Health Hotline Magazine | June 2025

Natural Ways to Combat Erectile Dysfunction

By Liz Mueller

Certain health topics can be difficult to talk about—with your partner, your doctor, and heck, even yourself. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of these. And while there should be no shame, many men with ED suffer in silence, or quietly turn to side-effect-inducing pharmaceuticals that don’t really address the root cause. There has to be a better way—and there is. Finding the cause of your ED is the first step, which includes looking at possible medical causes and lifestyle factors such as age, stress, alcohol and drug intake, etc. Then, learn how to incorporate specific supplements, herbs, and lifestyle changes that will support your body and its natural functions, helping to combat ED naturally.

What Causes ED? Common causes for ED range from medical conditions, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension, to lifestyle factors like drug and alcohol use and smoking, to psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. ED can decrease quality of life and self-esteem, increase the incidence of depression, and negatively a ect relationships. It’s also a very common issue a ecting

Turn to PAL for ED Relief Some of the research on ED has focused on two powerful nutrients that work in tandem, Pycnogenol ® and L-arginine (PAL), for their proven e ectiveness in treating ED. Pycnogenol is a potent antioxidant that is comprised of proanthocyanidins, which have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown to have a positive e ect in enhancing endothelial nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme responsible for producing nitric oxide (NO), which is essential for blood vessel dilation and blood flow. The amino acid L-arginine is involved in the regulation of vascular tone and cardiovascular health, both of which have an e ect on ED, and is converted to NO in the body. Studies have shown that oral administration of L-arginine can improve erectile function in male infertility patients.

A 2023 review of three clinical studies that used PAL to treat ED showed that there were significant di erences in the international index of erectile function (IIEF) scores, intercourse satisfaction scores, orgasmic function scores, overall satisfaction scores, and sexual desire scores between the PAL treatment group and the control group. The researchers concluded, “… that the combination of PAL may have a significant e ect

men as they age: According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, 52 percent of males between 40 and 70 years of age are a ected with erectile problems.

on improving sexual function in patients with mild to moderate ED.” A dose of 3 grams/daily of L-arginine and 40–120 mg/daily of Pycnogenol has been shown to be e ective.

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