Is There A Simple Trick To Cure ED?

What causes ED?

An erection happens when you are subject to mental or physical stimulation. During the initial stages of arousal, sensory input – such as thoughts, feelings, touch – cause nerves in the brain to send chemical messages that allow the arteries in your penis to expand. 

A rush of blood enters the penis during sexual stimulation, expanding its shape and size, resulting in the development of an erection. A healthy blood supply to the penis is dependent on a few factors.

Any disruption to this process may be related to erectile dysfunction. Whether you are unable to get an erection hard enough for penetration, or you are unable to maintain an erection, these fall under the umbrella of ED. Whilst it is common for men to lose an erection now and again, a common occurrence can indicate that there is an underlying issue.

There are two classifications of ED one should be aware of, as treatment protocols and severity of symptoms are largely dependent on which you’re afflicted with:

Primary ED

Primary erectile dysfunction is the less common and more disruptive form of this condition. In situations where a man is affected by primary ED, he has never been able to successfully achieve an erection. 

Otherwise known as impotence, ED can not only affect your ability to maintain a form of rigidity in your penis, but it can also manifest reduced libido, a decreased desire to have sex.

Secondary ED

Secondary erectile dysfunction is classified by circumstances wherein a man is no longer able to achieve and maintain an erection, having successfully been able to in the past. 

In the event that you discover an inability to become aroused – either in the company of a sexual partner, or whilst on your own – you should consider seeking advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Secondary ED can be overcome with various treatment protocols, and an early diagnosis is likely to see the return of a strong erection.

In many cases (not all), primary or secondary erectile dysfunction is as much a psychological condition, as a physical one. The key to curing ED is understanding what is causing it, and working on how to resolve the issue.

Can erectile dysfunction be cured?

The answer to this depends on several factors. However, for many men, ED can be cured.

How to cure ED depends on what the cause it. Anxiety, nerves, pressure, or stress can exacerbate psychological ED. These are often the causes of erectile dysfunction at a young age, or in healthy individuals. There are steps and measures that can be taken to help.

Lifestyle factors and other medical conditions can be responsible for the emergence of ED symptoms. Provided there is no permanent physical damage to your body, ED may be reversible and cured permanently.

In both scenarios, ED can be cured naturally.

Where there is irreversible damage, or in instances where men may find it difficult to overcome sexual performance anxiety, it may be more of a challenge to cure ED permanently, and medical intervention is often required.

Natural remedies for ED

Below, we outline methods on how to cure ED naturally:

Psychological treatment

There are several reasons that you may suddenly lose interest in sexual intercourse, or lose the ability to maintain your erection. The emergence of sexual performance anxiety (SPA) – the desire to please a new partner, or satisfy another individual – can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, or create unrealistic sexual expectations. 

This fear of failure can manifest itself as ED, without you even realising that the source of your inability to have sex has little to do with your penis, and more to do with your mindset. 

Talking to your partner, or seeking counsel from a medical or cognitive behavioural therapist (CBT) can go a long way towards recovering your sense of self-worth. This structured, time-limited, and problem-focused form of psychotherapy, is commonly utilised to combat mental barriers that cause ED.

Whilst many men may feel uncomfortable disclosing their fears of inadequacy to a partner, discussing the impact that their emotions are having on their ability to perform can help them understand how common their condition is, and identify steps and strategies to overcome it.

Exercise

Exercise is underrated when it comes to tackling ED. There are several benefits of exercise. A strong erection relies on a healthy blood supply. Logic dictates that moderate to intense levels of exercise can help to improve blood flow throughout the body. In fact, research suggests that 40 minutes of exercise 4 times a week can help to reduce erectile problems.

Exercise can also help to boost testosterone levels, which may help to boost libido, and improve the quality of an erection.

There are also exercises for the penis, known as Kegel exercises. These can help to promote blood flow to the penis.

Watch your diet

Unfortunately, there is no food that can cure ED. However, watching what you eat certainly goes a long way in helping to prevent, and reverse ED. Diets that are high in saturated fat can cause heart disease, which is a major contributing factor to ED.

