Natural Alternatives to Cialis

Article Summary
- Cialis is a prescription medication that can treat enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction.
- There are also natural Cialis alternatives, such as saw palmetto, red ginseng, stinging nettle, and ryegrass pollen extract.
Some men are prescribed Cialis for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
But if you’d like to explore natural alternatives to this medication, there are plenty of options too.
Make sure to consult your doctor about natural alternatives to this drug, especially if prostate conditions have impaired your quality of life.
Read on to learn more about natural alternatives to Cialis and how they can help you.
What is Cialis?
Cialis is a prescription medication formulated to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), but also for conditions such as enlarged prostate and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Tadalafil is generic Cialis.
For the treatment of erectile problems, Cialis works by elevating the concentration of cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate), a chemical that increases blood flow to the penis area.
This same chemical promotes relaxation of muscles in the prostate and bladder thereby easing urinary symptoms of enlarged prostate.
7 Natural Alternatives to Cialis
While Cialis is a well-known medication for the treatment of enlarged prostate and erectile problems, it’s also understandable to look for natural alternatives that will also support your sexual experience.
Below, we’re going to focus on some of the most useful examples.
1) Pygeum africanum
This is a herb extract obtained from an African cherry tree. This herbal supplement has been used to treat enlarged prostate in France since 1969.
While more studies are necessary, current evidence shows Pygeum africanum is an effective and well-tolerated natural treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of BPH.
Nowadays, it’s easy to find this extract in dietary supplements in physical stores and online.
2) Red ginseng
Red ginseng is sometimes referred to as Asian ginseng, but also Chinese or Korean ginseng. This plant has an active ingredient, saponin, which decreases prostatic urethra pressure and may improve obstructive symptoms of BPH and lower urinary tract symptoms.
The plant may also exhibit a protective effect against secondary bladder deterioration due to enlarged prostate-induced bladder outlet obstruction. Red ginseng also shows sexual enhancement potential in treating erectile dysfunction because it protects against oxidative stress and may promote nitric oxide production.
This compound relaxes blood vessels and increases blood circulation. That’s how PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil and tadalafil work, as well.
In other words, it could act as a natural, herbal viagra and pose as one of the most useful Viagra alternatives. Plus, it also aids the management of high blood pressure and diabetes.
3) Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba is one of the most well-known natural remedies, and people primarily use it to improve their memory. It may also serve as a natural Cialis alternative.
This plant has been around for centuries and serves as a major part of traditional Chinese medicine. Ginkgo biloba has anti-inflammatory properties, promotes blood flow, and exhibit antioxidant activities.
For that reason, it’s beneficial for the prostate and sexual health of men. In BPH, ginkgo acts as an antiandrogenic and a strong antiestrogenic compound.
This is important because BPH involves an imbalance between androgen and estrogen.
4) Saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is a shrub-like palm native to the southeastern areas of the United States. Nowadays, saw palmetto is widely present in dietary supplements formulated to support prostate health but may also benefit testosterone.
Evidence shows supplementation with saw palmetto can reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Additionally, saw palmetto effectively decreases inflammation and urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.
It’s also useful to mention that saw palmetto is beneficial for men who want to naturally tackle low testosterone. You see, saw palmetto may reduce the activity of an enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to DHT and thereby preserve testosterone levels in the body.
This is particularly important if we bear in mind low testosterone can decrease libido, contribute to ED, and negatively affect a man’s quality of life.
But with this supplement, you may be able to promote prostate health and increase sexual activity through improved sexual function and sexual desire.
5) Beta-sitosterol
Beta-sitosterol is, in fact, a plant substance similar to cholesterol. While people usually turn to beta-sitosterol to manage cholesterol and decrease the risk of some cancers, it may also alleviate enlarged prostate symptoms.
The compound may be particularly effective at alleviating urinary symptoms of BPH, including the strength of urine flow.
We can find beta-sitosterol in saw palmetto and other sources such as wheat germ, rice bran, corn oil, peanuts, soybeans, pygeum, rye grass pollen, and stinging nettle.
6) Stinging nettle
Stinging nettle is among the most popular kinds of natural remedies for prostate problems, and people usually turn to it before they start with prescription drugs.
The plant may be particularly effective in combination with other herbs such as saw palmetto. Stinging nettle may relieve symptoms such as decreased urinary flow, post-urination dripping, incomplete emptying of the bladder, and constant urge to urinate.
7) Ryegrass pollen extract
Ryegrass pollen extract comes from the pollen of Secale cereale i.e. ryegrass. The herbal remedy may affect testosterone, improve how well the bladder can expel urine, and relax the muscles of the urethra.
It is frequently used to treat BPH, ongoing swelling of the prostate gland, and management of prostate pain. The extract works because chemicals found in ryegrass pollen may reduce swelling or inflammation by interfering with some chemicals.
The importance of a healthy lifestyle
Even though proactive management of BPH is the best way to prevent complications, you should focus on lifestyle changes too. You should also strive to modify your diet, manage stress, and improve physical activity levels.
That way, you’re supporting your general health, managing blood pressure, preventing or managing heart disease, improving sexual performance, and having a better quality of life.
Conclusion
In this post, you’ve had the chance to see seven natural alternatives for Cialis prescription drugs that address sexual dysfunction and prostate problems.
As you can see, there are several options, and evidence shows they could work. Make sure to consult your doctor first.
When buying these products, make sure to choose reliable brands that deliver natural extracts. Avoid undisclosed drug ingredients, since they could be harmful.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not serve as medical advice. The details provided here are not a replacement for, and should never be depended upon as, professional medical advice. Always consult your physician regarding the potential risks and benefits of any treatment.
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Article Sources
- Marie-Christine Andro, Jean-Pierre Riffaud, Pygeum africanum extract for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A review of 25 years of published experience, Current Therapeutic Research, Volume 56, Issue 8,1995. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0011393X95850635
- Goldmann WH, Sharma AL, Currier SJ, Johnston PD, Rana A, Sharma CP. Saw palmetto berry extract inhibits cell growth and Cox-2 expression in prostatic cancer cells. Cell Biol Int. 2001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11913955/
- Shi R, Xie Q, Gang X, Lun J, Cheng L, Pantuck A, Rao J. Effect of saw palmetto soft gel capsule on lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized trial in Shanghai, China. J Urol. 2008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18082217/
- Gerber GS, Kuznetsov D, Johnson BC, Burstein JD. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of saw palmetto in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Urology. 2001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11744467/
- Penugonda K, Lindshield BL. Fatty acid and phytosterol content of commercial saw palmetto supplements. Nutrients. 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3798925/
Article Update History
Updated on 2 October, 2023 (Current Version)
Created on 1 October, 2021
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