Natural Viagra: Is There A Herbal Pill?

What is natural Viagra for men?

The term natural Viagra is used to refer to any naturally derived product that makes similar claims to Viagra.

Although some natural Viagra supplements claim to be successful, the following points may cause you to think twice before buying natural Viagra online.
 

• Many forms of herbal Viagra have not been adequately tested, nor are they backed by scientific proof.  As natural and herbal substances do not fall into the same category as prescription medication, they are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as prescription medications. This means that they can make certain claims, such as “97% success rate!” or “guaranteed to work”.
• Natural Viagra alternatives are being sold on certain marketplaces, where checks on those selling, are not necessary. To sell medication online, pharmacies need to submit certain documents to prove their registration. Herbal Viagra pills and alternatives can be sold online by anyone.
   

Despite the name and claims of natural Viagra, you should do your research before trying it. Find out exactly what is in these herbal alternatives. If you are in any doubt regarding their safety or effectiveness, seek specialist advice.  If you have ongoing ED problems, then your first port of call should be your GP or pharmacist.

Natural foods that work like Viagra

There are several natural foods that are thought to work like Viagra. But their efficacy is not scientifically proven, unlike ED medications that are clinically proven to work.

Physical erectile dysfunction is usually due to not having a good blood supply to your penis. Foods that are good for your vascular system may also help prevent and treat ED.

Some natural foods may improve blood flow. Ingredients such as nitric oxide help to regulate the flow of blood and improve smooth muscle tone. You can try to blend some natural food ingredients to make a healthy smoothie or a natural Viagra drink. Natural Viagra recipes can be made from any foods that are thought to help with erectile health.
 

Here are 8 foods that act like Viagra:

Watermelon

Watermelon is one of the best fruits to work like Viagra. It contains citrulline, a precursor to nitric oxide. It is thought that your body converts citrulline to arginine, which is converted to nitric oxide. This can help to relax and widen blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow into the penis and improve your erection.

Ginger

Ginger can help to improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure, which can have a long-term benefit on erections. It can also help blood vessels to dilate, so that they can fill with blood more easily.

Oily Fish

Oily fish such as salmon and tuna are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is associated with an improvement in blood flow, as well as a reduction in cholesterol. Together, these can help to improve ED.

Leafy green vegetables

Spinach, kale, and other leafy green vegetables are high in folic acid (folate). Studies have shown that men with ED have low folic acid levels, so supplementing with leafy green vegetables may help with ED. Additionally, foods such as spinach have levels of magnesium, which can help to improve blood flow and boost testosterone levels.

Oranges and blueberries

These foods are rich in flavonoids, which encourages blood flow to help your penis to become engorged when stimulated. A study by the Oxford University found the effect of flavonoid-rich foods reduced the chances of ED by between 9-11%. Studies have also shown that men with high intake of flavonoids from fruit have a 14% less chance of ED. Flavonoids also help to lower blood pressure, further reducing the risk of ED.

Pistachio Nuts

Pistachios are packed with arginine that encourages the production of nitric oxide, which, in turn, helps regulate blood flow to your penis.

Chilli

Chilli peppers contain a chemical called capsaicin, which can relax help improve blood flow to your organs, including the penis. Capsaicin has also been linked to testosterone production.

Avocados

Avocados contain a high level of zinc, which helps to boots testosterone levels. They’re also packed with monosaturated fats, which help to protect the heart. Vitamin b6 is another added benefit of avocados, which help to boost energy levels.
 

Mentioning the term “foods which work like Viagra”, is not entirely correct. It is important to note the following:

1. No food will be able to work like Viagra. What do we mean? Viagra takes around 1 hour to work. Certain foods, like the one’s mentioned above, can help to play a part in the long-term approach to improving erections, but they will not be able to exert their effects as quickly as Viagra does.
    
2. Foods which help to improve erectile health will also not have a timeframe or window of action. Viagra can last for up to 4 hours. Whilst a healthy diet can help to improve erections, you cannot eat a chilli, or an avocado, or both, and expect to get an erection within a few minutes.  
    
3. Viagra is a prescription drug, which has a mechanism of action that directly affects the penis. No food is able to do this. So technically, no food can work like Viagra.
    
4. Whilst foods can help to improve the quality of erections in the long term, they are unlikely to make much of a difference for those who have psychological ED. Certain foods may help ED in those who have physical problems getting an erection, due to blood flow or even testosterone production. Psychological ED affects the brain and is more of a confidence issue.
    
5. A good diet is most effective in conjunction with an overall healthy lifestyle. Eating the right foods alone is not enough. Exercise and sleep are important, and they all go hand in hand.

Natural Viagra for women

What is natural Viagra for women? For men, natural Viagra aims to help get an erection… but what about for women? Female Viagra is usually referred to a product which can increase libido.

In the US, a drug called flibanserin is used to treat female sexual dysfunction, by increasing the level of neurotransmitters in the brain which are responsible for sexual excitement. Whilst this is approved for use in America, it has not been approved for use in the UK. This medication is not natural.

If you’re a woman experiencing a low sex drive, you should see your doctor. They can look for reasons why your sex drive isn't as high as you'd like it and suggest ways to help increase your libido. Your doctor may suggest hormone therapy or counselling.

Do herbal Viagra pills work?

The honest answer is that nobody really knows. There are many over-the-counter herbal Viagra pills that are marketed as treatment for ED, without the need for a prescription. You may find positive herbal Viagra reviews, but unless they are on an independent review platform, it’s quite easy for websites to add, remove, or falsify reviews. In terms of evidence, it’s limited. Viagra has a success rate of around 70-80%. This has been verified by independent and complex studies that have been carried out over several years. These studies are carried out by highly qualified researchers (the guys with loads of letters after their name), at a research institute or university. It’s highly unlikely that a pill called “herbal rock strength” sold on Am*zon or eB*y, will have gone through a controlled study costing thousands of pounds.

