ED, or more commonly erectile dysfunction, occurs when a male cannot sustain an erect penis. Also known as impotence, ED may result due to an underlying health issue that affects blood flow or the nerve system—such as diabetes, increased cholesterol, hypertension, or atherosclerosis. The root cause of ED may also be mental in nature. For instance, anxiety and depression may be an underlying cause. Before trying any of the following natural or herbal remedies to treat ED, please consult with your medical doctor for advice:

1. Zinc

Numerous scientific studies have found that low levels of zinc and erectile dysfunction often go hand in hand. For instance, zinc is directly linked to the production of male testosterone, as well as DNA, cell division, protein production, and immunity. So when zinc levels are low, low immunity and erectile dysfunction may result. Therefore, zinc supplements may help improve impotence.

2. Acupuncture

Many men seek out alternative therapies to help improve erectile dysfunction. For instance, acupuncture has been known to improve sexual function. In fact, a 2012 study found that acupuncture improved erections by 39% of male participants after undergoing acupuncture.

3. Dehydroepiandrosterone

Commonly called DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone already naturally produced by the body’s adrenal glands. DHEA also triggers the release of other hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. In fact, many researchers believe that low levels of DHEA are responsible for a large majority of men with erectile dysfunction. And further studies indicate that males with diabetes and ED who supplemented with DHEA every day, experienced better blood flow to organs, including the penis.

4. Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng has long been used as a supplemental therapy for impotence. In fact, it’s often called “herbal Viagra” for this very reason. Studies show that men who supplemented with up to 1,000 milligrams of panax ginseng, 3 times daily experienced less erectile dysfunction. Researchers suspect that panax ginseng works most effectively on ED patients with diabetes and other forms of metabolic syndrome, as well as those with high cholesterol (or blood lipids).