Ginseng is one ingredient in a vitamin that shows promise as a remedy for sexual dysfunction.
A nutritional supplement that contains L-argnine, American and Asian ginsengs, ginkgo biloba, vitamins A, C, E, B-complex and minerals zinc and selenium is said to help with sexual dysfunction for both males and females. The supplement ArginMax is offered in different formulations for men and for women and has been the subject of at least two double-blind studies that yielded promising results.
Prevalence of Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction affects more than 18 million men in the United States over the age of 20, according to research published Feb. 1, 2007, in the "American Journal of Medicine." Erectile dysfunction, as examined in the study, is linked to an absence of physical activity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and it increases sharply with age. An earlier study by Yale School of Medicine found that female sexual dysfunction affected 48.2 percent of women and may have a neurological cause.
Symptoms and Causes of Dysfunction
The symptoms of sexual dysfunction vary and are different for men and women, but they include a loss of or lack of desire, painful intercourse, difficulty in maintaining arousal and difficulty in achieving orgasm. The causes are varied as well. Sexual dysfunction appears disproportionately in people with underlying medical conditions and may signal a serious disease. Other factors are hormone imbalances, stress, use of antidepressants, menopause, hormone therapy and cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Inconclusive Early Studies
Double-blind studies show that the supplement ArginMax improved blood circulation and muscle relaxation, both key factors in achieving sexual satisfaction. In tests of women aged 24 to 71 and men aged 40 to 77, both groups physically tested and reported improvement. Those are preliminary results that require more studies for validation, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, which also points out that the supplement has not been studied in cancer patients. NYU Langone Medical Center observes that some tests of L-argnine, a key ingredient in ArginMax, have shown mixed results. L-argnine does increase the nitrous oxide that leads to an erection.
Cautions
There are some cautions about the use of a supplement with the herbs, vitamins and amino acids combined in ArginMax. Due to the possibility of physiological and psychological disorders as causes for sexual dysfunction, people are urged to consult with medical practitioners before attempting any self-remedies. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, diabetics, asthma sufferers and those sensitive to any of the supplement's ingredients are advised against taking it. The amino acid, L-argnine may exacerbate the symptoms of allergen-induced asthma and low-blood pressure, and it may affect blood-sugar levels.
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