With all the attention being given to sexual health, especially as the baby boomers enter their "golden years," lots of attention and hype is also being given to natural remedies. The clamor includes natural remedies for everything from athlete's foot to cancer. Not surprisingly, erectile dysfunction (ED) is being included in the trend. On the Internet and everywhere else, extravagant claims are being made for "natural medicines" that treat ED, supposedly without the side effects that can be associated with some prescription medications. For lots of men, this sounds like a great idea: a solution for erectile dysfunction that's relatively inexpensive, natural, and without the risk of side effects. What's not to like - right?

Cautions about Natural ED Medicines

Well, to quote George Gershwin, "it ain't necessarily so." The biggest problem with so-called natural ED medicines is that their manufacture and distribution is largely unregulated. In other words, consumers who use natural substances, either as medications or "dietary supplements," have no assurance of the quality, purity, or relative quantity of the "active ingredient" present in the substance they are ingesting. While it may be true that certain natural compounds can have beneficial effects for many medical conditions, including ED, "natural medicines" must be carefully scrutinized to be certain that they are what they claim to be. And the FDA isn't going to do it for you. If you are firmly committed to using natural medicines for ED or anything else, you should consult with your physician. You should also locate a reputable supplier who can be held accountable for the quality and purity of products offered for sale.

Studies

Some medical and clinical trials of certain "natural ED medicines" have revealed that up to 90% of the substances have no verifiable curative properties. In other words, they don't do what their boosters claim they do. Also, less than 10% of these so-called natural cures contain any sort of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor ("PDE5 inhibitors"), a chemical that has been shown to effectively aid men with erectile dysfunction by promoting better blood flow in the vessels of the penis. That means that relying on "folk cures" or other so-called natural ED medicines can mean relying on something other than proven science.

"Let the Buyer Beware"

The bottom line: be careful, do lots of research, ask lots of questions, and consult your doctor before you begin using natural ED medicines. Know what you're taking, know exactly how much you're supposed to take, and know how it's supposed to work.