Does Stinging Nettle Help With Erectile Dysfunction?
One of the essential factors in a couple’s love life is sharing a satisfying intimacy. And with cases of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) could be a roadblock in the journey of a couple.
Medications and therapies are an option for treatments. However, there have been studies with opportunities to treat ED with a natural, safe, and effective herb plant. Yes, we are talking about stinging nettles.
So, if you have Erectile Dysfunction, let your worries be put to rest. Today, we bring all the information and facts about stinging nettles. In addition to which, we have highlighted how Stinging nettles help in treating erectile dysfunction.
Let’s get started.
What is Erectile Dysfunction (ED), and why does it need treatment?
Erectile dysfunction is a problem related to men, where a man is incapable of keeping an erection intact all through intercourse.
When is it normal?
Having some erection problems or low sex drive from time to time is considered normal.
When is it not normal?
But if the inability to hold an erection through intercourse is persistent, then you may want to consult a physician.
What other symptoms does an ED exhibit?
ED doesn’t only mean having trouble keeping up an erection. There are a couple of other symptoms related to Erectile Dysfunction. They are-
- Low libido (low sex drive)
- Premature/delayed ejaculations
- Trouble in experiencing an erection even when aroused.
Why does ED need treatment?
If the problem of Erectile Dysfunction becomes an ongoing issue, it will not only cause stress but also lessen your confidence. Over time, it may also start causing issues in your relationship. Moreover, stress is an instant trigger for the causes of ED.
With all the stated factors, it is crucial to consult a doctor and start treating it correctly. Another reason to visit a physician early on is to detect any underlying health conditions causing ED.
Current scenario of ED and possible safe treatments
ED is becoming familiar with the onset of a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, and mounting stress and anxiety. It can affect men of any age group, but it is also common to see cases of ED with age.
The thing with ED is that it is treatable with medications and Testosterone Therapy (TRT). The downside to it all is that they come with possible side effects.
Hence, the lookout for a safe and effective treatment for ED has been going on. The good news here is that scientists have found a possible alternative to medicines. Research has been going on, on Stinging nettles – a natural, safe and effective possible cure for ED.
Before explaining how stinging nettles help erectile dysfunction, let’s learn about the effective stinging nettle and its properties.
What are stinging nettles?
As unpleasant as it sounds, stinging nettles have been a prevalent plant to treat several human health problems.
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial flowering plant. It is cultivated mainly in Europe, temperate Asian countries, North America and North Africa.
Just as its name suggests, this plant is lined with a series of stinging as well as non-stinging hair.
On coming in contact with these hairs, it turns into a sharp needle that stings and causes skin rashes. This stinging feature is where the plants get their names like Stinging nettles, burn nettle, or burn hazel.
The relation between stinging nettle and erectile dysfunction
Stinging nettles come packed with a host of essential compounds and nutrients with high herbal potency to treat many ailments.
The constituents of Stinging Nettle are Vitamins (A, C, and K), plant sterols, amino acids, isolectins, minerals, and polyphenols.
The presence of these compounds in Stinging Nettles makes them good antioxidant agents. As antioxidant agents, they protect the cells and tissues, decreasing the chances of oxidative damage in the body.
Another important constituent of this plant is the presence of compounds that have excellent anti-inflammatory properties.
Concerning the link between Stinging Nettles and Erectile Dysfunction lies in the active compounds found in Stinging Nettles.
Stinging Nettles, at its root, contains active compounds called Beta-sitosterol, and 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran plays a huge role in treating ED.
Now, that leads us to the final question. That is, if stinging needles do help with effectively treating Erectile Dysfunction. Well, we shall find out in the following section.
Do Stinging nettles help with Erectile Dysfunction?
Traditionally, the Romans and Greek utilized the benefits of the compound present in Stinging Nettles over thousands of years. Ancient Romans and Greeks used Stinging Nettles as herbal medicine and tonic.
The most common usage of Stinging Nettles was –
- As a diuretic to treat the problems associated with large prostate (urination problems).
- It also found its use as an astringent.
Now that Stinging Nettles have been associated with promoting overall healthy prostate and blood circulation, researchers delved in to find a link between ED and stinging nettles.
According to a study, the active compounds found in the root of Stinging Nettles could play a significant role in treating Erectile Dysfunction.
How does Stinging Nettles help with Erectile Dysfunction?
The extracts of Stinging Nettle’s leaves and roots contain active compounds called ligands and isolectins (Beta-sitosterol and 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran).
These compounds are known to inhibit testosterone binding to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). It results in more free testosterone in the body.
The mechanism –
- Isolecitins from the Stinging Nettle plant, i.e., the ligands from the roots and leaves, go and bind with SHBG (sex hormone-binding hormone). This binding results in a lesser conversion of free testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.
- With the SHBG bound, there are more free testosterone levels available in the blood and lesser dihydrotestosterone.
- Lesser dihydrotestosterone levels ensure decreased cases of tissue growth in the prostate.
- In addition, it results in the overall health of the urinary tract and improved prostate health.
These factors combined – free testosterone and lesser dihydrotestosterone- play a key role in treating Erectile Dysfunction.
Increased Testosterone levels naturally enhance your libido (sex drive) and overall sexual performance. Moreover, testosterone also plays a huge role in muscle strength and stamina, improving erection duration during intercourse.
