Need to improve erectile dysfunction and impotence? Want to get your sex life in order right away? Tired of struggling with erectile difficulties? Science has shown us many inexpensive supplements that can help improve erectile dysfunction and significantly eliminate impotence very quickly, within a matter of a week or two in some cases, all the while increasing libido. Furthermore, some of these supplements are curative in nature and do not simply hide the root of the problem (as some of the drugs do). [By the way, this is not medical advice: see a doctor for erectile dysfunction: it is almost always a sign of heart disease or other medical conditions.]

You may ask, "Why not just take one of the big three erectile dysfunction drugs (Viagra, Cialis and Levitra) instead of a supplement?" The reason is simple: these drugs have numerous side effects - some quite serious! - which I cover these in greater detail in the Pros and Cons of Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. A lot of guys either don't want to take the risk or have firsthand experienced some of the side effects.

The good news is that there a number of supplements with some research behind them that, from all we can tell, have a better side effect profile. (Remember to talk to your doctor of course.) These supplements will help most guys almost right away, in a few weeks generally, but keep in mind that you should get to the root of your problem. That's why you should also read my links on the Erectile Repair Guide, Kegels, the Erectile Strength Diet and Exercise. Remember: get to the root of your problem or eventually heart and arterial disorders will stop your sex life dead in its tracks.

Here is a list of erectile dysfunction supplements with a decent, or even excellent, track record:

1) L-Arginine and Pycnogenol. Both L-Arginine and Pycnogenol have good supplement track records in the research for improving erectile dysfunction by increasing endothelial Nitric Oxide, which is the prime chemical involved in erections. Nitric Oxide relaxes the veins of the penis allowing blood to flow.. (It is on Nitric Oxide that Viagra, Cialis and Levitra work, for example.) For more information on these two miracle workers, please read the following link #1 and link #2. NOTE: Arginine does have potential side effects: see the above link.

2) Pycnogenol. If you do not want to take the erectile dysfunction supplement combination of L-Arginine and Pycnogenol for some reason, you may want to consider taking Pycnogenol on its own. Pycnogenol has been shown to stimulate the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) [15] which in turn stimulates Nitric Oxide production. Research has shown that pycnogenol also lowers bad cholesterol (LDL), raises good cholesterol (HDL), decreases inflammation and lowers blood pressure, which will very liely protect a guy from future erectile dysfunction as well. (High blood pressure is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction.) [4] Pycnogenol will also protect your collagen, i.e. your Skin and your Vitamin C stores (and Vitamin C protects collagen as well).

3) Prelox. Prelox bills itself on its web site as the "first clinically proven natural sexual performance enhancer". Of course, there have been other herbs and supplements that have studies showing their ability to help eradicate erectile dysfunction and I put them on this page. But the Prelox people did go to the trouble of performing a legitimate trial and it's no wonder that it worked so well: it is simply a pre-packaged combination of Pycnogenol and Arginine. [25] You could buy these separately yourself of course, as I point out above and save a little money more than likely. Or, out of convenience, you can just buy Prelox and get everything in one pill.

4) Korean Ginseng. Korean Ginseng has done very well in the studies: men using this supplement have improved erectile dysfunction and impotence in a matter of weeks and it has been shown to directly boost nitric oxide. Read more about it The Power of Ginseng.

5) Horny Goat Weed. Quite a name, huh? How are you going to explain that to the wife and kids? Well, I'll leave that up to you, but in the meantime grab some Horny Goat Weed (HGW) because it improves erectile dysfunction and impotence by increasing Nitric Oxide AND boosting libido. For information, read here about Horny Goat Weed.

Do you know the foods and drinks that increase erection-boosting Nitric Oxide? Check out the Peak Erectile Strength Diet where I show you how to dramatically and naturally improve your erectile strength.

6) Maca. This is one of the few herbs that has some decent evidence for being a good, old fashioned - and legitimate - aphrodisiac. It probably doesn't directly improve erectile dysfunction or cure impotence, but is a good bedroom buddy nonetheless. Should you take it? Find out more here as well.

7) Maca and Horny Goat Weed.. It is worth noting that some supplement manufacturers put Maca and Horny Goat Weed together in the same capsule taking advantage of their complementary effects on erectile dysfunction. Horny Goat Weed directly boosts Nitric Oxide and boost libido. Maca, through a complete different pathway, boosts semen volume and libido. Thus, buying Horny Goat Weed and Maca together can be a good combination.

