6 Herbs for Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

There are countless herbal ED supplements out there today, but it turns out that the most popular herbs for male stamina, performance, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction all have one thing in common: they’re not necessarily backed by science for the treatment of erectile dysfunction — or anything else.

In short, many male libido treatments containing medicinal herbs that are supposed to “get you hard” may not live up to expectations and aren’t exactly supported by the research that’s been conducted so far.

Below, we’ve walked through the double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and systematic review literature that support these claims. When we ran out of that, we looked at anecdotal evidence. Finally, we shared our thoughts on the value of each herb and some alternatives for guys who want the reassuring support of proven treatments.

There are an increasing number of claims online about the efficacy of herbal supplements for ED. However, these supplements and herbs are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For the most part, they also lack any solid scientific evidence to support their role in sexual health.

Yes, many of these plants can affect a person’s blood pressure, blood vessels, nitric oxide levels, and other factors related to erectile health. However, they aren’t cures for penile health conditions like erectile dysfunction.

There are an incredible number of products on the market today that claim to treat ED and offer “natural male enhancement” in some way. However, most of them only have a few anecdotal studies to support these claims.

ED herbs aren’t much different, even if they are more “natural.”

Part of the reason you can’t make ED go away with natural remedies — including herbal Viagra, erection tea, horny goat weed (epimedium), natural Viagra, or any of the weird home remedies for ED you read on the internet — is that ED doesn’t just have one potential cause. 

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common men’s health issues, at least when it comes to sexual health, and it has many potential causes. 

Sexual dysfunction can be caused by health conditions like:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) 

• Cardiovascular disease

• Nervous system disorders 

• Injuries that reduce sensation

• Hormonal issues like low testosterone

Sexual problems can even result from depression, which can cause a lack of sexual desire, or performance anxiety, which can make your sex life scary instead of pleasurable.

Ironically, ED can also be caused by antidepressant use, leading to a bit of a vicious cycle for some people whose sexual problems are caused by mental health factors.

Herbs for ED can’t be miracle cures unless they can address these issues — which they can’t.

To be sure that ED herbs are as effective and safe as the treatments your doctor gives you, they would have to have a lengthy history of rigorously controlled study results to back their claims. And most of them don’t — yet.

Of the herbs for ED on the market today, the following popular herbal medicines get the most attention:

• Ashwagandha

• Maca

• Yohimbe

• Ginseng

• Cordyceps

• Ginkgo

Let’s look at these erectile function herbal remedies in more detail together.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, a root that grows in dry climates in Yemen, India, Nepal, and China, has gained prominence in Ayurveda medicine. It’s commonly called “Indian ginseng” in the West. 

In alternative medicine and traditional medicine circles, the herb allegedly eases anxiety and stress — which is why Infowars and Goop advertise ashwagandha with vague claims that it can help one’s overall wellness. You may also have read rumors online about ashwagandha and testosterone and how it may be a natural testosterone booster.

Yet, when it comes to getting it up, there is limited research on this herb’s effect on psychogenic erectile dysfunction, which is ED with psychological causes, like those related to stress, anxiety, and pressure surrounding sex. 

While ashwagandha has been touted to help you relax, ashwagandha has not been shown to provide relief from psychogenic ED. 

The verdict? Things like relaxation techniques or even therapy are better options to ease anxiety before sex.

Maca 

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a plant root from Peru with a history dating all the way back to the Incan empire. According to Peruvian myths, it can restore sexual vitality and increase energy in all aspects of your life. 

Nowadays, maca root for men is one of many ingredients in Moon Juice’s notorious “Sex Dust” powder, which is marketed as an aphrodisiac for both men and women. 

Despite its cult following, there hasn’t been proper, objective research into the effects of maca on ED, and there is nothing mentioned about Moon Juice’s Sex Dust in the medical literature. 

The research we did find, including a systematic review from 2010, suggested that there’s limited proof maca can do much of anything for your libido or erection quality.

The verdict: if you like the taste of Sex Dust, go for it, but don’t expect any miracle ED cures.

Yohimbe 

Yohimbe (also called African yohimbine) is an alkaloid derived from the bark of the yohimbe trees of Central Africa. Like most herbal ED supplements on the market, the science supporting its efficacy as an ED treatment is minimal.

In one review of eight studies, researchers found that there is some evidence that yohimbe can improve erectile function in men when used alone or with other supplements versus a placebo. However, they concluded that yohimbe needs to be combined with other treatments to improve sexual functioning.

