Herbs for virility: natural ways to spruce up your sex appeal.

Business Wire, Feb 4, 2002

I plan to be like Moses," declares Judah Landes, Ph.D., a retired professor of clinical psychology at San Jose State University in Palo Alto, Calif. "Moses lived to be 120, and the bible says his eye was not dimmed, nor was his natural force abated." A wink and a nudge accompany this statement to make sure everyone knows just what natural force Landes is talking about.

In every tribe, culture and century, men have pursued virility by downing all manner of potions and nostrums. While the demand for virility-enhancing products has never disappeared, American natural food stores have, until recently, devoted most of their shelf space to products for women and children, Now that the industry has targeted men, a previously untapped consumer group, natural remedies for male conditions have become a hot and growing market category.

Twenty years ago, men would have been given the conventional advice that a well-balanced diet was all a man needed for optimal health and that supplements were a waste of money. How things have changed! Today, it's not just TV hucksters that are promoting supplements for men but physicians who use these products themselves and advise their patients to follow suit.

Few Americans are as aware of this change as James Green, master herbalist, co-director of the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville, Calif., and author of The Male Herbal: Health Care for Men and Boys (Crossing Press, 1991). For years Green searched the herbal literature for information about the treatment and prevention of common male disorders. There wasn't much, and in workshops and seminars, he wondered why, "From the multitude of ideas expressed in the group discussions," Green says, "it dawned on me that American men are just now creating their gender-specific system of medicine and healing techniques." The result, he expects, will be a blending of conventional and complementary therapies.

In Europe, where physicians routinely prescribe botanical remedies, male conditions have long been treated with herbs, and much of what we know about plant-based disease prevention and treatment comes from that tradition.

One of the herbs widely used by European men is Ginkgo biloba, best known as a remedy for circulatory disorders and faulty memory. Ginkgo has repeatedly been shown to increase the flow of blood throughout the body, including in the brain.

In matters of virility, this herb is of special interest because European studies show it can cure impotence caused by blockages in arteries, which, while not the leading cause of impotence, is a condition affecting many men who have circulatory problems. Arteries lead to all of the body's organs -- genitals included, and when this flow of blood is reduced, erections become difficult if not impossible to maintain. In one study reported in the Townsend Letter for Doctors (December, 1991), 50 patients with arterial erectile impotence were treated with 240 milligrams (mg.) of ginkgo extract daily and all reported significantly improved erections; in another, 60 men who did not respond to injections of the erection-boosting drug papaverine took 60 mg. of ginkgo extract daily and half regained potency within six months. Although considered safe for most people, ginkgo interferes with blood clotting and should not be taken by people with clotting disorders.

The way your body responds to stress can get in the way of intimacy. Stress is probably the most pernicious condition affecting today's man, and while a little stress is a good thing, the debilitating effects of tension and anxiety on the nervous and immune systems fill textbooks. "Chronic stress is depressing and debilitating. It can put you in a whole dysfunctional state of being, and it seriously depletes the libido," says Green.

Of the herbs called nervines, noted for their calming influence, one with a special affinity for men is kava or kava kava (Piper methysticum), a Polynesian herb that soothes the nerves without dulling the mind. Kava was traditionally prepared as a fermented beverage with potent narcotic properties, but today's unfermented dried root capsules and tinctures are considered safe and nonaddictive.

In 1991, a German scientific journal, Arzneim-Forsch, reported a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 58 patients whose anxiety was not caused by psychiatric disorders, for whom kava extract significantly reduced depression and anxiety. Although it is now well established that kava reduces anxiety and has a calming effect, when taken at recommended dosages, it does not interfere with coordination or concentration. However, when taken in large amounts, kava can produce symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication. like alcohol, kava overdoses may interfere with erotic interludes as much as they interfere with driving or operating machinery. The recommended dosages, 1 to 3 grams (g.) per day of the powdered dry root in capsules or 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons kava tincture per day, have caused no adverse side effects in European trials lasting up to eight weeks of continuous use. However, it is possible to overdose on kava; see p. 83.

Mention men's herbs and usually the first one that comes to mind is ginseng. The Asian Panox ginseng and its America-n cousin, P. quinquefolia are synonymous with men's health. (For a review of this important herb, see "Ginseng: Prince of Tonics," March, p. 94.) Widely promoted as an aphrodisiac, ginseng is really an adaptogen herb, that is, a tonic that brings the body into balance. In terms of sexual performance, an adaptogen can be expected to help relieve stress, high blood pressure, depression and exhaustion, conditions that have a cooling affect on ardor. But don't be in a rush -- it is usually necessary to take ginseng on a daily basis for two or three months before the full benefits can be experienced.

