Panax Ginseng in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

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Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, Family Araliaceae) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Panax ginseng contains triterpene glycosides, or saponins, usually referred to as ginsenosides. In animal-based studies, ginsenosides have been shown to relax penile smooth muscle tissue and potentially affect chemical pathways involving cGMP and testosterone. Studies using panax ginseng  for erectile function and libido enhancement tend to use 3g of total panax ginseng extract daily, in three doses of 1000mg.

Panax Ginseng and Erectile Dysfunction/Fertility

The vasodilating activities of panax ginseng (Korean Red Ginseng) have been shown to develop sexual function in men with. The use of panax ginseng encourages the flow of blood to the penis and improves the response of the nervous system thereby improving the quality of erections. A study reported in November 2002 in The Journal o f Urology indicates that panax ginseng is an effective therapy for erectile dysfunction. In a study found that 1800 mg per day of panax ginseng extract for 3 months helped improve libido and the ability to maintain an erection in men with erectile dysfunction. In another study of 45 men, those who took 900 mg of Panax ginseng 3 times per day for eight weeks had less trouble getting an erection than those who took placebo.

Sixty men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction participated in a study that assessed the efficacy of panax ginseng. Subjects were given either placebo or ginseng (1000 mg/3 times daily) for twelve weeks after which erectile function was assessed using the “International Index of Erectile Function and a Global Assessment Questionnaire”. Ginseng appeared to be effective, with 66 % of the participants in the ginseng group reported improved erections while the placebo group was not significantly different from baseline. The effect of panax ginseng on sexual dysfunction and serum lipid profile was examined in a study involving 35 elderly men with psychogenic impotence. Therapy was 2.7 g or 1.8 g of panax ginseng root or placebo for 2 months.The overall remedial effect on erectile function was 67% for panax ginseng versus 28% for placebo.

As published in Jan 2003 edition of  The Journal of Family Practice, supplement with panax ginseng offers a safe and effective alternative for achieving and maintaining erection, even in severe cases of erectile dysfunction. A 2009 study demonstrated that 1000 mg of panax ginseng twice daily improved erectile function and  overall sexual satisfaction among men with erectile dysfunction. In a study of 90 men with erectile dysfunction, 60% of the subjects reported development in their symptoms compared with 30 % of those using the placebo. The findings was published in the “International Journal of Impotence Research“.

Experiments have shown results, indicating that Korean ginseng promotes the growth of male reproductive organs, increases sperm and testoterone levels, and enhances sexual activity in lab animals. In 1996, the Journal Panminerva Medica reported a study in which infertile men demonstrated improved sperm count and motility after being treated with 4 grams of red ginseng for 3 months. According to a 1999 “World Health Organization” examination, ginseng saponins are thought to reduce serum prolactin, therefore increasing libido in male impotence.

Role Panax Ginseng in Diabetes

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Panax ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to enhance both longevity and the quality of life. Panax ginseng root contains active chemicals called ginsenosides, which are thought to be responsible for the herb’s pharmacological effects. Some researches have shown that ginseng increases insulin production and reduces cell death in pancreatic beta cells. Also, ginseng can reduce blood-glucose in type II diabetes patients.

Panax Ginseng and Type 2 Diabetes

Panax ginseng is commonly used in Chinese Medicine to treat diabetes. It has been shown in test tube and animal-based studies to increase the release of insulin from the pancreas and to increase the number of insulin receptors. Between 1921 and 1932, Japanese researchers reported that ginseng root decreased baseline blood glucose and reduced hyperglycemia caused by adrenaline or high concentration glucose administration. Results of in vitro studies, animal experiments and clinical studies  strongly support the claim that ginseng root possesses antidiabetic effects.30 ginsenosides Ginsenoside Rh2, one of the ginsenosides contained in the Panax ginseng Ginsenoside Rh2 has an property to improve insulin action on glucose.

In animal models of diet-induced Type II Diabetes, Panax ginseng appears to be efficacious at increasing insulin sensitivity in muscle tissue when fed at 200mg/kg bodyweight. There is some findings that taking panax ginseng, 200 mg daily, can lessen fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. In a study in which ginseng root (100 or 200 mg daily for 8 weeks) were orally administered to 36 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients demonstrated a reduction in fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin. Ginseng can lessen insulin requirements and prolong the effect of  injected insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes mostly find that after 2 weeks of taking ginseng tea, their blood-sugar levels go down by between 40 and 50 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). In the “Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases” (January 2008), it was reported that panax ginseng improves glucose and insulin regulation in well-controlled, type 2 diabetes.

Panax Ginseng Improves Immune Function

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Panax ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, Family Araliaceae) is an herb that grows in Korea and northern China. The active ingredients that trigger the medicinal effects of panax ginseng are called ginsenosides. Ginseng root is standardized on content of ginsenosides. Extracts usually contain from 4% to 7% ginsenosides. Some researches report that panax ginseng may boost the immune system, improve the effectiveness of antibiotic drugs in individuals with acute bronchitis, and improve the body’s response to flu vaccines.

