Herbs for Sexual Enhancement

The word aphrodisiac derives from the Greek goddess of erotic love, Aphrodite. An aphrodisiac is a substance that is said to increase sexual desire, pleasure, or performance. In ancient times, as we have seen, substances that resemble the male and female sex organs were often thought to possess aphrodisiac power. They included ginseng, mandrake root, figs, oysters, asparagus, bananas, and rhinoceros horn.

Today, we are more likely to find highly touted formulas made of various vitamins, minerals, and herbs. They are sold in many health food stores, by mail order, and through the Internet, and they may contain vitamin E, bee pollen, saw palmetto, ginseng, zinc, and animal glandulars.

While the effectiveness of these ingredients on male sexuality is unproven, there is one substance that has been shown to have some effect in helping men improve their erections, and that is yohimbine.

Yohimbine

Derived from the bark of a West African tree, yohimbine has been used for hundreds of years as an aphrodisiac. Today, yohimbine is available in prescription and nonprescription forms. Experts say that the prescription form is usually purer, more concentrated, and more effective, but the opposite may be true in other cases, because the nonprescription form is not regulated by the government.

Prescription yohimbine is actually yohimbine hydrochloride, a synthetic form of the bark extract. It is much safer because you know what dose you are getting and will be protected from possible overdoses, which can cause such side effects as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and a racing heart.

Yohimbine can also interact badly with some other medications and with some foods, so it is advisable to take it only by prescription; in this way, your physician can check out any possible adverse interactions and make sure you avoid them.

Prior to the approval of Viagra, many urologists were prescribing yohimbine for their patients with erectile problems. The substance may help erections by improving blood flow to the penis and seems most effective in men who have ED due to psychological problems or because of the use of antidepressants, including the widely prescribed Prozac.

But a few years ago, a special panel of members of the American Urological Association announced acceptable treatment guidelines at their annual meeting and yohimbine was excluded. The reason? They stated that the "reported benefits have been modest and there is a pronounced placebo effect." As a result, many urologists no longer use yohimbine.

Ginseng

The root of the Panax ginseng (Panax is Greek for "all healing" and "ginseng" is from the Chinese, meaning "man root") is widely available in China and Korea and other parts of Asia and has been traditionally used for more than five thousand years to foster mental acuity, promote energy, normalize blood pressure, treat arthritis and hypoglycemia, and enhance sexual desire and performance.

Ginseng contains several ingredients that can be beneficial, including manganese, copper, and amino acids. Because it Is not regulated, the ginseng that is available differs greatly in purity, strength, and effectiveness. Most of it is of low strength; but in high doses, ginseng can cause such side effects as high blood pressure, anxiety, and sleeplessness.

Does ginseng have any effect on male sexuality We have no scientific proof that it does, and once again we can attribute its reported efficacy to the "placebo effect." The root does have a resemblance to a male body, and that may well account for the persistent belief that it has a positive effect on the body. A large number of men throughout the world take ginseng on a regular basis, especially before sexual activity and as a remedy for erectile problems.

Ginkgo

Sometimes confused with ginseng, ginkgo is a different substance altogether. It is an extract derived from the leaves of the Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) and has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. Some studies show that ginkgo appears to have some effect on improving blood flow in the body, including blood flow to the penis.

There have been some scientific studies involving ginkgo, and the results indicated that it may have some beneficial action on men with ED due to its ability to dilate arteries leading to the genitals. Ginkgo is readily available, in nonprescription form, in health food and drug stores. If you want to try it, consult your physician first.