8) Food. Okay, I know this page is about supplements, but I cannot help but point out that many foods will significantly increase your Nitric Oxide output. It's no exagerration to say that a trip to the grocery store is more powerful than any trip to a vitamin store. Let's face it: your diet got you into this mess and it will be diet that will get you out of it. The reason is that food makes long term benefits and healing. If you're interested, please read this link on How to Heal Your Erectile Dysfunction Naturally Through Diet. It will be good for your heart and good for the bedroom!

9) Carnitine. An Italian study demonstrated that taking 2 g/day of propionyl-L-carnitine along with 2 g/day of its cousin acetyl-L-carnitine, actually improved erectile function more than that of the a group taking testosterone. [9] A later study showed that 2 g/day of propionyl-L-carnitine actually significantly improved erections in men who were unresponsive to Viagra alone. [10] And, as if you wouldn't be happy enough with these results, Carnitine has also demonstrated mood and energy improvements as well. Carnitine is abundant in animal sources: a 3.5 oz serving of beef has a little over 90 mg, pork a little over 20 mg and chicken and dairy a little over 3 mg. Note: A strict vegetarian diet will have very low levels of ingested carnitine. CAUTION: This supplement should probably be regarded as a short term solution because 1) acetyl-l-carnitine increases free radical damage (which is why it is generally coupled with alpha lipoic acid) and 2) there is some evidence that it may interfere with thyroid function.

10) Caffeine. Believe it or not, caffeine may actually improve erectile dysfunction. This theory is still in the beginning stages, but a recent study on diabetic rats showed that "caffeine consumption improved the erectile function of diabetic rats by up-regulating cavernous cGMP". [20] Be careful about tanking up on caffeine though: it is too early to tell if the study results will translate to non-diabetic humans.

11) Citrulline.. Citrulline is an amino acid present in watermelon, fish, eggs and a few other foods. It is a pre-cursor, or building block, of L-Arginine and, as such, is an erectile dysfunction supplement that increases blood flow and Nitric Oxide throughout the body. I have been able to find no side effects at this point, although one would expect that it would have, at a minimum, some of the profile of L-Arginine itself. No one really has much of a doubt that Citrulline will increase Nitric Oxide levels - the debate is really "how much?". Many individuals have plenty of Arginine in their systems and, in that case, citrulline is unlikely to help much. If you want a more natural route, a recent study showed that citrulline exists in substantial quanitites in watermelon rinds. [27] That ought to get you some attention at your next BBQ, when you chow down on a half dozen watermelon rinds while everyone else is enjoying coleslaw and beer butt chicken. You may have the last laugh, though, as a Web MD article states that "a typical 4-ounce serving of watermelon (about 10 watermelon balls) has about 150 milligrams of citrulline". In other words, you don't even have to eat the rind to get a goodly amount.

12) Vitamin C. Several studies have shown that Vitamin C keeps Nitric Oxide in your system longer, something almost any good erectile dysfunction supplement should do, and thus should be a mild help with erectile dysfunction. One study showed that hypertensive patients actually had a measurable increase in dilation of the veins in the forearm for patients given Vitamin C. [24] This should translate to dilation of the arteries bringing blood to the penis as well. CAUTION: Vitamin C has done well in many studies and has many possible side effects including cancer and hardening of the arteries. Read about The Possible Dangers of Vitamin C before you make your decision to take it. (And consult with your doctor of course.) NOTE: Regular Vitamin C is very acidic and hard on the stomach: you may want to consider the Ester-C form for just that reason if you do decide to take it. One interesting benefit of 1.5 g/day of Vitamin C is that it actually decreases cortisol levels and cortisol lowers testosterone and is very hard on the brain.

13) CoQ10. A study from Germany showed that men with sub par endothelial function were helped by taking CoQ10. That should translate to improved erectile dysfunction. What they found was that blood flow was increased to arm vessels simply by increasing this one nutrient. [7] This was verified by one recent European study showed something similar: taking 300 mg/day of CoQ10 helped endothelial function by relaxing veins - yes, that means more blood flow throughout the body including the penis - and increasing the body's key antioxidant SOD (which protects your incredibly valuable Nitric Oxide). [8] So, yes, even a run-of-the-mill, non-exotic supplement like CoQ10 can improve erectile dysfunction and impotence.

