Viagra Alternatives: Discover A Safe And Effective Natural Alternative To Viagra To Help Improve Your Sexual Performance

For thousands of years numerous men in China and India have relied on a herbal remedy derived from a plant called the puncture vine to help produce sustained erections, improve a low sex drive and overcome infertility. The name of this incredible herb is Tribulus terrestris, and it has been prescribed by both Ayurvedic (ancient Indian) and traditional Chinese medical practitioners for centuries, to help combat male sexual problems.

Modern research shows that tribulus is effective at improving a low sperm count and sperm motility (two well-known causes of male infertility), as well as boosting libido and sexual satisfaction.1 It is producing such impressive results that some researchers are now hailing it the herbal Viagra.

Better still, not only is it just as effective as Viagra but it is also far safer. Viagra can cause a range of adverse effects such as headaches, facial flushing, heart complications and visual disturbances.

Boost your sex hormones without a prescription
One way tribulus improves sexual performance is by increasing concentrations of several sex hormones, which are needed to maintain sexual health. Scientists believe that the herb is able to do this by directly stimulating the hypothalamus - a major hormone-producing gland in your brain. This action then helps to boost the levels of your sex hormones such as testosterone, which influences libido and the ability to get and maintain an erection, and luteinising hormone, which acts on the sperm-producing tissues of the testicles to improve the quality and quantity of sperm being produced.

US researchers working at the Department of Health and Human Performance, in Iowa State University, studied the effect of tribulus in conjunction with other aphrodisiac herbs. The researchers gave 750mg of tribulus terrestris together with 626mg of the herb chrysin and 540mg of the plant remedy saw palmetto each day to a group of men aged between 30 and 59. The researchers then studied hormone levels in the men's blood.

The results showed that men who took the supplements experienced a 342 per cent increase in the male hormone androstenedione, which helps improve sex drive, and a 38 per cent increase in testosterone, in their blood.2 While these beneficial results cannot be attributed to tribulus alone, it does help to confirm its ability to increase male hormones - which, if kept high in the blood, can improve sexual performance.

Tribulus helps maintain virility and boosts a flagging libido
In an animal study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, in Singapore, scientists assessed tribulus' potential to work as an aphrodisiac. The study involved giving tribulus extracts to a group of rats for eight weeks. At the end of the trial the researchers found that there were considerable improvements in sexual activities such as erection, ejaculation and recovery after ejaculation.

In particular they found that a plant substance called protodioscin, which is present in tribulus, helps improve sexual performance. In addition, the scientists speculated that the herb's benefits may be due to an ability to stimulate levels of androgens (male hormones, such as androstenedione) and nitric oxide release from the nerve endings inside the penis.3

The natural chemical nitric oxide is very important, as it relaxes smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation, allowing increased blood flow to the penis, which is needed to produce and sustain an erection. Viagra works by blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) that destroys nitric oxide. Whereas tribulus works by regulating the production of nitric oxide - this is beneficial as levels of this chemical must be kept within certain limits in the body. As already mentioned, low levels can lead to difficulties in getting an erection, but too much can contribute to free radical damage in the body and increases the risk of chronic age-related diseases like cancer.

Don't let declining levels of DHEA rob you of your manhood and your health
In another animal study, the same researchers from the National University Hospital in Singapore found that tribulus helps increase the pressure of blood inside the penis (necessary to achieve and maintain an erection) and reduces the incidence of premature ejaculation. They also found that the plant substance protodioscin that is present in tribulus was effective in improving nitric oxide levels in the penis.4, 5

When protodioscin enters the body, it eventually converts into the hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrostenone). DHEA is what is known as a 'master hormone' - it is not only responsible for maintaining sexual health but also for improving the functioning of other organs in the body such as the brain, muscle tissue and immune system. High concentrations of DHEA are naturally present in young, virile men, whereas a progressive decline in DHEA levels in the blood occurs with age. Protodioscin helps restore concentrations of DHEA back to youthful levels, thereby helping to improve sexual performance.

Apart from being an effective aphrodisiac, researchers are discovering that tribulus has many other benefits against a wide range of medical conditions. For example, scientists have found that it is effective at lowering cholesterol, boosting immunity and reducing both high blood pressure and inflammation.6, 7, 8, 9

What to take for best results
As already mentioned, protodioscin is an important component of tribulus that helps improve a flagging libido. However, you should be aware that Indonesian researchers from the Teaching and Naval hospital in Surabaya, report that tribulus grown in different soils may not contain the same consistent amounts of protodioscin.10

For this reason, you should make sure that you only take a product that contains a standardised extract of tribulus per capsule to make sure you are getting consistent amounts.

The recommended dosage for tribulus terrestris standardised extract is two 250mg capsules a day in divided doses.

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2. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2001, 71(5): 293-301
3. J Altern Complement Med 2003, 9(2):257-265
4. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2002, 29(1):22-26
5. Life Sci 2002, 71(12):1385-1396
6. Chu S, Qu W, Pang X et al. Zhong Yao Cai 2003, 26(5):341-344
7. J Am Coll Nutr 2003, 22(5):363-371
8. Sharifi AM, Darabi R, Akbarloo N. Life Sci 2003, 73(23):2963-2971
9. Hong CH, Hur SK et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2002,83(1-2):153-159
10. Int J Androl 2000, 2:82-84