Research has suggested that eating more fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods, helped to increase sexual function. Example of food that can help to treat ED include:

• Leafy greens such as spinach are high in nitric oxide, which can help arteries in the penis to dilate and fill with blood to give an erection.
• Research suggests that coffee has a similar effect. Results from research has suggested that men who drink around 2-3 cups of coffee a day, have lower rates of ED. This is owed to caffeine relaxing smooth muscle in the penis, allowing for blood to enter easily.
• Salmon is rich in vitamin D, one of the most studied vitamins when it comes to curing ED. Studies have shown a link between low vitamin D levels and ED. Other foods rich in vitamin D include red meat, liver, and eggs.
• Nuts are high in HDL (the good cholesterol), which essentially absorb bad cholesterol, carrying it back to the liver. Preventing bad cholesterol from blocking arteries can help to improve blood flow to the penis. Pistachios have the added benefit of arginine, which helps to encourage nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide helps to encourage blood flow around the body, including the penis.

Whilst there are no foods that can cure ED instantly, a healthy diet can help to increase wellness, which in turn, can help to reduce symptoms of ED. The worst foods for ED are those that have a negative effect on your overall health, such as saturated fats and sugars.

Sleep

Sleep plays an important role in almost every process of the human body. Poor sleep hygiene can affect both our mental and physical functioning, both of which can impact sexual functioning.

Poor sleep can affect testosterone levels and increases the risk of developing long term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Lack of sleep can also contribute to elevated stress levels, anxiety, and mental fatigue, all of which can contribute to ED. If you have noticed ED symptoms increasing recently, and you find that you are not waking up with a morning erection, you may wish to speak to your doctor about getting your testosterone levels checked.

Studies have shown that men who work night shifts and report poor sleep quality, had an increased risk of ED.

Sleep helps the body to recover, heal, and reduces the chances of developing long term conditions that contribute to ED. A well-rested mind can help to reduce mental fatigue, stress, and anxiety.

Weight loss

There are well known links between weight gain and ED. Being overweight significantly increases your risk of developing ED. This is because you are at an increased risk of:

• developing long-term conditions that cause ED
• reduced testosterone levels
• reduced blood flow
• low confidence and self esteem

Provided that weight gain has not caused irreversible damage to your health, you can get rid of ED by losing weight. One study has shown how a reduction in weight cured ED in around 30% of participants.

Losing weight can help to cure ED by improving blood flow, testosterone levels, and building confidence that can often reflect in sexual performance.

Stress management

Stress is linked to ED.  

When you are preoccupied, often with the pressures that life has to present, it’s difficult to focus. It may even be the case that sex is the last thing on your mind. This can affect performance. Stress can also affect testosterone levels, and the quality of sleep, which can have a knock-on effect on sexual performance.  

Generic advice along the lines of “stress less”, is unhelpful. Individuals often have different ideas on how to relieve stress and unwind. The general consensus is that exercise is an effective way to manage stress levels and clear the mind. Research and try to find ways that are effective in managing your stress levels.

Don’t underestimate the value of speaking to someone, whether it’s a friend or a professional. An outsider’s view or perspective of situations that are causing anxiety and stress, can help you to rationalise and come up with solutions in instances where your judgment or perception may be clouded.

Stop smoking

Smoking damages blood vessels in the body, reducing blood flow. This affects how much blood is available, in order to achieve and maintain an erection. Smoking also causes fatty deposits to build up in the arteries, which has the same effect.

Smoking also reduces nitric oxide in the body, which is required to encourage blood flow to the penis.

Reduce alcohol consumption

Whilst ED can reduce inhibitions and increase confidence levels, there’s a fine line between what’s considered to be a helping hand, and a hindrance. Alcohol can interfere with the brain’s messengers, which encourage the penis to fill with blood when sexually stimulated.

Alcohol also reduces the ability to feel sexual stimulation, which can make it difficult to ejaculate.

Long-term, alcohol can reduce testosterone levels, reduce blood flow, cause nerve damage and cause weight gain, all of which can cause ED.

