Viagra is certainly a popular drug – perhaps one of the most popular in the world, and certainly one of the most well-known. However, viagra is a very powerful pharmaceutical. Much like other pharmaceuticals, it can have a number of effects that are unpleasant and even dangerous. Any man who’s ended up with priapism can contest to that.
There are many herbs and supplements that can act as a form of natural viagra for men, though. These substances can help improve erectile strength and sexual function without causing all of the same dangerous and unpleasant effects that regular old viagra can cause.
In this article we’re going to discuss some of the best natural and over the counter viagra options for men who are hoping to maximize their sexual functions.
- Viagra and its benefits
- Viagra side effects
- When you should not use Viagra
- The best natural viagra alternative
- Natural Viagra from food
- Pomegranate
- Watermelon
- You can add more if you find them during research
- Herbs and natural supplements
- L-Arginine
- Horny goat weed
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Maca
- Tribulus Terrestris
- Cordyceps
- Panax Ginseng root
- Complex supplement formulas
- MaleExtra
- Natural Viagra from food
- How to make natural Viagra for yourself
Viagra and its benefits
Viagra is one of the most popular and certainly one of the most well-known drugs on the face of the planet. It’s marketed to help men improve their sexual performance, and culturally it’s well known for delivering rock-hard erections that seem to last a long time.
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Viagra is the brand name for a compound that’s known as sildenafil citrate. It was first made by scientists in the UK, but was marketed by an American company known as Pfizer Inc. Sildenafil is also available under the brand name Revatio.
Without getting into whether or not this is healthy for you (we’ll deal with that later), I’ll explain a few of the benefits that men like to use viagra for.
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- Increased erection strength. By helping to bring blood into the genital region, viagra is able to help men achieve erections. This is because an erection is caused by an influx of blood being directed towards the penis.
Men who struggle with erectile dysfunction often struggle with some sort of issue that prevents them from having blood reach throughout their body. Viagra can help combat this, though it should not be used long-term.
- Reduced blood pressure. Viagra was actually originally designed as a drug that helps to reduce blood pressure. The increased strength of erections was more of a side effect, though few would have guessed that this would have turned out to be the most popular benefit attributed to the drug.
- There is some evidence that small doses of viagra used over a certain period of time could help to reduce the chances of developing cancer, particularly colorectal cancer.
That said, the first benefit is almost exclusively what viagra is known for and used for today.
Viagra side effects
Because viagra causes such a huge shift in the blood pressure levels of the body, it can cause a number of side effects. Some of the most common side effects attributed to viagra can include:
- Headaches
- Congestion in the sinuses
- Problems with vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Problems with digestion
In more serious cases, people can experience some pretty powerful side effects or issues.
- Priapism – a painful, long-lasting erection that could require hospitalization
- Damage to the optic nerve, leading to permanent vision damage. This is because viagra causes blood to be directed to certain other areas of the body, which can draw it away from the optic nerves
- Cyanopsia, a condition where everything appears to be slightly blue
- Heart attacks
- Loss of hearing
- Pressure in the eyeballs
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
It’s also possible to overdose on viagra. If you think this is the case you should seek medical help immediately or call a poison control center. Symptoms could include:
- Vomiting
- Vision problems, blurriness
- Swollen optic nerves, damage to eyesight
- Elevated heart rate
- Priapism (an erection that will not go away)
- Muscles breaking down
- Diarrhea
- Death (rare, but could happen)
When you should not use Viagra
In addition to causing a number of potentially life-changing side effects, viagra also has a number of contraindications and risks.
- People who are taking protease inhibitors to help them manage the symptoms of HIV should avoid taking viagra unless given express consent from their doctors. Protease inhibitors can vastly increase the risk of developing side effects from taking viagra. The maximum recommended dose of viagra for these individuals would be no more than 25 mg, and it’s not suggested to use the drug more than once every 2 days.
- People who are taking a class of drugs known as alpha-blockers should wait at least 4 hours before or after taking their medication before using viagra, otherwise, this could lead to potentially dangerous levels of low blood pressure.
- People who are taking drugs that increase the amount of nitric oxide should avoid using viagra to avoid the development of blood pressure problems.
- Men who struggle with cardiovascular problems – especially those who are told by their doctors to avoid vigorous sexual activity – should certainly not take viagra.
- People who struggle with diseases of the liver or kidney should avoid viagra
- People who already have low blood pressure should avoid taking viagra, as should those who have had other heart-related problems like heart attacks or strokes
- People who are genetically prone to disorders of the eye should avoid taking viagra
The best natural viagra alternative
If you’re looking for the best natural viagra alternative, then you have come to the right place. Some of the following foods and herbs could be useful for you.
