Drug-Free Help for Impotence Treatment.

With all of the hype surrounding sildenafil citrate, better known as Viagra, you might think that the erection-bestowing prescription drug is the only option for men with impotence.

Treatment of impotence the alternative way. 

It's not, say alternative physicians.
"I believe that there are natural treatments that appear to be just as effective in restoring erectile ability, are probably a lot safer, and are certainly less expensive than Viagra," says

Jonathan Wright, M.D., a nutritionally oriented physician and director of the Tahoma Clinic in Kent, Washington. "Before a man tries Viagra, I strongly suggest that he give these remedies a try.

In particular, men who are taking medication for heart problems should explore alternatives to Viagra. It's known that taking nitrate drugs such as nitroglycerin with Viagra can cause a deadly drop in blood pressure, says Gerald Melchiode, M.D., professor of psychiatry and lecturer at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Here are some effective, non drug erection enhancers.

ARGININE: Natural Viagra
Viagra works by blocking an enzyme called PDE5 that destroys nitric oxide, the chemical in your body that's responsible for allowing the penis to fill with blood during an erection. Well, the amino acid arginine is the body's main source of nitric oxide, says Dr. Wright. So does that mean that increasing your intake of arginine can help you defeat impotence?
"Yes," says Dr. Wright, "taking arginine supplements can improve a man's ability to have an erection."
In fact, you should consider using arginine before you try Viagra, he says. It's a natural, safe substance, he points out, while Viagra is a drug with side effects that can include common problems such as headaches, facial flushing, digestive upset, and abnormal vision.

If you decide to take arginine to enhance sexual function, Dr. Wright recommends 3,000 milligrams a day. It will take about 3 to 4 weeks to take effect. If you feel that extra help is necessary, you may take an additional dose of 3,000 milligrams about an hour prior to having sex.

You should take this supplement only under the supervision of a knowledgeable medical doctor. Do not take it if you have genital herpes or if you are also using lysine supplements.

GINKGO: For Circulatory Problems
Ginkgo, which is well-known for boosting memory by improving circulation to the brain, also boosts circulation to the penis, thus helping to reverse erectile dysfunction, says Dr. Wright. He recommends 60 milligrams daily, but he also counsels patience, since the herb typically takes 2 to 6 months to work.

The Tantric Way
The branch of yoga known as Tantra teaches techniques for improving sexual performance with the goal of generating extra energy for spiritual practice, says Charles Muir, director of the Source School of Tantra Yoga in Wailuku, Hawaii.
Some of the techniques show a man how to make love without an erection and become erect in the process. "Most men think that if they don't have an erection, they can't do anything," says Muir. "But these techniques can bring circulation and energy to the penis, causing an erection."
Don't worry, however, if you don't get an erection while doing these techniques. Just have fun and see what happens. Here are two that Muir teaches.

YOGA: Holding The Wand
"In this technique, either partner grasps the penis with the fingers or hand and manipulates it as if it were a wand, gently rubbing the head across the outside of the vagina, especially over and around the clitoris," says Muir. "The stimulation and contact with your lover's vagina will usually inspire an erection pretty quickly, but a soft penis can provide a woman great pleasure. A lubricant is necessary in this technique to eliminate friction and enhance enjoyment."
He adds that a woman can derive great sexual pleasure from assuming the active role in this technique by holding the penis and moving it in ways that she finds stimulating.

YOGA: Tapping Into Pleasure
"Another hand-assisted technique is to tap the penis against the lips of the vagina and the clitoris," says Muir. "Again, either the man or the woman can perform this move, holding the penis as if it were a conductor's baton, tapping it to a slow tempo that builds faster and faster, using it to contact the woman with a touch that varies from gentle to firm, then back to gentle." This technique can be used whether the penis is soft or hard, he says.