Panax Ginseng Benefits and Immune System

Panax ginseng (Korean Red Ginseng) has been well known as an immunomodulator. Ginseng acts on the immune system by producing higher activity levels of natural killer cells, increasing total lymphocyte count and raising levels of T-helper cells. In vitro studies reveal enhanced natural killer cell activity and increased immune cell phagocytosis after ginsenoside exposure. A clinical trial in 60 healthy participants demonstrated enhanced chemotaxis, phagocytosis, increased total lymphocyte count, and increased numbers of  T helper cells in those who received ginseng extract in a dosage of 100 mg twice daily for 8 weeks. Natural Killer Cells are a type of cytotoxic lymphocytes of innate  immune system that are involved in the first line of defense against newly arising malignant cells and infected  cells. Korean Red Ginseng contains a polysaccharide called ginsan that stimulates natural killer cell activity, according to a study  reported in the Aug t 2011 edition of the journal Immunology Letters. Researchers have found that a combination of echinacea and ginseng increases the activity of natural killer cells, an substantial immune system component, in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Panax GinsengWhen given in combination with 6-MFA, an interferon inducing antiviral agent, panax ginseng was found to preserve 82-100 percent of mice infected with semliki forest virus (SFV). Panax ginseng enhances the number of immune cells in the blood, thus helping the immune system fight illnesses such as the flu. In a study reported in 2004 in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, scientists found that participants who took a ginseng had a lower incidence of acute respiratory illness than the control group. In a study of 75 participants with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis who were treated with antibiotics or antibiotics plus panax ginseng, those in the panax ginseng group demonstrated faster bacterial clearance.

There is some findings that taking G115 (a specific panax ginseng extract) by mouth 4 weeks before a flu shot and continued for 8 more weeks can reduce the risk of getting the flu. When administered as the G115 in a 100mg dose to humans, it appears that G115 has the ability to reduce the occurrence of the flu when G115 is taken for twelve weeks and the vaccination is applied at week four. In a study using the polysaccharide of Panax Ginseng (Ginsan) in isolation, 100mg/kg injection once a day for 2 days prior to infection with an antigen resulted in appreciably higher levels of IgG1 and IgG2, as well as secretory IgA when compared to mice who did not receive Ginsan before infection. A study of 227 healthy participants showed that daily administration of 100 mg standardized Panax ginseng extract, for 12 weeks enhanced the efficacy of polyvalent influenza vaccine. The people who received panax ginseng had a lower incidence of colds and influenza, higher antibody titers, and higher natural killer cell activity levels.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is a virus that causes AIDS, a condition in which the immune system fails due to the destruction of CD4+ helper T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. The immune system may  benefit from panax ginseng, especially the cell-mediated immune system, which is damaged in HIV infection. A test-tube study involving cells from HIV-positive individuals showed that ginseng might stimulate the production and function of immune cells. In a study found that steamed then dried panax ginseng had favorable effects in individuals infected with HIV, and increased the effectiveness of the anti-HIV medication, AZT. Cho YK, Lee, Oh and Kim report on a study comparing 5.4 g of panax ginseng daily on 16 HIV+ patients versus 10 people who took no anti-HIV drugs for 3 – 4 years. In the group using this form of  Korean Red Ginseng, the average CD4 count increased from baseline of 301 to 359. In the control group, the baseline CD4 count of 352 decreased to 156. Researchers concluded that “Korean Red Ginseng has definite long-term immune modulating effect without adverse effects on HIV-infected patients”.

A study reported in Aug 2009 in the journal Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, indicates that panax ginseng may have favorable effects against HIV when combined with HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). HIV-1 (Human immunodeciency virus type 1) is a virus that causes AIDS, a condition in which the immune system fails due to the destruction of  CD4+ helper T cells macrophages, and dendritic cells. Owing to the introduction of  highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the improvement of many anti-retroviral medications the rates of mortality and morbidity related to HIV-1 disease have lessen significantly. But, anti-retroviral drug-resistant mutants are incessantly occurring and limit the availability of effective medications. Korean red ginseng has been shown to exert favorable effects on HAART by maintaining CD4+ T cell counts and delaying the development of resistance mutations in HIV-1 patients treated with HAART.

Arginine Can be an Effective Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

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Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. L-arginine is converted in the body into a chemical named nitric oxide. Nitric oxide (NO) is a strong neurotransmitter that helps blood vessels relax and develops circulation. Arginine are increasingly being recommended in urology to support the therapy of erectile problems of a mild or medium severity.

L-arginine Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

L-arginine is the precursor of nitric oxide, which is a substance that helps dilate blood vessels and improves circulation. A dose of 5 g per day might be effectual in treating male erectile dysfunction because the erectile process requires nitric oxide synthesized by arginine. Researches have shown that L-arginine may help treat erectile dysfunction in men with low nitrate levels in their blood.