Natural Viagra from food
Pomegranate
One fruit that has been linked to enhanced erectile strength is pomegranate. This is because it contains a number of antioxidants which can help to prevent free radicals from obstructing the blood flow to the penis.
Studies have even confirmed that drinking pomegranate juice can be very helpful for preventing erectile dysfunction.
Watermelon
One of the most well-studied natural viagra substitutes is watermelon. While it won’t send you immediately into the realms of rock-hard erection, there’s certainly a fair deal of evidence that suggests it could be useful for helping to manage erectile dysfunction.
The main reason for this is because watermelon is loaded with citrulline, an important amino acid when it comes to sexual health. The body converts citrulline and arginine, an amino acid which is further converted by the body into nitric oxide.
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Nitric oxide is highly important for the dilation of the blood vessels, and is considered to be one of the most important compounds for helping to promote and maintain erections. Men who are deficient in nitric oxide may find that they can improve their erectile strength by taking watermelon.
Herbs and natural supplements
L-Arginine
As discussed above, arginine is an important amino acid that the body converts into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is involved in the dilation of blood vessels, and is thus important for helping to ensure that blood can reach the penis. L-arginine alone could be considered a natural alternative to viagra.
Horny goat weed
Horny goat weed is an appropriately named herb that found its namesake when a farmer realized that his goats were reproducing excessively when they chewed the herb.
It’s not just goats who can experience the benefits of this herb, though. Horny goat weed is known to enhance libido in both men and women, and could be considered useful for helping to bring strength to the male erection.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is a very powerful herb that’s known to improve cognitive health by promoting blood flow to the brain. It also promotes blood flow to other areas of the body, and many men have reported a significant improvement to the strength of their erections and their libido as a result of using ginkgo biloba.
Maca
Maca root is a very popular libido supplement that used to be given to the warriors of Peru before a battle. It’s known for providing a significant boost to sexual energy and can help to enhance erectile strength.
Tribulus Terrestris
Tribulus terrestris is another popular herb that is known to cause effects similar to those that would be had from enhancing testosterone levels.
Also Read: The importance of healthy sperm
Some men have found that the herb can be immensely powerful for helping to enhance libido and the strength of their erections.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps is a powerful mushroom that is known to have a number of health benefits, including improved libido and reduced erectile dysfunction. Cordyceps can be found in powdered form in many health food stores and supplement shops, and the whole mushroom can be purchased relatively easily online.
Panax Ginseng root
Ginseng is one of the most popular adaptogenic herbs on the planet. Adaptogens are substances that help the body adapt to external situations. However, many of them are also potent libido enhancers and can help promote blood flow throughout the body.
It’s no wonder that panax ginseng can also be considered useful for maintaining an erection.
Complex supplement formulas
If you’re not sure about any of the above herbs and supplements, some companies have made formulas containing effective mixtures of these formulas.
MaleExtra
MaleExtra has made one of the most reliable and effective premade natural viagra pills that you can find. The ingredients work together to boost nitric oxide and increase blood flow to the penis.
MaleExtra combines healthy doses of L-arginine, pomegranate extract, zinc, cordyceps, niacin, and several other ingredients to ensure that you don’t have a hard time getting hard.
How to make natural Viagra for yourself
Of course, before choosing to take viagra – natural or otherwise – you might want to consider why you’re actually having trouble getting an erection in the first place. These things can help act as a natural form of viagra, and mixing herbal supplements with good lifestyle choices should ensure good sexual health.
- Improve your diet. Yes, you could see some improvement to the strength of your erections by using watermelon – but if you eat a healthy diet rich in grains, fruits, and vegetables, you probably won’t have a hard time getting an erection in the first place.Vitamins and minerals that are particularly important for sexual health include vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, and oysters. Eating plenty of seafood and grains can help you get the necessary amounts of these nutrients.
- Exercise. Make sure that you keep your cardiovascular system healthy by engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise – that means anything that gets your blood flowing and your heart pumping. Your penis is relatively far from your heart, so you need to ensure that it’s in good working order if you want your heart to pump blood to it.
Good cardiovascular exercises include swimming, jogging, running, or biking – but you can get creative and take a dance glass, go kickboxing, or do anything that really gets your blood flowing.
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In Conclusion
Viagra might be a powerful drug, but it’s not without its dangers and side effects. The best way to improve your erectile health is to figure out why you’re struggling with ED in the first place and try to correct the problem naturally.
One of the best ways to do this is to start exercising and eating healthy. If that doesn’t work, you can take natural supplements or use formulas like MaleExtra to improve your chances of maintaining a healthy erection.
