Herbal Viagra: Separating Fact from Fiction
Love in the air this Valentine’s Day! Herbs can help you set the mood, but not all are safe. I break down fact versus fiction on popular herbal sexual stimulants.
You may have seen them on gas station shelves or advertised online for mail order: fancy packaging featuring “Herbal Viagra” on the label. Some are marketed as “all natural” or even “organic,” and as a consumer, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that this product is natural and safe. Why not take it to spice up your sex life?
Herbal Viagra
Fiction: Herbal Viagra products are 100% all-natural and safe.
Fact: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued public notifications on several fraudulent male sexual stimulants marketed as dietary supplements. Take for example the 2020 FDA notification on a product marketed as “Herb Viagra”. Chemical evaluation revealed that the product contained sildenafil, a synthetic pharmaceutical molecule that is the active ingredient in Viagra, the FDA-approved prescription drug for erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common sexual problem for men, affecting 30 million Americans. Products containing prescription medication for ED can be very dangerous, especially for people with diabetes, high blood pressures, heart disease, or who take prescription nitrates. There is no way of knowing what dose of active agent these fraudulent products may contain. Overdose on sildenafil can result in symptoms of vision and hearing problems, fainting, low blood pressure, upset stomach, and chest pain.
What this means for you
Avoid these products, especially any that promise quick (30-40 minute) results as they likely contain sildenafil or tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis). This is not a safe way to access these prescription medications. See your doctor to determine if a prescription medication is right for you.
What can nature offer?
Fiction: There are no sexual stimulants from nature.
Fact: Some botanicals have shown promise in scientific and clinical studies. However, there is still a significant amount of uncertainty surrounding their effectiveness compared to other treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) and female sexual dysfunction (FSD).
Let’s examine the evidence behind four popular botanicals used for this purpose.
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