to each other. Besides ED, men can deal with other sexual issues like loss of desire or premature ejaculation if they drink too much, especially over time.

If you already have ED, fatigue from not getting enough sleep can make it even worse. Sleep apnea has been known to be linked to ED because the condition affects your oxygen levels and lowers testosterone. Your healthcare provider can help you treat sleep apnea if that’s something that’s interrupting your rest.

Detox Your Body and Try Acupuncture

There are some natural compounds out there to get rid of harmful toxins that are hurting your body. Binders can also help pull toxins out of your body.

To reduce stress and increase blood flow naturally, consider acupuncture as well. Using needles in particular parts of the body will not only restore blood flow to your organs, but this process can increase serotonin, unblock energy, and increase nerve sensation.