Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Consume a diet which focuses on whole, unprocessed foods
• Eliminate alcohol, caffeine, and sugar
• Decrease total cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• High-Potency Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement
• Vitamin C: 500 - 1000 mg. TID
• Vitamin E: 400 - 800 I.U.
• Inositol Hexaniacinate: 1000 - 3000 mg.
• Zinc: 30 - 45 mg. daily
• Copper: 2 - 4 mg.

Supplements: (references)

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1 - 2 gm. TID
• L-Arginine: 3,000 mg. on empty stomach
• Dehydroepeandrostrone (DHEA): 20-50 mg.
• Hypothalamus Glandular: 30 mg. BID
• Pituitary Glandular: 20 mg. BID
• Orchic Glandular: 100 mg. BID

Botanicals: (references)

• Ginkgo biloba extract (24% ginkgo heterosides): 40mg. TID
• Impotence Formula - (equal parts) Pausinystalia , Panax , Pygeum , Centella : 1/4 tsp. TID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Centella asiatica (Gota kola)
  Chamaelirium luteum (False unicorn)
  Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo)
  Panax ginseng (Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng)
  Pygeum africanum (Pygeum)
  Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto)
  Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek)
  Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
  Pausinystalia yohimbe (Yohimbe)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• General impotence:
  Arg., Bar-C., Calad., Calc., Calc-S., Chin., Con., Lyc., Med., Nux-V., Phos., Sel., Sep., Sulph.
• Chronic impotence:
  Lyc.
• Impotence with diabetes:
  Helon., Mosch.
• Impotence in elderly men:
  Lyc., Impotence with an enlarges prostate:
  Dig., Lyc., Sel.
• Impotence with sadness:
  Aur., Calad., Gels., Kali-Br., Spong.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• Testosterone supplementation if deficient
• Regular exercise
• Relaxation exercises 10-15 minutes per day
• Cigarettes can cause impotence - stop smoking

Recommended Labs:

• Check for impotence: CIS (Combined Injection and Stimulation), Duplex/Color Ultrasound, Cavernosography
• Rule out alcoholism: History, Liver panel
• Rule out atherosclerosis: Lipid Panel, Apolipoprotein A1, Apolipoprotein B, Cardio CRP, Homocysteine
• Rule out complications of rectal and prostate surgery: History
• Rule out congenital deformity: CT Scan, Ultrasound
• Rule out diabetes: Fasting Glucose, Fructosamine, Hemoglobin A1c
• Rule out drug-induced impotence: History, Blood Chemistry
• Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
• Rule out hypergonadotropic hypogonadism: Blood Testosterone Levels
• Rule out hyperprolactinemia: Fasting Blood Prolactin Levels, MRI
• Rule out hypertension: sphygmomanometry
• Rule out long distance biking: History
• Rule out multiple sclerosis: MRI
• Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
• Rule out pelvic injury: History, Ultrasound, CT Scan, X-Ray
• Rule out scleroderma: ANA with Reflex
• Rule out spinal trauma: History, X-Ray
• Rule out straddle injury: History

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).