Alcohol avoidance can help to cure ED. Provided that long-term drinking has not caused any permanent damage, alcohol-induced ED is reversible. A study has shown that after 3 months of abstinence from alcohol, ED improved in 88% of participants.

Changing medication you are taking

Certain medications may cause or exacerbate the symptoms of ED. Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of many blood pressure drugs, as they affect the flow of blood to the arteries – a necessary element of one’s ability to achieve an erection. 

Other medications that may affect ED symptoms include:

• Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Opioids
• Other medications (Parkinson’s medication, some prostate cancer treatment pills or chemotherapies)

Not every blood pressure medication will cause or exacerbate ED symptoms. Certain alpha-blockers and ACE inhibitors aren’t known to affect men in this way – however, every man is unique. If you feel as though the prescriptions you’re taking are beginning to contribute to the loss of your erection, consult your doctor. They may be able to suggest alternative forms of treatment that do not have the same residual effect.

Medication for ED

As we’ve identified, getting to the root of the issue is your cure for ED.

The word cure, means to ‘relieve the symptoms of a disease of condition’. Whether or not medication can be classified as a “cure”, is subjective. However, medical treatments are proven, and known to be effective in treating the symptoms of ED. They are often seen as the fastest way to cure ED, as they work in a short space of time. As far as a “simple trick to cure ED” goes, medication is as close as you’re going to get.

It is important to recognise that ED treatments will not combat the mental or psychological effects of sexual performance anxiety, nor will they treat the root cause of ED. However, they may be used in combination with counselling or other therapies, to help restore your sense of self-confidence when it comes to sex. 

Before starting treatment, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist, to check whether or not it is safe for you to use medical treatments.

The most popular ED treatment options include: 

• Viagra. Sometimes referred to by the generic name of sildenafil or ‘the blue pill,’ Viagra works by enhancing blood flow to the penis. It takes around 60 minutes to work, and the effects can last for 3-4 hours.
   
• Cialis. Also, also known by its generic name tadalafil, is one of the newest ED treatments. Doses are available in 2.5 & 5mg prescriptions called Cialis Daily, which are taken every day and have a continuous effect. Alternatively, higher doses of 10mg or 20mg quantities are available, and are taken 30 minutes before engaging in sexual activity. The effects can last up to 36 hours, which is why this treatment protocol is commonly referred to as ‘the weekend pill’.
   
• Levitra. It is commonly referred to as vardenafil, and available in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strength. It is taken around 25 minutes before sexual activity, with effects lasting up to 5 hours.

Alternative cures for ED

Penis pumps

Penis pumps work by drawing blood into the penis using a suction device. When used correctly, they are a safe alternative to those that cannot use medication. However, they do not actually solve the issue of ED, and are seen to be more of a treatment option as opposed to a cure.

Cock rings

Cock rings are bands which fit tightly around the base of the penis. They are worn after an erection has been achieved, with the intention of keeping blood in the penis. This helps to maintain an erection. Whilst they are seen to be a safe option, they do not work to resolve the issue and are seen as a treatment option as opposed to a cure.

Ayurvedic and herbal cures for ED

There is lack of scientific evidence to back claims that herbal and ayurvedic treatments can cure ED. You should be wary of any non-regulated substances that claim to help with ED, especially products that are marketed to increase penis size.

Unlicensed treatments such as Kamagra claim to contain sildenafil, however, such treatments are produced abroad and illegal to be sold in the UK. They may contain unknown ingredients which can be harmful to your health.

So, is there a simple trick to cure ED?

Once the root cause has been identified, curing ED often takes time, and requires discipline and consistency. This not only applies to your physical health, but also your mental health.

Whether there is a simple trick to cure ED or not, depends on the individual. You may find that speaking to your partner or seeking help from a therapist can help to resolve issues in the bedroom relatively quickly, or it may take time. The same applies to lifestyle changes, some of which may provide help faster than others.

Medication is often seen as in instant cure for ED; however, whether medical intervention is seen to be a cure or not, is subjective.

The bottom line is that there is help available. Identifying the root causes and working on ways to address them, is the solution, and ED does not have to last forever.

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.