Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba for Erectile Dysfunction
Ginkgo biloba is known to provide many health benefits, but did you know about the potential ginkgo biloba erectile dysfunction benefits?
Gingko is the name of a tree whose leaves have been used for thousands of years for their medicinal properties. The ginkgo tree is believed to be the oldest known species of tree still surviving on the planet.
Interestingly enough, this old tree’s leaves are often used to improve the memory of the people who use them. However, they can also be used for a number of other reasons – one of which being the management of erectile dysfunction.
In this article, I’ll explain all about ginkgo biloba and how you might use it to help overcome erectile dysfunction. I’ll also explain some of the other benefits you can expect, and whether there are any risks or side effects to worry about.
What Will I Learn?
- What is Ginkgo Biloba
- Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba
- Ginkgo Biloba and Erectile Dysfunction?
- Risks and Side Effects
- Effective Herbal Formula for Erectile Dysfunction
What is Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba, also known as maidenhair, is a very old species of tree that grows native in China. Its age is such that many refer to it as a living fossil.
This species of tree has been around for several hundreds of thousands of years, and individual ginkgo trees can live up to 2,500 years.
It has been a popular ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia, where the leaves and seeds are both used for a variety of purposes.
In Western medicine, the majority of herbalists and naturopaths use ginkgo extract, which is made from the leaves of the tree. This contains a higher concentration of alkaloids than powdered leaf matter, and this is most likely what you’ll find in ginkgo supplements.
There are loads of benefits associated with ginkgo biloba. Since the plant has been used for so long, there have been quite a large number of scientific studies done on its usefulness.
Science seems to agree with many of the uses that traditional medical doctors have prescribed ginkgo for. Let’s have a closer look at what those benefits are.
Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba
There are tons of benefits associated with ginkgo. If you start to use the plant, you can expect to enjoy any of the following benefits:
Fighting Oxidation
Ginkgo is a great source of antioxidants, and there is reason to believe that this might be responsible for a large number of its healthful properties.
Ginkgo contains a lot of flavonoids and terpenes, which are plant metabolites that function as powerful antioxidants and antibacterial compounds.
Antioxidants help to prevent oxidative damage, which occurs naturally over time. We can also speed up oxidation by living an unhealthy lifestyle, breathing in pollution, or eating unhealthy food.
Fighting Inflammation
Another common benefit attributed to ginkgo is its ability to help fight inflammation.
The body normally initiates inflammation to alert the immune system that a certain area of the body is in need of assistance. In this case, inflammation is normal and even healthy.
Unfortunately, many things like processed food, drugs, alcohol, or lack of exercise can cause unhealthy inflammation, which can lead to the development of diseases.
Ginkgo has been proven to lower inflammation in both human and animal cells.
Improves Blood Circulation
One of the most prominent benefits of ginkgo is its ability to help improve circulation. In fact, this is directly responsible for a number of its other benefits which we will describe below.
Ginkgo helps to bring blood throughout the entire body, which strengthens the power of organs, tissues, and muscles.
Ginkgo can even be useful for people who have heart disease, studies show.
Ginkgo extract has been shown to increase circulating levels of nitric oxide in these patients. Nitric oxide is necessary for our blood vessels to relax and bring blood throughout the body.
Helps Fight Cognitive Decline and Improve Brain Function
Ginkgo is most often touted for its ability to help improve cognitive function. It can also be useful for preventing the development of certain mental health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s.
Ginkgo is proven to be especially effective when used as complementary medicine in addition to conventional drugs. A review of various studies concluded that ginkgo helps to improve the efficacy of other medicines.
Ginkgo can improve cognitive ability in healthy adults, as well. This is believed to be because of the way that ginkgo increases blood circulation to the brain. Several studies have been done in this area, revealing that ginkgo may indeed improve cognitive function.
Fighting Anxiety and Depression
I must note here that most of the research regarding the use of ginkgo for fighting anxiety has been done on animals.
However, these studies do seem to be promising, indicating that ginkgo can help to reduce various symptoms of anxiety. This is believed to be because of the high antioxidant content of ginkgo.
