This section for erectile dysfunction comprises energetically oriented treatments that have to do with intention, energy healing, prayer, and in some cases god. These terms may be volatile for some, and for others they resonate. Some of these treatments have proven to be profoundly healing for certain individuals with erectile dysfunction. Though some people are skeptical, prior notions of these words should be set aside when reading about these spiritual healing treatments, as many of the are truly incredible!
Many of the treatments that live in other sections on FoundHealth could easily live in this “Spirit” section as well. For example, Yoga for erectile dysfunction, though a treatment that mostly involves the body, certainly has spiritual undertones and components to its practice. Meditation lives under the Mind category, but really is a blend of body, mind and a spiritual/energetic component as well.
So take a look at which spirit treatments have been used for erectile dysfunction, or add any that are missing!
Sometimes erectile dysfunction is caused by inexplicable issues within the body. Yoga includes an physical exercising component that might very well help the body come more into balance; more than that however, there are conscious breathing and meditation components that can help to realign more than the physical, but also the mind-body connection as well. Sometimes de-stressing the body (through mindful and active resting like yoga, in addition to physical exertion through exercise) can help correct conditions like erectile dysfunction. Like many therapies however, this change will not happen overnight and will need dedication, patience and belief in the process in order to work.
A number of herbs are indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Korean red ginseng and maca have the most research evidence supporting their potential effectiveness in treating erectile dysfunction.
Numerous case reports and uncontrolled studies have indicated that Ginkgo biloba offers dramatic benefits for male (and female) sexual problems caused by antidepressants1-6. However, ginkgo was often as effective as the placebo7,8, so the power of suggestion was probably at play.
The herb Butea superba has shown some promise for erectile dysfunction, according to a 3-month randomized, double-blind study performed in Thailand9.
The following herbs are believed to be helpful, based on anecdotal evidence and/or tradition: Ashwagandha, Avena sativa (oat straw), catuaba, cordyceps, damiana, diindolylmethane (DIM), eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng), L-citrulline, Macuna pruriens, molybdenum, muira puama (potency wood), pygeum, Polypodium vulgare, Rhodiola rosea, saw palmetto, schisandra, suma, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and Tribulus terrestris.
It may be wise to avoid licorice because licorice can reduce testosterone levels.10
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop erectile dysfunction with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your healthcare provider what you can do to reduce your risk.
Risk factors include:
Age
The incidence of erectile dysfunction rises with age, with about 5% at age 40, to 15%-25% at age 65 and older.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction, including:
Traumatic Conditions
Trauma, whether through an accident or surgery, can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction. Trauma includes:
Behaviors
Certain behaviors can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction, including:
Medications
Certain medications can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction, including:
If you suspect a medication may be affecting your sexual functioning, talk with your doctor. Do not stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first.
Deficiencies
Severe zinc deficiency is known to negatively affect sexual function. Since marginal zinc deficiency is relatively common, it is logical to suppose that supplementation with zinc may be helpful for some men. However, this hypothesis has only been studied in men receiving kidney dialysis.1,2 The results were promising.
If you suspect a medication may be affecting your sexual functioning, talk with your doctor. Do not stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first.
References:
American Urological Association Foundation website. Available at: http://www.urologyhealth.org/ .
Guay AT, Spark RF, Bansal S, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: a couple’s problem. 2003 update. Endocr Pract.2003;9:77-95.
Sivalingam S, Hashim H, Schwaibold H. An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Drugs.2006;66:2339-2355.
Webber R. Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Evidence.2005;13:1120-1127.
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop erectile dysfunction with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your healthcare provider what you can do to reduce your risk.
Risk factors include:
Age
The incidence of erectile dysfunction rises with age, with about 5% at age 40, to 15%-25% at age 65 and older.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction, including:
Traumatic Conditions
Trauma, whether through an accident or surgery, can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction. Trauma includes:
Behaviors
Certain behaviors can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction, including:
Medications
Certain medications can increase your risk of erectile dysfunction, including:
If you suspect a medication may be affecting your sexual functioning, talk with your doctor. Do not stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first.
Deficiencies
Severe zinc deficiency is known to negatively affect sexual function. Since marginal zinc deficiency is relatively common, it is logical to suppose that supplementation with zinc may be helpful for some men. However, this hypothesis has only been studied in men receiving kidney dialysis.1,2 The results were promising.
If you suspect a medication may be affecting your sexual functioning, talk with your doctor. Do not stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first.
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html .
Erectile dysfunction. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/ED/ . Accessed August 8, 2010.
Guay AT, Spark RF, Bansal S, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: a couple’s problem. 2003 update: Endocr Pract . 2003;9:77-95.
Sivalingam S, Hashim H, Schwaibold H. An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Drugs . 2006;66:2339-2355.
Webber R. Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Evidence . 2005;13:1120-1127.
It is possible to suck blood into your penis with a vacuum device, generated by a pump attached to an air-tight chamber that fits over your penis. This treatment, which can be used daily, is optimal for men who do not want or are not suitable for drug treatment. The blood is held there by a rubber-retaining ring around the base of your penis. The success rate is between 70%-94%.
