Article from Dr Weil:

Dealing with Impotence herbal way:

Impotence plagues most men at least once in their lifetimes. Sometimes it has psychological reasons for manifesting, and sometimes it has physical reasons. Whatever the cause, there is in most cases a simple cure. And I am not referring to Viagra! The recent deaths and side effects reported from this "wonder drug" should alarm every man, and their lovers as well. There are safer, more sensible ways to deal with impotence. The very first step should be to ascertain the cause of the problem. If impotence continues for more than two weeks, I highly recommend getting to the nearest physician and having some tests run. Your care provider will need to determine if it is caused by a physical problem, such as enlargement or cancer of the prostate, impeded blood flow to the penis, or a loss or decrease in male hormones. These are treatable, and you will get over these problems faster if you catch and treat them early. Don't wait, due to embarrassment or machoism. Be open and honest about your problem. Seek diagnosis and cure early on, and your bout of impotence will pass faster. Sometimes impotence is caused by something affecting other parts of the body, or recent surgeries or medical procedures. Talk with your doctor to determine the cause. The next thing you should do is check your medications. Are you taking a prescription? Over-the-counter medications? Either of these can have side effects that greatly affect the libido, and your equipment. Have your pharmacist check what you are taking and give you a detailed description of possible side effects. If the problem is caused by a prescription, don't discontinue it without discussing it with the prescribing physician first. Explain to your care provider that you are experiencing these side effects, and ask if there is an alternative prescription that won't cause the same problem. Some common things that can affect erection include caffeine, antihistamines, antidepressants, steroids, narcotics, diuretics, and sedatives. Certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, liver disease, depression, diabetes, and hypoglycemia can also cause impotence. Third, check your environment. Are you in a high-stress job? Unemployed? Facing a crucial deadline? Putting in too many hours? Going through a major change in your life? All of these things can have a profound affect on sexual desire and performance. Chances are, once you get these situations under control, your impotence will pass on its own. If you are a smoker or a drinker, you need to be aware that both of these have a profound negative affect on penile function. Alcohol may enhance sexual desire, but it can and does actually impede performance greatly. Smoking has been linked to a decreased blood flow to the penis, and long term smokers can actually experience a physical shrinking of the organ. Your health and your sex life will be greatly enhanced when you give up these two habits. The worst thing you can do is dwell on the situation. Putting pressure on yourself to get over it, or to perform, can create a backlash that will extend or complicate your problem. It can cause the impotence to hang around, and create a nasty case of depression. Fear of failure or inability to perform adequately can cause a negative response as well. Remember, you aren't the first to have this problem, and you won't be the last. And be open and honest with your partner. If you don't tell them you are having this problem, you can create a lot of hurt feelings by using a lot of phony excuses for not having relations. Share openly with your partner, and work through the situation together. Caring support for each other is crucial. Your diet can have a lot to do with impotence as well. Eat a balanced, healthy diet, and get plenty of fluids each day. If you are overweight, that can also have a negative affect on penile tissues. Avoid excesses of caffeine and fatty foods. A poor diet can affect the blood flow to all parts of the body, but it seems the penis is usually affected first. And if you aren't eating properly, you won't have the energy necessary to think about or partake in sexual relations. Lack of desire can also be a problem. Try something different with your significant other to heighten arousal! Try a different time of day, a different location, a different position, anything to increase your arousal, as long as it is safe and between two consenting adults, of course! Always remember that the most important sexual organ for a man or a woman is the brain itself. To determine if your impotence is caused by a psychological problem, you can do this simple test to see if you have night erections while you sleep. Dr. Andrew Weil suggest fastening a strip of postage stamps around the flaccid penis prior to going to bed. If the strip is broken when you wake up, then the problem is probably not a physical one. It would be advisable to try this test a few days in a row, to be sure you didn't break the stamps moving around in your sleep. Chinese medicine teaches that men having trouble with impotence should abstain from all sexual relations and masturbation for a minimum of 100 days, while at the same time undergoing an herbal therapy to tone the reproductive system. This takes the pressure off by removing the performance problem, giving time for the herbs to do their job, and the mind time to think about other things for a while. Herbally, there are some temporary aids that can ease the problem somewhat when the cause is not related to a serious medical problem. Seek diagnosis of the problem from a physician before using these herbs. As with any herbal treatment, these should be used as aids, not crutches. Continuing to smoke, drink, overeat, stress out, etc. will negate the use of an herbal treatment for impotence. You can try a combination of ginger, ginseng, damiana, saw palmetto, and peppermint, 3 capsules of each per day, taken daily over a two month period. This will help tone and regulate the hormones and reproductive system, and can help alleviate any possible physical causes. Taking bee products daily, such as propolis, pollen, and/or royal jelly, can increase your energy levels, and help to regulate the parts of you that may be a little out of whack. Many an older man, and older women too, has experienced a rejuvenation of sexual desire after including bee products in their daily healthy diet. For those occasional times when you really want to try, you can try Butea Superba. It is a powerful aphrodisiac and stimulator. However, you must be aware that a large dose, or prolonged use, is very toxic to the liver, and can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, low blood pressure, or a history of heart or liver disease, it is safest to leave the Viagra alone, and try the above tonic instead. Use no more than two or three capsules of Butea Superba, depending upon your weight, height, and age, no more than once or twice per month, and only on a very occasional basis.