Q: The new drug Viagra is being touted as a treatment for impotence. Arethere any natural remedies that can increase circulation without the new drug's potential side effects?
A: By increasing blood flow and circulation, ginkgo may work in a way similar to Viagra. I've prescribed it with good results to patients suffering from impotence. In one recent study, 50 patients with impotence were given ginkgo, and after six months, an astonishing one-half had regained sexual vigor. That's a success rate better than any drug I've run across.
However, men taking ginkgo for this problem need to be patient, since significant results may not show up for several months. It takes time for the body to repair damaged blood vessels in our complex circulatory system.
Dr. Richard Firshein, founder of the Firshein Center for Comprehensive Medicine in New York City, is the author of Reversing Asthma (Warner) and The Nutraceutical Revolution (Riverhead, January 1999).Send questions to: Ask Dr. Firshein, PSYCHOLOGY TODAY, 49 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010, or e-mail us at psychtoday@aol.com. Please note that this column is intended for educational purposes only. Because of the large number of queries, he cannot answer all questions personally or recommend specific desages to readers. Always consult a physician before embarking on any change in diet.
