Essential Oils for Erectile Dysfunction
If you’re like many guys out there, you’re a bit iffy on the idea of essential oils. Maybe you have an aunt whose aromatherapy diffuser gives you headaches or an ex whose coconut oil, jasmine and sandalwood babble had you constantly confused about whether you were listening to medical advice or the new Baskin Robbins flavors of the season.
The point is that you might be a skeptic about the idea that a few drops of essential oil could be an alternative to traditional medicine, especially for something like erectile dysfunction (ED). Can trendy wellness products actually help?
Truth be told, we have our doubts too — and so does the medical community.
Below, we’ve outlined the current research on essential oils for ED, put the limited studies into their benefits into context and shared a few more effective tools for dealing with sexual health problems — ones that have more than a group of horned-up male rats to demonstrate what they can do for you.
But don’t skip down to the proven treatments just yet — the data on essential oils for ED is worth the read.
7 Essential Oils for Sex & Erectile Dysfunction
Before we dive into this research, a word for you: caution.
At best, research may imply that you can use essential oils for general wellness. For example, several are purported to have antioxidant properties, which reduce oxidative stress in the tissues of our body and may be protective against inflammation. Rarely are the findings so specific as to suggest that something like clary sage can fix your lower back pain or cure multiple sclerosis.
Part of the reason why is a lack of data. Right now, there isn’t much (read: any) high-quality research on the role of essential oils for erectile dysfunction treatment.
You can find a hundred online lists of the “best essential oils for erectile dysfunction” but those essential oils are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the health benefit claims are not FDA-backed.
Of the few studies that are available, most are tiny in size and feature animals rather than humans. We’re clearing all of this up ahead of time, because if you’re curious about the benefits of any of the popular essential oil ingredients below, you’ll need to consume them with a grain of salt.
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Cinnamon
We’d probably say that aside from the cinnamon challenge, there’s not much noteworthy info from the last few decades to share about cinnamon extract. The exceptions would be two studies, including a 2015 study that looked at the administration of daily cinnamon to male rats. After four weeks, the mice showed increased sperm count and had increased sperm motility and viability to boot.
Two years earlier, another study of male rats (this time older ones) suggested that after four weeks, daily cinnamon offered effective management of their age-based sexual dysfunction.
Cloves
Cloves haven’t exactly rocketed to the top of the ED treatment oil pyramid, but one study from 2004 did find that an ethanolic extract of the clove flower can have a “significant and sustained” increase on the sexual activity of male rats. The authors tentatively called it a point for the traditional view of cloves as an aphrodisiac, though human studies would be a much bigger point.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang ylang essential oil doesn’t affect your hormones or make your penis grow, but it’s used in some cultures and countries to create feelings of confidence and euphoria, particularly when it comes to reducing sexual anxiety. Some evidence even suggests it can treat high blood pressure, though more research is needed to confirm any of this or set safe dosing standards.
Rose
Rosa damascena, better known as damask rose, has been found to improve psychological ED in some humans. In one study, the oil helped a small group of men with major depressive disorder and ED due to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) gain better erectile function, though we’ve yet to find evidence of it being effectively reproduced. In other words, it looks great on paper, but can they do it twice?
Ginger
As essential oil ingredients go, ginger might have the widest base of support. Some research has suggested that it can improve testosterone production and may have antioxidant benefits. Other studies — once again limited to rats — have suggested that it can improve sperm quality.
Ginger has also been used in combination with a few other compounds to effectively treat certain types of erectile dysfunction in rats.
The bottom line? For now, this data is promising, but weak, and more research is needed.
Lavender
There’s not any significant information about lavender oil for ED in the world of medicine, but we would point you to the very thin connection between lavender and mental health. Lavender is sometimes mentioned as a natural remedy for anxiety, which could include performance anxiety and other psychological issues that may cause sexual dysfunction. However, no studies exist testing the theory — yet.
Basil
Basil may be delicious on pizzas, but it has a decidedly less delicious connection to sexual function. A 2013 study found a link between basil consumption and improved testicular function in male rats.
While this isn’t the herb for ED or herbal Viagra that people are talking about, your balls might very well thank you for including more pesto in your diet in the future. More research is needed though, so for now, just enjoy the flavors.
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Alternatives to Essential Oils for ED & Sex
Although there aren’t any conclusive studies that show a link between essential oils and better erections, there are several proven, science-based treatments for ED available.
ED Treatments
Currently, the best ED medications are Viagra® (sildenafil),Levitra® (vardenafil), Cialis® (tadalafil) and Stendra® (avanafil).
These medications are PDE5 inhibitors — vasodilators that work by increasing blood circulation to your penis and making it easier to get and maintain an erection.
While they can potentially cause side effects and drug interactions, problems are rare when they’re used as directed. And on that note, all require a prescription from a healthcare professional, who can help you figure out what ED med is right for you, as well as the most effective way for you to take it.
Therapy
Since ED medications work by increasing blood flow, they’ll only cause erections when you’re actually aroused — which means sexual desire is key. And one of the things blocking sexual desire can be your own brain.
Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety or the more specific sexual performance anxiety can all be potential triggers for psychological ED. In many cases, the best way to deal with these problems is therapy.
Lifestyle Changes
Making a few small changes to your habits and lifestyle can often improve your sexual performance and reduce the severity of ED — a topic we’ve covered in our list of natural ways to protect your erection. In short, make sure you get enough sleep and exercise, eat a healthy diet and definitely quit smoking if you’ve been known to light up.
Sex Toys
There are lots of ways to treat ED, from medication to vacuum constriction devices and — for severe erectile dysfunction — even surgery.
But sexual devices like cock rings and vacuum pumps are a lot easier than any of those, and may be just what you and your partner need to satisfy everyone’s needs. Check out our device offerings for more:
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Essential Oils for Sex: Are They Worth It?
While the studies above can look promising at first, they have several weaknesses.
First, although they do look at certain aspects of sexual function, none specifically address the effects of essential oils on erections or sexual performance.
Second, they’re tiny in scale. Most studies of this type feature very few test subjects, meaning it’s impossible to reach a reliable conclusion about the effects of the substance studied.
Finally, while it’s good to see some research into the effects of essential oils, they usually aren’t human studies. They’re usually performed on lab rats, meaning we can’t assume that their findings are meaningful or accurate for humans.
Now, does this mean that essential oils don’t work for ED? Not quite.
Some essential oils might have effects on your sexual performance, including some that could result in better erections for men affected by erectile dysfunction.
But right now, there isn’t any scientific evidence that shows a link between essential oils and better erectile function or sexual performance for men with ED.
If you want to learn more actual, for-real facts about ED, our guide to erectile dysfunction discusses the causes of ED, common symptoms of erectile dysfunction and the latest ED treatment options in more detail.
Common sense says that, because ED is a common sexual performance issue (it does affect about 30 million men in the United States), we’d probably hear more about it if there was a food you could turn into an oil to cure this condition, you know?
The fact is that ED can be psychological, it can be a nervous system issue, it could be related to testosterone levels or it could be a vascular issue in the form of high blood pressure, among other causes. Determining the cause of your particular ED is an essential part of solving the problem.
Ready to do something about it and get answers? Reach out to speak with a healthcare provider today.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.