14) Folic Acid. A recent meta-analysis, a study of studies, revealed that folic acid supplementation improved endothelial function and that should improve erectile dysfunction as well. Better blood flow and arterial dilation are good for your sex life and should improve erectile dysfunction while it's at it. After all, you want all the veins in your body, especially the ones in the penis, to be able to expand easily and allow the blood to move freely. Furthermore, researchers found that the higher the dose, the better the result. [11] Scientists speculate that folic acid's potency may stem from its ability to lower homocyteine levels, which is one of the leading predictors of heart disease. In fact, scientists found that elevated homocysteine levels were as strongly correlated to heart disease as high cholesterol and triglycerides. [12] Folate also protects the Brain as well. CAUTION #1: There is some new evidence that too much Folic Acid can lead to colon cancer. [21] See this link for details. But, it should be added, many studies have found that Folic Acid supplementation actually lowered cancer levels. [22] Again, though, the safest way is always to get what you need through what you eat. CAUTION #2: You may have read that Vitamins B6 and B12 can lower homocyteine levels as well. Be careful about taking B6 and B12 supplements. These usually come in megadoses that can cause memory damage and/or exacerbate acne. See this link for details.

15) Magnesium. Make sure you are getting enough Magnesium. Studies have shown that adequate magnesium can decrease some of the effects of Metabolic Syndrome and lower inflammation (c-Reactive Protein, a.k.a. cRP) levels which are devastating to your endothelium. [13] To improve erectile dysfunction and impotence, you definitely want to consider Metabolic Syndrome one of your arch-enemies. If you're eating a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet, that is so often recommended on this site, then you have little to worry about. But if you're eating like a typical Westerner, consider taking this inexpensive supplement. Magnesium is so critical that I have devoted a separate link to the subject.

16) Fish Oil. Fish Oil has not been studied directly as a supplement to improve erectile dysfunction. However, one European study found that it helped endothelial function and nitric oxide output (in Fish and Fish Oil. Fish Oil has not been studied directly as an aid to improve erectile dysfunction and impotence. However, one European study found that it helped endothelial function and nitric oxide output (in diabetic patients) and both of those are the stuff of erections. [14] Yet another study found that fish oil increased the elasticity of arteries, i.e. their "expandability". [26] Yes, we males want nice expandable blood vessels that allow blood to flow into the penis. For more information about fish and fish oil and how it benefits the heart, please read The Many Benefits of Fish and Fish Oil here. CAUTION.: It's very easy to buy rancid fish oil, which will do more harm than good, and fish can have mercury and PCB's. Read my link on Fish and Fish Oil for how to consume your omega-3's safely.

17) Gingko. Gingko, like Pycnogenol, strengthens the activity of Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), making it a viable erectile dysfunction supplement. [16] Furthermore, animal studies have shown that Gingko relaxes in a dose-dependent fashion arteries, including those all-important ones supplying blood to the penis.[17] Direct evidence that Gingko improves erectile dysfunction and impotence in a significant way is still lacking, but any herb that increases Nitric Oxide will help males struggling in this area. (This is an herb can be purchased inexpensively even in places like Wal Mart.) NOTE: Gingko Biloba is often tauted as improving erections in men with erectile dysfunction that had resulted from taking antidepressants. However, the studies have actually shown mixed results in this area. CAUTION: Care should be exercised with this supplement as Gingko thins the blood and has several drug interactions including NSAIDs and anticoagulants.

18) Tongkat Ali/Eurycoma Longifolia Jack. A libido enhancer worth mentioning because it has done well in studies on rats and because it is frequently in ex. A libido enhancer worth mentioning because it has done well in studies on rats and because it is frequently in ex. A libido enhancer worth mentioning because it has done well in studies on rats and because it is frequently in ex. A libido enhancer worth mentioning because it has done well in studies on rats and because it is frequently in expensive supplement preparations in health food and nutritional stores. No human studies have been done to date from what I have read, except for one that shows an increase in muscle mass [28]. And, unfortunately, the animal studies were all conducted by one researcher.

