MEDIA WATCH

How to treat impotence with herbs

Erectile dysfunction — difficulty maintaining an erection sufficient for sex — is a common problem. You’ve likely seen advertisements on the newspapers or in magazines for erectile dysfunction herbs or supplements.
The search for a remedy or a prescription that can enhance sexual function and/or treat male erectile dysfunction has been an obsession throughout known history. Whether it was an Eastern civilisation or a Western one, religious or atheist, man’s aspiration for a better or best “manhood” has been a history-time goal.
In order to preserve the integrity of manhood various therapeutic approaches are employed. Among many orthodox therapeutic approaches is the use of Sildenafil citrate (Viagra), but with limited efficacy, unpleasant side effects and contraindications in certain disease conditions.
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is quite common among sexually active men in Nigeria, as evidenced by a survey
that was carried out in Ogbomoso metropolis.
In an assessment of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage to enhance male sexual performance in Ogbomoso metropolis, for instance, researchers found that use of CAM is quite common among sexually active men in the metropolis and usage is independent of socio-economic status.
Ironically, this survey found that there were 420 (79.24 per cent) CAM users, 38 (7.18 per cent) Orthodox remedy users and 72 (13.58 per cent) neither use herbal nor orthodox remedy to enhance sexual performance, indicating a significant patronage of CAM as remedy for male sexual dysfunction.
Also, significant percentage of orthodox remedy users indicated unpleasant experience when compared with CAM users.
The 2011 survey that was published in the Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology was done by  Oyekunle Olanrewaju Akinloye from the Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State in collaboration with Raji Yinusa from the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Little wonder, research efforts are also geared towards finding natural products with aphrodisiac potentials, readily available, affordable and with little or no side effect.
Many plants have been reported to possess aphrodisiac potential and being employed as remedies for arousal disorders in males. The herb, the scientists assess to substantiate its usefulness for erectile dysfunction is Clerodendron capitatum, an indigenous tropical African plant.
In Sudan, the roots of this plant are used traditionally in the management of male erectile dysfunction. In Nigeria, this plant is used to treat diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension.  It is suggested to be used also in the treatment of diarrhoea and malaria.
Clerodendron capitatum, locally named “Fèrèmomi” in Yoruba, is an indigenous tropical African plant, which grows fast, erect, well branched and grows up to between 0.5 and 2m high.
In carrying out the study, the researchers tried out the methanol extract of the plant root on rabbits and guinea pigs. The extract was made from the air dried and ground roots of the plant.
The researchers, who compared mechanistically the effect of this plant with the viagra, an orthodox drug, on the penile erection found that the plant in a dose dependent fashion can correct an erectile dysfunction arising from poor blood flow to the penis.
They postulated in the study which was published by the journal, Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine that the methanol extract of the root of Clerodendron capitatum induced penile erection in a similar fashion to viagra.
In the same vein, many plants have been reported to possess aphrodisiac potential and are being employed as remedies for arousal disorders in males they include extracts of Fadogia agrestis, Myristica fragans (nutmeg), Passiflora incarnate (passion flower) and Massularia acuminate known as pako ijebu or orin ijebu.
Meanwhile other researchers have shown how extracts of Tribulus terrestris increase the testosterone (male sex hormone) level of the blood. They suggested that the aqueous extracts may thus be used to modify impaired sexual functions in humans due to their saponin components.
Tribulus terrestris is commonly called devil’s thorn, yellow vine and goathead. In Nigeria, it is hana taakama in Hausa (prevents swagger, in allusion to its thorns piercing the feet-a common expression) or tsaida (to stop because if a thorn pierces the foot one must stop to extract it), kaije in Kanuri and da ogun daguro in Yoruba.
Tribulus terrestris has a long history of traditional medical use in China, India, and Greece. In ancient times it was recommended as a treatment to promote female fertility and support a healthy libido in both men and women.
Sexual behaviour and erection are dependent on an androgen (male sex hormone like testosterone) that may be acting both centrally and peripherally. Testosterone supplementation has previously been shown to improve sexual function and libido, in addition to the intensity of orgasm and ejaculation, which might also be expected to improve.
The increase in testosterone by extracts of Tribulus terrestris seemed to have translated into male sexual competence  as claimed by users of its herbal preparations.
Tribulus terrestris has a long history of traditional medical use in China, India, and Greece. In ancient times it was recommended as a treatment to promote female fertility and support a healthy libido in both men and women.
The study by Adimoelja A. entitled “Phytochemicals and the breakthrough of traditional herbs in the management of sexual dysfunctions” was published in the International Journal of Andrology.
In addition, chili peppers such as African Pepper, Red Bird Pepper and Hot Flame peppers aside its high vitamin A content, which reportedly helps with smooth skin and vision also has an invigorating effect on several body systems, the penile.
There was convincing research on the role of cayenne in libido or sexual enhancement and as an aphrodisiac.  Cayenne works as a stimulant and catalyst for aphrodisiac functions.
Reference
tribune.com.ng/Sade Oguntola. 2012. How to treat impotence with herbs. [ONLINE] Available at:http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/natural-health/35660-how-to-treat-impotence-with-herbs. [Accessed 09 February 12].