When used properly, these devices are safe, but they may cause mild discomfort in some men, including bruising, pain in the penis, numbness, and blocked ejaculation. These devices are best prescribed by your physician and used under his or her direction.
If circulation is reduced to the penis due to vascular disease (usually following a traumatic injury to the penis), reconstruction of the arteries may restore erectile function. This is complex surgery which is performed only in a few hospitals in the US. Occasionally, in these rare cases, angiographic techniques can be successful at repairing the vascular defect, avoiding the need to consider surgical reconstruction.
Surgery is an option when other efforts to address the erectile dysfunction have not been successful.
Implants are one surgical option that can help treat erectile dysfunction.
Vascular Reconstruction is another form of surgical intervention.
Guay AT, Spark RF, Bansal S, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: a couple’s problem: 2003 update. Endocr Pract . 2003;9:77-95.
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ .
National Library of Medicine website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ .
Sivalingam S, Hashim H, Schwaibold H. An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Drugs . 2006;66:2339-2355.
Surgical Management of Erectile Dysfunction. American Urological Association website. Available at: http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=128 . Accessed August 8, 2010.
Webber R. Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Evidence . 2005;13:1120-1127.
Semirigid/Malleable
This prosthesis (implant) consists of one or two bendable rods that are inserted into the penis. Once installed and healed, the penis and the prosthesis can be bent into position—upward for intercourse or downward for clothing and urination.
Inflatable
There are three pieces to this device:
The penis is normally limp until the pump is repeatedly squeezed, filling the balloon from the reservoir. After intercourse, the balloon in the penis can be deflated.
Description of the Procedure: Under general or regional anesthesia, and in sterile conditions in an operating room, the doctor will make an incision between your penis and scrotum and insert the device. Additional incisions may be made to insert the accessory parts in their proper positions.
Surgery is an option when other efforts to address the erectile dysfunction have not been successful.
Implants are one surgical option that can help treat erectile dysfunction.
Vascular Reconstruction is another form of surgical intervention.
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html .
Guay AT, Spark RF, Bansal S, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: a couple’s problem: 2003 update. Endocr Pract. 2003;9:77-95.
McMahon CN. Treating erectile dysfunction when PDE5 inhibitors fail. Brit Med J. 2006;332:589-592.
Montorsi F, Padma-Nathan H, Gilina S. Erectile function and assessments of erection hardness correlate positively with measures of emotional well-being, sexual satisfaction, and treatment satisfaction in men with erectile dysfunction treated with sildenafil citrate (Viagra). Urology. 2006;68:26-37.
Nonsurgical management of erectile dysfunction (ED). American Urological Association Foundation website. Available at: http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=174 . Accessed August 8, 2010.
Sivalingam S, Hashim H, Schwaibold H. An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Drugs. 2006;66:2339-2355. Webber R. Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Evidence. 2005;13:1120-1127.
There are two types of alprostadil:
Alprostadil acts directly on the blood vessels in the penis to cause an erection. It can be inserted into the urethra (urinary tube in the penis) with a special device or injected with a small needle. Erection occurs in 8-10 minutes and lasts 30-60 minutes. The injection is effective in about 65%-85% of users; the insert is effective in about 65%. The maximal number of injections per week is three.
Levitra (Vardanafil) and Cialis (Tadalafil)
These newer drugs have the same efficacy, safety profile, and cost effectiveness as Viagra. However, the following are major differences you should be aware of:
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html .
Guay AT, Spark RF, Bansal S, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: a couple’s problem: 2003 update. Endocr Pract. 2003;9:77-95.
McMahon CN. Treating erectile dysfunction when PDE5 inhibitors fail. Brit Med J. 2006;332:589-592.
Montorsi F, Padma-Nathan H, Gilina S. Erectile function and assessments of erection hardness correlate positively with measures of emotional well-being, sexual satisfaction, and treatment satisfaction in men with erectile dysfunction treated with sildenafil citrate (Viagra). Urology. 2006;68:26-37.
Nonsurgical management of erectile dysfunction (ED). American Urological Association Foundation website. Available at: http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=174 . Accessed August 8, 2010.
Sivalingam S, Hashim H, Schwaibold H. An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Drugs. 2006;66:2339-2355. Webber R. Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Evidence. 2005;13:1120-1127.
Viagra (also known as Sildenafil) was developed to treat heart disease, but during its clinical trials the subjects noticed they were having erections. Viagra works best between one and two hours after taking it. Sexual function improves by a factor of three to four; 4 out of 5 patients taking the drug report improvement. Viagra has been shown to be effective in ED associated with diabetes, spinal cord injury, and medicines used to treat depression.
In contrast to the other agents listed below, sildenafil does not produce an erection in the absence of sexual stimulation. It merely enhances the response. Take sildenafil about an hour before planned sexual activity.
There are three types of medical treatments available for erectile dysfunction: pills, injections, and urethral inserts. These treatments help create and maintain an erection. The most commonly known treatment for erectile dysfunction is Viagra (sildenafil), a pill; Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (Vardenafil) are similar pill-based medications. Alprostadil (MUSE, Caverject, and Edex) is an injection-based medication that has more immediate effects. An erection can also be created mechanically with implants.