19) Tribulis Terristris This is much-hyped in nutritional stores and bodybuilding sites as a testosterone booster. The truth is that it has a few animal studies behind it in this area but little else. Tribulis works on testosterone by increasing Leutinizing Hormone, but this has a muted effect the older a guy gets. However, Tribulis is an old friend and a lot of guys swear by it. The reason is that Trib is very likely a jack-of-all trades. We cover that here in a link on Super Sexual Herbs.

20) Yohimbe. One of the ways this herb seems to work is by increasing blood pressure. That’s the last thing anyone, especially those over 40, needs. So, yes, this can improve erectile dysfunction and impotence in the short term. However, it is probably dangerous to your long term health.

21) Chrysin. Estrogen can crowd out testosterone and so an estrogen inhibitor can boost testosterone. 6-OXO was recently banned by the FDA, leaving Chrysin, which is a questionable estrogen-inhibitors at best. For a more detailled look, read this link on Estrogen.

22) Saw Palmetto/Pygeum/Stinging Nettle. All three of these herbs have a solid and generally safe track records and all three are known for their ability to block the enzyme that conversts regulard testosterone into DHT, one of the male androgens infamous for causing hair loss and enlargening the prostate. This is exactly how the hair restoration drug Propecia (formerly called Proscar) works, i.e. by blocking this same enzyme. But here is what your doctor and pharmacist will not tell you: Propecia can result in estrogen-like symptoms including enlarged male "breasts", loss of sex drive, decreased semen volume, erectile difficulties and so on. Saw Palmetto, which is the "natural" equivalent of Proscar produces these same symptoms in a certain percentage of men. Pygeum and Stinging Nettle also block this same enzyme and thus, to one degree or another, probably produce these estrogen effects. Bottom line: these herbs are simply not worth the risk. Start wearing a hat if you're that sensitive about your scalp.

REFERENCES:

4) Phytotherapy Research 2002,16:1-5; Nutrition Research,2001,21:1251-1260;Nutrition Research, 2003,23: 1189-1198;Life Sciences,2004,74:855-862

5) J Urol 2002; 168:2070-3

6) Asian J Androl 2007;9(2):241-4

7) Intl Journ Cardio 2005 Feb 28, 98(3):413-9

8) Eur Heart Journ 2007 28(18):2249-2255

9) Urology 2004 Apr,63(4):641-646

10) Curr Med Res Opin, 2004 Sep,20(9):1377-1384

11) Amer Jour Clin Nutr, 2007 Sep,86(3):610-7

12) Amer Jour Cardio,2007 Aug 1,100(3):455-8

13) Am Jour Clin Nutr, Apr 2007, 85(4):1068-74

15) J Cardiovasc Pharmacol,1998,32:509-515

16) Hum Psychopharmacol,2002,17:279-284

17) Gen Pharmacol,1982,13:169-171;Gen Pharmacol,1982,13:225-230;Gen Pharmacol,1983,14:277-280

18) J Clin 17) Gen Pharmacol,1982,13:169-171;Gen Pharmacol,1982,13:225-230;Gen Pharmacol,1983,14:277-280

18) J Clin Endocrinol Metab,1991,73:4-7

19) Eur J Clin Nutr, 2008 Dec, 62(12):1426-31, Epub 2007, "Fish oil supplementation improves large arterial elasticity in overweight hypertensive patients", Wang, et. al.

20) Journal of Andrology, Sep/Oct 2008,(29):5

21) JAMA,2007,297:2351-2359932-40

24) Circulation, 1998 Jun 9, 97(22):2222-9

25) Intl J Impotence Res, 2008, 20:173-180

24) Circulation, 1998 Jun 9, 97(22):2222-9

225) Intl J Impotence Res, 2008, 20:173-180

26) Eur J Clin Nutr, 2008 Dec, 62(12):1426-31, Epub 2007, "Fish oil supplementa26) Eur J Clin Nutr, 2008 Dec, 62(12):1426-31, Epub 2007, "Fish oil supplementation improves large arterial elasticity in overweight hypertensive patients", Wang, et. al.

27) Journal of Chromatography A, 17 June 2005, 1078(1-2):196-200, "Determination of citrulline in watermelon rind"

28) Brit J Sports Med, Oct 2003, 37: 464–70. "The Ergogenic Effects of Eurycoma Longifolia Jack: A Pilot Study"

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