16 Home Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Typically, healthcare professionals treat erectile dysfunction (ED) with prescription medications that improve blood flow to the penis. But did you know that some people swear by home remedies for ED? Wondering if they actually work and if they’re safe? 

Some of these natural remedies can improve your general well-being. Others, like supplements, might not have solid scientific backing just yet. 

Below, we outline some of the most natural ED treatments and figure out:

• What works

• What doesn’t

• What could be unsafe

• What’s worth your time

We also briefly cover FDA-approved ED medications that are proven to help with sexual dysfunction.

Most home remedies for ED fall into two categories: lifestyle behaviors and supplements:

Behaviors

Simple diet and lifestyle changes can boost your sexual performance, enhance your quality of life, and improve your overall health. 

Supplements

Some herbs, minerals, and natural dietary supplements claim to naturally improve blood flow, helping you to get and maintain an erection. But here’s the thing: The evidence is mixed at best. And many over-the-counter (OTC) products aren’t closely vetted for safety and effectiveness.  

Learn more about the most popular herbs, minerals, supplements and vitamins for treating erectile dysfunction in our guide.

Many men with ED prefer to try natural treatments before turning to medication. 

You might be familiar with horny goat weed, ginkgo, or tongkat ali. These herbs, along with other vitamins, minerals, and supplements, are popular natural remedies for ED, particularly in Eastern and Chinese medicine. 

But the scientific evidence for these natural solutions is a mixed bag. Some may offer some benefits, while others lack solid evidence to support their use for ED. 

It’s important to note that herbal remedies and supplements aren’t reviewed or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) like prescription medications.

This means potential side effects, safety risks, and interactions haven’t always been rigorously studied. 

So while exploring natural options might seem appealing, it’s wise to approach them with some caution, especially if you have existing health conditions or take prescription drugs.

Thinking of trying one of these natural remedies for ED? Talk with your healthcare provider. 

Why Lifestyle Changes Matter for ED

If your ED is due to health conditions like high blood pressure, simple changes to your diet and lifestyle can make a big difference to your erectile function and sex life. 

Lifestyle changes can also help with erection issues linked to psychological issues. 

For example, some sexual dysfunctions are connected to porn use or overly aggressive masturbation techniques (AKA “death grip syndrome").

But here’s a crucial point: ED can be a warning sign of larger health problems like heart disease or prostate issues, so don’t ignore it. 

If you’re experiencing ED, it’s essential to consult a health professional for medical advice. They can help you identify the root cause and work towards a solution.

The best home remedies and treatments that might help to improve your erectile dysfunction symptoms include:

1. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

2. Aim for Optimal Blood Pressure

3. Eat a Balanced Diet

4. Exercise for 30 to 60 Minutes a Day

5. Check Your Testosterone Levels

6. Avoid Cigarettes and Other Nicotine Products

7. Only Drink Alcohol in Moderation

8. Limit Your Porn Consumption

9. Acupuncture

10. Red Ginseng

11. Yohimbe

12. L-Arginine

13. Rhodiola Rosea

14. DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

15. Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium)

16. Pomegranate Juice

You can learn more about erection-friendly diet and lifestyle changes in our guide to naturally maintaining your erection.

1. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

If you have obesity, losing weight may improve your cardiovascular health and make it easier to get an erection. After all, healthy erections are all about healthy blood flow. 

The healthy habits that can help you maintain a healthy body weight can also reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers — all of which can impact your sexual health.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide on the impact of your weight on erectile dysfunction.

2. Aim for Optimal Blood Pressure

Erections depend on a steady blood flow to your penis, so keeping your blood pressure in check is crucial for sexual function and overall health. 

High blood pressure (AKA hypertension) can damage blood vessels over time, impacting blood flow and leading to ED symptoms. 

Elevated blood pressure can also significantly increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. 

Our guide to high blood pressure and ED includes actionable tips for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. As you read through, you might notice many of the tips are similar to natural ED remedies. 

Also important for a healthy cardiovascular system? Controlling high cholesterol.

3. Eat a Balanced, Healthy Diet

Men’s health hinges partly on what you eat. You don’t need a perfect diet, but healthier eating can improve your heart health and potentially ease ED symptoms.