In a study, 2 groups of rats were given free access to arginine which was dissolved in their drinking water. Serum and penile tissue levels of arginine in the treated rats were increased by 64 – 148 percent compared to control animals. A 1999 study reported in the online journal BJU International found that high doses of arginine can help improve sexual function. In a study, men with erectile dysfunction were given 2800 mg of arginine per day for 2 weeks. Six of the fifteen men in the study were helped, though none improved while taking placebo. In another study men with erectile dysfunction were given 1670 mg of arginine per day or a matching placebo for 6 weeks. Arginine supplement was found to be especially efficacious at improving erectile dysfunction in men with abnormal nitric oxide metabolism.

L-arginine used in combination with proanthocyanidins or yohimbine, has been used as a therapy for erectile dysfunction. In clinical trials, an on-demand oral preparation of an yohimbine/arginine combination significantly improved erectile function in men with mild-to-moderate disease whereas neither arginine alone nor yohimbine alone was significantly better than placebo. In a study of 45 men found that one-time use of this combination treatment (3.25 g of arginine plus 6 mg of yohimbine) an hour or two prior to intercourse improved erectile function, particularly in those with just moderate erectile dysfunction scores. Combination therapy was considered successful by 40% of the subjects, compared with 28 % with yohimbine alone and 17 % with placebo.

L-arginine and Pycnogenol

Five clinical trials have found that arginine aspartate and pycnogenol work together to restore sexual function, enable erections, performance, boost libido,and sperm motility, viability, and quantity. Study by researchers at Seminological Laboratory, and reported in the May issue of  Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy in 2003 discovered that administration of  Pycnogenol and L-arginine important enhances sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. During the three-month study period participants received 3 ampoules Sargenor a day, a drinkable solution of the dipeptide arginyl aspartate. (equivalent to 1.7 g L-arginine). Throughout the second month, participants were additionally supplemented with 40 mg Pycnogenol 2 times per day;  during the third month, the daily dosage was increased to 3 time 40 mg Pycnogenol. After one month of therapy with arginine, a statistically non significant number of 2 participant (5%)  experienced a normal erection. Therapy with a combination of  Pycnogenol and L-arginine for the subsequent month increased the number of men with restored sexual function to 80%. After the third month of treatment, 92.5% of the men experienced a successful erection. In another study, investigated 50 middle-aged men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction who were treated for one month with placebo or with arginine aspartate and pycnogenol. Therapy with arginine aspartate and pycnogenol for one month restored erectile function to normal, and intercourse frequency doubled.

Can Arginine Help Heart Disease?

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Arginine is a chemical precursor to nitric oxide. Research findings shown that arginine may help treat health conditions that improve with increased vasodilation. These conditions include chest pain, atherosclerosis, heart disease or failure, intermittent claudication/peripheral vascular disease, and vascular headaches.

Arginine Heart Benefits

Arginine is a important amino acid that plays a role in a number of physiological functions in the body, however, is best known for its cardiovascular effects. Researches indicate arginine may help treat health problems that improve with vasodilation, such as clogged arteries, chest pain, coronary artery disease, heart failure, intermittent claudication/peripheral vascular disease, and blood vessel swelling that causes headaches. L-arginine is the precursor of nitric oxide, which is a substance that helps dilate blood vessels and improves circulation. Nitric oxide is 1000 times more strong than any naturally occurring antioxidant in the body. Its antioxidant effects are especially important for numerous body systems and may help protect against heart disease, stroke, and cancer, as well as slowing the aging process.

Angina is chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to the heart. Taking arginine seems to reduce symptoms and increase exercise tolerance and quality of life in individuals with angina. Taking 2 g of arginine 3 times per day for as little as 3 days has improved the ability of angina sufferers to exercise. Seven of ten participants with severe angina improved significantly after taking 9 g of arginine per day for 3 months in an study. In a study, of 36 participants with heart disease found that use of L-arginine (in combination with antioxidant vitamins and minerals) at a daily dose of 6.6 g decreased symptoms of angina. A small-scale a study showed that use of arginine (700 mg 4 times daily) may support transdermal nitroglycerin treatment for angina.

In the body, arginine is converted to nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels. This lowers stress on the heart and develops circulation. Three small-scale study enrolling a total of 70 participant with congestive heart failure (CHF) found that L-arginine at a dose of 5 g to 15 g daily could significantly improve symptoms as well as objective measurements of heart function. L-arginine may enhance cardiac performance in patients with congestive heart failure, according to a 2000 study reported in “Clinical Cardiology”.

Individuals with advanced hardening of the arteries, frequently have difficulty walking because of lack of blood flow to the legs, a problem known as intermittent claudication. The intensity of intermittent claudication is usually measured in the distance a person can walk without pain. Intermittent claudication is primarily caused by peripheral artery disease. Claudication generally occurs in individuals aged over 50 years; but it can occur much earlier in people who smoke and those who have diabetes, high blood pressure. Intravenous injections of the arginine have been shown to be significantly efficacious at improving intermittent claudication. In a study, 8 g of arginine, injected twice daily for 3 weeks, improved pain-free walking distance by 230% and absolute walking distance by 155%, compared to no healing with placebo.