Natural Alternatives to Viagra with Ellen Kamhi

WebMD Live Events Transcript

Event Date: 05/26/2000.

Holistic Medicine expert Dr. Ellen Kamhi discusses her views on the latest alternative treatments for erectile dysfunction.

The opinions expressed by Ellen Kamhi are hers and hers alone. If you have questions about your health, you should consult with your personal physician. This event is meant for informational purposes only.

Moderator: Welcome to WebMD Live's Sexual Health Auditorium. Today we are discussing Natural Alternatives to Viagra, with Ellen Kamhi, PhD, RN, HNC.

Ellen Kamhi, nationally-known as "The Natural Nurse," is the co-author of The Natural Medicine Chest, Arthritis: The Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide, and Cycles of Life: Herbs and Energetics for Women. She is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) and is Nationally Board Certified as a Holistic Nurse (HNC). Dr. Kamhi has been involved in the field of Natural Medicine for over 30 years. She attended Rutgers and Cornell University, and sat on the Panel Of Traditional Medicine at Columbia Presbyterian Medical School. Dr. Kamhi has practiced holistic medicine for the last 15 years with Serafina Corsello, M.D., as Head Nurse of Diagnostics and Natural Interventions at the Corsello Centers for Complementary Medicine in New York.

Dr. Kamhi, welcome back to WebMD. How widespread is the problem of erectile dysfunction (ED) in the US?

Dr. Kamhi: Erectile dysfunction is another word for impotence and we'll be referring to it both ways. Unfortunately, approximately 30 million men in the U.S. suffer from this problem who report it. Of course, there are many cases that go unreported because so many don't want to talk about it. So, it's a very widespread problem among men in the U.S.

Moderator: How successful is treatment with Viagra?

Dr. Kamhi: I would say Viagra is tremendously successful and it is one of the most widely sold drugs in the history of medicine. It absolutely has been very effective, but the problem is that it also has serious side effects when we look at the fact that over 700 men have died while using Viagra in the U.S. alone. There are also less severe side effects besides death from taking Viagra, and they include a blue discoloration in front of the field of vision after taking it, digestive disturbances, headaches and other problems. There are many health indications where taking Viagra would not be an option, for instance, men who are already taking nitrates such as nitroglycerine, and those with other kinds of cardiovascular problems, any kind of cancer, or ulcers and other bleeding disorders. By the way, people should know that the real name of Viagra is sildenafil. And, why that's important is because there are other drug companies that will be coming out with that and it won't be called Viagra. Another thing is Viagra is quite costly. It costs about $10 a pill. And, that's when you get it through a prescription through your physician. People sometimes pay a lot more for it if they're just buying it on line or through other available distribution venues.

Moderator: How widespread is Viagra-abuse? Specifically, through online purchasing?

Dr. Kamhi: Because of that very fact, there is no way that we can really say how many people are using it who shouldn't be using. And, in fact, what does abuse mean? There are those trying Viagra as a sex enhancer even if they don't have erectile dysfunction. One thing literature points out is that although Viagra can intensify performance, it can only be effective if the erectile dysfunction is due to neurological factors rather than emotional or psychological factors. So, if a man who doesn't have circulation problem it will not increase his response. In other words, Viagra is not truly an aphrodisiac which might increase sexual response, although it is an enhancer of circulation and that's why it's effective.

Moderator: What is a priapism?

Dr. Kamhi: Yes, Viagra can sometimes caused this sustained erection. In some people that can be a problem, but it's not a major side effect that's worried about with Viagra. It's not really dangerous.

Moderator: How does natural medicine differ in its approach to treatment of erectile dysfunction?

Dr. Kamhi: Natural medicine differs in its approach to treatment of erectile dysfunction in the same way that it differs in its approach to treating any illness. Rather than looking at the particular effected part of the body, in this case, the penis, natural or holistic medicine looks at what is wrong with the whole person. The three-pronged approach is paramount. Meaning, we look at the emotional and spiritual life, which is the most important consideration in any illness. Number two is diet and lifestyle choices. Number three is exercise. We will not give any kind of supplement; notice the word is supplement which means it's supplemental to other lifestyle choices that lead to overall wellness. 

If men who are experiencing erectile dysfunction want to start a program to reverse it, they should first look at what is going on with their relationships, whether it's with a female or male. They should look at social and psychological issues involved in the relationship. Number two is looking at the diet. An organic diet is of utmost importance because any food coated with pesticides and toxic chemicals, in particular, hormones, such as bovine growth hormones which are found in non-organic dairy products, will cause the accumulation in the body of different kinds of xenoestrogens, which is a problem because that can interfere with proper testosterone levels in men. Another issue with non-organic food is bioengineering. Many foods on the market now are bioengineered, and we do not yet know the overall health effects of those foods. So, choosing organic is important. Also, decreasing bad fats which are any animal product. Number two is all hydrogenated oils. And, you need to read your labels to find these. They're in every baked good such as cakes and bagels and cookies. They are also in all fried foods and fast foods. These kinds of fats, the same ones that lead to obesity as well as high LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein which is the bad cholesterol), these same kinds of fats will tend to clog up the circulatory pathway that interferes with the erection, just like it causes blockages in arteries to the heart causing cardiovascular illness. So, decreasing the bad fats, either totally eliminating them or at least decreasing them to a minimum and increasing the good fats. Good fats include omega-3 fatty acids. These are found in cold water fish such as salmon and in vegetarian sources such as flaxseed. So, an overall movement to a diet very high in vegetables including kale, Swiss chard, collard greens, romaine lettuce and other greens, and organic whole grains such as brown rice, as well as organic protein sources such as pumpkin seeds, which are very high in zinc (especially healthful to men) and soy products such as tofu, will increase overall wellness, decrease the fatty deposition that can block the arteries and veins leading to the circulatory system leading to the male organs. In particular, yoga and tai chi as well as other forms of stretching are important. Of course, cardiovascular exercise which will lead to better tone is also important. This needs to be done on a daily basis, not once a week, not on a weekend warrior schedule. So, that is where we start our program to reverse erectile dysfunction, by looking at the emotional/psychological factors, the diet and the amount of exercise.