A 2018 review of studies highlighted that the Mediterranean diet, rich in fresh veggies, fruits, legumes, seafood, and lean proteins, may improve erectile dysfunction.

For a deeper dive into how diet can affect your sexual health, check our guide on the link between diet and erectile function. 

4. Exercise for 30 to 60 Minutes a Day

Exercise, especially aerobic activities like running, cycling, or rowing, can improve your overall health and lower your risk of ED.

A 2011 meta-analysis in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Science reviewed five studies and discovered that men with ED due to heart disease saw improvements in their symptoms with regular exercise. 

Living an active lifestyle also enhances sexual desire and mental health.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, whether it’s a walk or a bike ride around your neighborhood. 

5. Check Your Testosterone Levels

It’s perfectly normal for testosterone levels to drop as you age — a topic we cover in our guide to testosterone and ED. 

Besides keeping your bones and muscles strong, testosterone plays a key role in maintaining your sex drive.

If you suspect low testosterone is behind your erectile dysfunction or low libido, consider seeing a urologist for testing. 

It’s also worth paying attention to other potential symptoms of low testosterone, since they can impact your overall quality of life. 

6. Quit Smoking and Using Nicotine

Smoking is bad for you. No surprise there. But did you know that it can hurt your sexual performance, too? 

The chemicals in cigarettes can cause vascular disease, while nicotine narrows your blood vessels, raising blood pressure. 

A 2008 study revealed that nicotine can lower men’s erectile response to erotic material. This means even vaping, cigars, or nicotine gum can throw off your sexual function. 

Our guide to smoking and its link to erectile dysfunction goes into more detail on the sexual health risks of smoking. 

7. Only Drink Alcohol in Moderation

Drinking too much can affect your sexual performance. 

Ever heard of “whiskey dick”? It's a non-medical term for temporary ED caused by excess alcohol consumption. 

But research shows that alcohol can have long-term side effects on your sexual health — way beyond a hangover. 

Research backs this up. In a study on men with alcohol dependence, researchers found that the more a person drinks, the higher their chances of experiencing sexual dysfunction. 

Want to avoid this side effect? Drink in moderation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend no more than two alcoholic drinks per day. Or, avoid alcohol entirely when you plan to have sex.

8. Limit Your Porn Consumption

There’s no clear link between sexual dysfunction and porn addiction. But one survey found that men who like to masturbate with porn instead of having partnered sex are more likely to experience porn-induced erectile dysfunction. 

Treatment options range from speaking with a healthcare provider or a licensed therapist to taking steps on your own to limit porn consumption. 

9. Acupuncture

Some people swear by acupuncture as an erectile dysfunction treatment.

But there’s not a lot of strong evidence to support its use for ED. 

A 1999 study in the International Journal of Impotence Research found that 15 percent of ED patients saw improvements in their erections after 12 weeks of acupuncture ED treatment.

However, this study only had 16 participants, so it’s tough to draw firm conclusions from the research. 

Another study from 2013 showed that men suffering from ED as a side effect of antidepressant usage reported significant improvements in sexual functioning after 12 weeks of acupuncture. 

Yet, research in this area is still limited (and flawed). 

While acupuncture might help with symptoms of ED, there just isn’t enough evidence to confirm its effectiveness at this time. 

10. Red Ginseng

Red ginseng, or Panax ginseng, is an East Asian plant root that’s a big deal in traditional folk medicine. People also swear by it as a natural alternative to prescription ED medications like sildenafil (AKA Viagra).

A 2008 review in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology looked at seven studies on red ginseng and ED.

The verdict? There’s some evidence red ginseng might help. 

But the study quality was generally low, making the results unreliable. There’s just not enough high-quality, unbiased evidence showing that this plant-based treatment is effective for ED. 

11. Yohimbe

Yohimbe is a natural supplement made from the bark of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree, native to western and central Africa. 

Manufacturers claim it can help with weight loss, muscle growth, increasing testosterone, and treating erectile dysfunction.

But the science is a bit all over the place. 

Researchers of a 2022 study found that yohimbine had a positive effect on men with ED. 