While the study also said yohimbe was relatively well tolerated, there is concern about adverse side effects, as the herb is a popular ingredient in weight loss and muscle-building supplements.

The verdict? Stay safe, and stick with the FDA-approved stuff.

Ginseng 

While ginseng for ED (sometimes called panax ginseng) may have one of the most compelling cases, it’s still not quite measuring up as far as we’re concerned.

A 2021 review looked at nine studies of this Asian plant for ED, representing hundreds of patients. Even after reviewing all that data, researchers concluded that evidence of ginseng treating ED is “trivial” at best.

A 2008 systematic review of red ginseng for ED did conclude that the available studies were promising, but there were too few rigorous studies to make any conclusive statements about whether this Korean type of ginseng has any effect on ED.

The verdict? Let’s check back in a few years.

Ginkgo

We were hard-pressed to find hard evidence that ginkgo biloba could help with ED.

Of all of the studies, the most relevant was a study of ginkgo biloba extract and its effects on sexual dysfunction in women. Even in that study, however, authors concluded that while women using ginkgo extract had minor improvements in sexual function, there were substantial improvements in women who sought sex therapy first — they did best even when using a placebo.

Our verdict: explore other treatments.

Cordyceps 

Cordyceps are mushrooms used in Chinese medicine. They have been touted for countless benefits, from strengthening the immune system to increasing the male libido. 

Despite the mushrooms’ popularity, there has been limited research on cordyceps’ medical potential. 

One popular claim is that cordyceps increase circulation, making it easier to attain erections by boosting blood flow to the penis, but we couldn’t find any evidence of that.

Another claim is that cordyceps can boost hormone levels. One study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that these fungi boosted testosterone levels and sperm count in rats.

So, while there has been some research into cordyceps, they are not necessarily an effective ED treatment. For example, men with perfectly normal hormone levels can be affected by ED. Therefore, claiming that increasing hormone levels can stop all cases of impotence is misleading. 

We also have to point out that studies in rats don’t always translate to humans.

There’s just not enough evidence to support the idea that cordyceps can replace drugs like sildenafil that have been scientifically proven to help blood flow to the penis.

The verdict? Save the mushrooms for other purposes.

Herbs may not present much of a time-tested, FDA-approved option for managing the symptoms of ED, but there are a number of other options that have decades of research to support their effectiveness. 

Medication is typically the most well-known and simplest option. A healthcare provider might prescribe you a PDE5 inhibitor like Cialis® (tadalafil), Stendra® (avanafil), or Viagra® (sildenafil). These medications increase blood flow to your penis, so it’s more likely that you will get and maintain an erection when you get aroused.

They’re typically prescribed as tablets, but you have other options thanks to Hims’ chewable ED hard mints.

Besides medication, sexual function and sexual performance may benefit from two other natural treatment options — talking and taking care of yourself. 

The NIH is pretty clear that both therapy and lifestyle changes are effective complementary treatments to prescription medication. They can help address existing risk factors for ED, like a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, as well as depression and anxiety (especially the performance kind).

If you’re seeking an alternative to medication, try drinking less alcohol, eating healthier foods, staying away from sugar, and doing erectile dysfunction exercises — they can all help with ED. 

To treat erectile dysfunction, you may want and need to investigate the holistic options, but unlike a packet of dried herbs, therapy and lifestyle changes are the ones you should trust.

The allure of magic pills and natural remedies can be tempting. Don’t give in.

While supplements for ED are good at the sales pitch, they’re not so great when it comes to evidence. And that’s assuming you’re getting what you wanted — there are examples of some ED supplements being laced with medications they weren’t supposed to contain, and that’s just one of the many reasonswhy over-the-counter ED drugs are risky.

If you’re currently unable to maintain an erection, there are more reliable and scientifically tested methods available. 

Here are some tips for avoiding ED herbal supplement scams:

• Research and corroborate information. If something sounds too good to be true, chances are something’s off. Be wary of anything that isn’t backed by scientific consensus and strong research, especially clinical trials.

• Consult with a healthcare provider. Healthcare professionals can give you honest advice about what you should put in your body and won’t try to sell you a lifestyle. 

• Know you’re not alone. As many as 30 million American men have ED. 

Buying alternative medication online might seem tempting because it’s often touted as “natural,” but we trust medical experts to tell us what’s safe and effective.

If you’re ready to talk to a professional, you can start today — with us. We offer a number of sexual health treatments, therapies and resources just one click away.