Aphrodisiac herbs, unlike slow-acting tonics, take effect rapidly -- within hours rather than months. The most famous member of this category, yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimba), a substance derived from the bark of an evergreen that grows in Camaroon, West Africa, is also the most controversial. Its alleged side effects read like the warning notice on a prescription drug label (see p. 83). It's best to try a very small amount first, to make sure you aren't overly sensitive to it (there's wide variability in response) and to avoid alcohol, drugs and stimulants. Taken by itself, yohimbe can produce anxiety attacks and painfully prolonged erections; the possibility of adverse side effects is increased when yohimbe is taken with drugs or alcohol.

Health warnings notwithstanding, yohimbe enjoys a universal reputation as a promoter of male sexual arousal, a reputation that is well-deserved. Yohimbe dilates the skin's blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and stimulates reflex excitability in the lower regions of the spinal cord. Interested in trying the herb? See Yohimbe Tea recipe, p. 83.

Another option is damiana (Turnera diffusa-aphrodisiaca), which, as the Latin name suggests, has had a reputation as an erotic aid dating to ancient times. In addition, this plant's fragrant leaves are considered an effective antidepressant, urinary antiseptic, mild laxative and tonic for the central nervous system, prostate gland and endocrine system.

Is damiana really an aphrodisiac? Skeptics say no, attributing damiana's reputation to the promotional efforts of 19th century druggists. Damiana products became wildly popular in Victorian times, but this may have been due to their high alcohol content and frequent addition of other ingredients, such as coca leaves (the source of cocaine). These additives may explain both its earlier appeal and why some authorities may still dismiss damiana as an herbal hoax.

Green disagrees, "The mind is humanity's ultimate aphrodisiac, and how we think and feel is what turns us on or off. Damiana teas, tinctures, cordials and elixirs soothe an irritated or troubled mind, assisting us in feeling more joyous and well. When we talk about aphrodisiacs, we have to define our terms. If all you want is an erection, take yohimbe but realize that it doesn't guarantee a romantic interlude. Some couples who use yohimbe feel so irritated and nervous, two potential problems for sensitive individuals or people who overdose, that all they do is snap at each other. If you want to enjoy yourself, feel great and make love rather than just have sex, try damiana."

Whether it's kava for stress, ginkgo for improved circulation, ginseng for the entire system or the aphrodisiacs yohimbe and damiana, traditional herbs can improve most modern men's lives. With a little help from your friends in the plant world, you too can look forward to living to a ripe old age with your eye not dimmed, nor your natural force abated.

Herb Precautions

Through usually nontoxic and free of adverse side effects, some herbs are powerful and should be used with care.

Among the herbs recommended for men, the most controversial is yohimbe. Anyone on anti-depressant drugs should not take the herb, experts say. Those suffering from prostate problems, low blood pressure, diabetes, heart, liver or kidney disease and anyone taking tranquilizers, narcotics, antihistamines or large quantities of alcohol should also stay away from the herb. Yohimbe may produce anxiety, and in cases of schizophrenia, it may actually activate psychoses. Because so little is known about yohimbe's safety and long-term side effects, it is important to treat this herb with respect. Only take yohimbe in small doses for short periods of time.

Overdosing on an herb like ginkgo may cause gastrointestinal distress, but overdosing on kava can put you in the news. Consider the 44-year-old man stopped last summer for swerving through traffic in Salt Lake City, Utah. Although his blood alcohol level was zero, his speech was slurred and his reaction time impaired. When questioned, the man confessed to drinking 16 cups of kava that evening. He was found guilty of "driving under the influence" in the first known kava arrest.

Although most herbs have exceptional safety records, any plant can cause an allergic reaction. If you consume the recommended amount of an herb and experience nausea, diarrhea, numbness, dizziness, a headache or other unpleasant symptoms, reduce the dosage or discontinue use.

Yohimbe Tea

This recipe has been used for years to increase virility.

1 tsp. of dried yohimbe (if using tincture or other preparation, see variation) 1 cup of water 500 to 1,000 mg. of ascorbic acid vitamin C)

Simmer 1 teaspoon of dried herb and water in covered pan for 5 to 10 minutes, strain and add up to 1,000 mg. ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to help avoid nausea and improve herb's assimilation. Drink 1 to 2 cups approximately one hour before desired effects.

Note: Because responses to yohimbe vary widely, depending on quality of herb and individual reactions, herbalist James Green suggests beginning with suggested proportions and adjusting quantity of yohimbe up (to as much as 2 tablespoons) or down after a cautious trial. Drink a maximum of 2 cups per day for no more than two weeks.

Variation: If using tincture, place 1 to 3 teaspoons in cup and add boiling water to evaporate most of the alcohol before drinking. Follow same schedule as for tea. If using tablets, capsules or other preparations, follow label instructions but observe cautions listed above.

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