But, the study only involved 18 men, and just 9 reported positive changes in erectile function.

Other studies on the effects of yohimbe for erectile dysfunction are also small in size, making them unreliable. 

The evidence supporting yohimbe for ED isn’t thorough or recent enough. But some men do seem to benefit.

Thinking of trying yohimbe? Wait a sec. Yohimbe comes with a risk of:

• Heart attacks

• Seizures

• Rapid heart rate

• High blood pressure

In the United States, it’s also illegal to market it as a treatment option for ED without FDA approval. 

Given these potential risks and the mixed evidence, it’s hard to recommend yohimbe as go-to for improving erectile function. 

12. L-Arginine

L-arginine, a naturally occurring amino acid, plays a role in nitric oxide production in your body. This helps relax blood vessels, especially in the arteries supplying blood to the penis, making it easier to achieve an erection. 

Like red ginseng, companies sometimes market L-arginine as a natural alternative to prescription ED medications. 

Studies on L-arginine and ED show mixed results. Some research suggests it can improve erections in certain men, but these studies often involve small sample sizes.

A 1999 study in Urologia Internationalis found that daily use of three 500 milligram (mg) oral L-arginine supplements was no better than a placebo.

In short, the jury is still out on L-arginine as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

13. Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea, or arctic root, is an herb from the northern regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Natural health websites often promote it as a remedy for stress, depression, diabetes, and even ED. 

While some studies suggest Rhodiola rosea has some health benefits, there’s no proof it’s effective for ED. 

14. DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a natural steroid hormone produced by your body. It’s a key player in creating sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone. 

Supplement manufacturers often market DHEA as an athletic performance supplement, libido enhancer, and ED treatment.  

While some evidence suggests it may increase testosterone levels in middle-aged men, the research is limited.

Think of DHEA as more of a “maybe” treatment option for ED. 

Remember that although DHEA is available without a prescription, it’s banned by WADA and several other sports governing bodies.

For more DHEA and its effect on men’s sexual health, check out our guide to DHEA for men.

15. Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium)

Epimedium, or horny goat weed, is another well-known natural supplement that certain sources claim can help with ED.

Some evidence suggests that horny goat weed may mildly inhibit PDE5 — an enzyme that controls blood flow to the penis. 

We’ve discussed horny goat weed and its potential sexual effects in more detail in our full guide to horny goat weed and erectile dysfunction.

16. Pomegranate Juice

Is fruit juice really a natural treatment for ED? 

While it’s true that the antioxidants and vitamins in pomegranate juice have some health benefits, there’s no proof it’s a reliable treatment for sexual dysfunction. 

Most of the claims about pomegranate juice and ED trace back to a 2007 study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research.

The study found a small, statistically insignificant improvement in erectile activity in men with erectile dysfunction who drank pomegranate juice. 

A few things to note about the study:

• Out of 53 participants, only 25 reported improvements after drinking the juice

• It was funded by the juice company POM Wonderful, LLC.

Since then, the claims about pomegranate juice and erectile dysfunction have been debunked.

But you’ll still find pomegranate juice (and beet juice)  on lists of natural products for erectile function.

Erectile dysfunction is a common issue for men of all ages. It’s no wonder many seek home remedies and natural ways to boost blood flow and sexual function.

Here’s what it comes down to:

• Diet and lifestyle changes might help. Incorporating healthy habits like exercise and stress reduction techniques may help you better manage erectile dysfunction.

• Research supporting other remedies is weak. The evidence for natural ED remedies like Rhodiola rosea, red ginseng, horny goat weed, and pomegranate juice isn’t very convincing. 

• FDA-approved medications are your best option. The most effective way to treat erectile dysfunction is with PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Stendra®). They work by increasing blood flow to your penis, helping you to get and maintain an erection.

The good news? Almost all cases of erectile dysfunction are treatable. It comes down to choosing the right treatment for you. And it’s only a step away.

Schedule a free online consultation with a licensed healthcare professional to learn more about your ED treatment options.

Want to learn more about erectile dysfunction? Check out our guides to common causes of erectile dysfunction and the most effective erectile dysfunction treatments and drugs.