Having said this, there has been animal testing on horny goat weed, which has shown to have small improvements on ED. But no high-quality human studies have confirmed this. Red ginseng and L-arginine are also frequently marketed as herbal Viagra alternatives, but they too lack quality scientific evidence to back these claims.

There are still men who claim that certain herbal Viagra products are successful (if it works for you and it’s safe to use, great!). But if no natural substance can help you to get an erection as quick as Viagra can, then how do these natural pills work? It is thought that much of the success of these natural supplements could be due to the placebo effect.

A large percentage of men, especially younger men, suffer from psychological ED. This means that there is nothing physically preventing them from getting and keeping an erection. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, can all cause ED. The younger you are, the less likely you are to have problems in these areas. Now, most men, whether they admit it or not, will fail to perform on occasion. You could put this down to tiredness, stress, or no reason at all… it can happen! Whilst it’s usually nothing to worry about, it can have a psychological knock-on effect the next time you try to have sex. This is known as performance anxiety. The more nervous you are about performing, the less likely you are to get an erection.

So, back to the placebo effect. The placebo effect is “a beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself and must therefore be due to the patient’s belief in that particular treatment”. Essentially, the pill works to restore confidence, helping those that take it, to get an erection.. and keep it.

How about Chinese herbal pills?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including Chinese herbal pills, can be used as an alternative therapy for ED. To make it clear, there’s a difference between Chinese Viagra, and traditional Chinese medicine to treat ED. Chinese Viagra is Viagra from China, produced by Pfizer. TCM uses Chinese herbs, acupuncture, cupping and massaging to help with ED.

TCM is thousands of years old and is thought to have benefits to erectile function. Its concept is that there are two opposite, yet complimentary forces called Yin and Yang. Disease results from an imbalance between these two forces over time. TCM aims to restore the balance between Yin and Yang.  It believes that a vital energy called Qi, is generated from the interaction between Yin and Yang and this flows through the body and helps to maintain your health. Each organ, including the penis, has its own Qi. They suggest that illnesses or other conditions such as ED only appear when there is a Qi imbalance, or deficiency in the body.

Acupuncture

This process involves inserting needles into acupoints into tissue. Acupoints are thought to be control areas of Qi, helping to regulate its flow. The aim is to increase the amount of Qi to penile tissue, or release Qi where there is too much, maintaining its balance. It is also thought that acupuncture helps to release nitric oxide, which helps to increase blood flow in the penis. Studies have shown that acupuncture yielded positive results in around 70% of patients, which was significantly higher than those in the placebo group.

Chinese herbs

Angelica sinensis has been shown to increase levels of nitric oxide, stimulating blood flow in the penis.

Folium Ginkgo Bilobae has shown a similar effect in rats.

Common Cnidium Fruit has been shown to cause vasodilation, when tested on rabbits.

Morinda officinalis How has shown positive results in increasing male testosterone levels, in clinical trials on mice.

Herba Cistanche improved the erectile duration in rats. However, more research is required into it’s mechanism of action.

Semen cuscutae has been shown to increase testosterone levels and androgen receptor expression in the testicles.

Ginseng has been shown to improve erectile function, by improving nitric oxide levels, stimulating better blood flow in the penis.
 

If you are considering TCM, it’s important to do your research. It’s also a good idea to run through any Chinese herbal pill plans with your pharmacist or GP, to ensure that they are safe for you. TCM is considered herbal medicine and so it is not regulated by a body. Additionally, most studies that show that Chinese herbs can improve erectile function, have been performed on animals.

What are the best natural Viagra options?

For men who cannot take Viagra, or those that wish to keep it natural, there are natural alternatives to Viagra. Some natural remedies for ED have shown promise in early scientific studies. However, there is limited reliable research for these natural alternatives, and in most cases, it’s a case of trial and error.

Before taking any supplements that claim to be a natural form of Viagra, it’s best to speak with a healthcare provider. Psychological ED can be nipped in the bud quite quickly, with appropriate therapy such as sex counselling. You may even find that your doctor recommends taking Viagra or an alternative, to help boost your confidence.

Is natural Viagra safe?

ED can also be an early warning sign of other health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, low testosterone, and depression. Especially if ED is accompanied by other symptoms such as a reduction in morning erections and fatigue.

You should be cautious when buying natural Viagra online. There are numerous unregulated sites that sell products such as Kamagra. Manufactured in India and often sold online without a prescription, Kamagra is potentially very dangerous if taken without a prescription.

If you are keen to keep things natural, there are other options that don’t involve taking pills to improve sexual function. Kegel exercises help to strengthen the muscle that allows your penis to engorge with blood during erection and pumps during ejaculation. Penis pumps create a vacuum around your penis to encourage blood to flow into it, and once erect, a constriction ring over the base of the penis helps keep the blood inside.

Natural Viagra, what’s the verdict?

Natural alternatives do exist. Whether or not herbal Viagra works, that’s a different story. Whilst a majority of the ingredients in natural products help to improve blood flow, none are targeted at blood vessels in the penis. Before purchasing any products online, you need to be sure that they are safe for you to take. Products from health shops that contain ingredients which are said to help with ED are your best bet. Products from unregulated websites can contain ingredients that are harmful to your health. The case may be that prescription treatments such as Viagra are safer options. The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, so we know that the products have been tested, they’re proven to work, and will not contain dangerous ingredients that can cause harm to your health.

Whilst all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it is not intended to be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.