Another study was done on mice to reveal the effects of ginkgo for treating depression. In the study, the supplemented mice seemed to be less distressed by difficult situations when compared to those who did not receive any ginkgo.
While there haven’t been any human studies done on this specific effect, many people have positively attributed ginkgo biloba to helping them manage their depression.
Male Fertility
Ginkgo biloba has also been linked to improving male fertility. It is believed that ginkgo may improve sperm quality and count for men, although scientific evidence on this matter is scarce.
One study performed on rats did conclude an observable improvement in fertility. Nevertheless, more research and research on humans is needed to really prove this benefit.
Ginkgo Biloba and Erectile Dysfunction?
Ginkgo biloba has also become recognized as a powerful supplement for helping to fight off erectile dysfunction.
This is because of the way that ginkgo helps to increase blood flow throughout the body, including to your penis.
As you’re probably aware, an erection is caused by the sudden intake of blood into the penis. For this to happen, your circulatory system needs to be healthy enough to actually pump blood down to your genitals.
Many cases of erectile dysfunction are the result of people simply not having a healthy circulatory system. They’re not able to pump blood effectively to their penis.
Because of its ability to relax blood vessels and promote the production of nitric oxide, ginkgo has been used successfully as a way to treat and improve erectile dysfunction.
Risks and Side Effects
While ginkgo is a natural herbal supplement that has been used effectively for many thousands of years, that doesn’t mean that it’s not without its risks. This is especially true if you’re taking other medication.
When taken at very high doses, people may experience a few side effects. These include nausea, dizziness, headaches, or stomach pain. These side effects are usually the result of low blood pressure caused by ginkgo effectively relaxing the body’s blood vessels.
Some people may also experience an allergic reaction to ginkgo. For this reason, it’s wise to start out with a small dose the first time that you use it.
People who are taking certain medications will also want to avoid using ginkgo biloba. Examples of medications that might interact with ginkgo are:
- Medication that thins the blood (aspirin, etc.) can be dangerous when combined with ginkgo and lead to extremely low blood pressure
- Antidepressants of any type (SSRI, MAOI, etc.)
- NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory, OTC painkillers like ibuprofen)
Effective Herbal Formula for Erectile Dysfunction
While ginkgo might be a very useful herb on its own, it can be made even more effective by combining it with other similar herbs.
If you’re looking for a herbal formula to help you fight off erectile dysfunction, then, funnily enough, you almost have to start thinking like a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
Or, you can find someone else who has already done the work for you of course – like Viasil. Viasil has developed a formula using ginkgo biloba and a number of other herbs to successfully help fight ED.
These are some of the other ingredients included in Viasil.
- Panax ginseng has been used for thousands of years for similar reasons as ginkgo. It helps to boost libido and increase sexual function in both men and women and is considered useful for managing sexual dysfunction.
- Horny Goat Weed is another herb, hilariously named, that helps the body produce nitric oxide. Much like ginkgo, this helps to dilate blood vessels so that men can get an erection easier.
- Tribulus Terrestris is a powerful herb that helps to balance sex hormones.
- Pomegranate extract is one of the most powerful food-based supplements for any man hoping to improve their sexual function. Pomegranate helps to increase nitric oxide production (can you see a theme here?) as well as provide energy for your cells.
- Zinc is possibly the most important nutrient for male sexual health. Zinc is necessary for the production of testosterone and the maintenance of a strong libido. The reason that foods like oysters are considered to be aphrodisiacs is because they contain high levels of zinc.
As you can see, all of these herbs provide similar effects. Using them together in a single supplement is the best way to ensure that you get the maximum benefit from all of these herbs to fight back against erectile dysfunction.
Conclusion
Ginkgo biloba is a powerful herbal supplement that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for many thousands of years. Its benefits or many, but one of its most popular uses in the modern world is to help fight erectile dysfunction.
As long as you’re not taking medication that affects your blood pressure, you should be safe to take ginkgo. Your best bet is to buy a pre-formulated supplement, like Viasil, that includes ginkgo biloba.
