Impotence, or erectic dysfunction, is the inability to achieve an erection. Impotence may occur for any of at least 15 possible causes, including diabetes, drug side effects, pituitary tumors, hardening of the arteries, hormonal imbalances, and psychological factors. A few of these conditions respond to specific treatment. For example, if a blood pressure drug is causing impotence, the best approach is to change drugs. If a pituitary tumor is secreting the hormone prolactin, treating that tumor may result in immediate improvement. However, in most cases, conventional treatment of impotence is nonspecific. Generic treatment options include the drug Viagra, mechanical device that utilize a vacume to produce an erection, drugs for self-injection, and implantation of penile prostheses. Psychotherapy can also be helpful for treating all varieties of impotence, even when an organic cause can be identified.

Principal natural treatments
The following natural treatments are widely recommended for impotence, but they have not been scientifically proven effective at this time. Ginkgo, zinc, l-arginine, however, because argirine restriction is an approach often used to treat herps, treatment with l-argirine might have the reverse effect.

Other Natural Treatments
Many other herbs are also reputed to improve sexual function, including ginseng, ashwaganda, suma, damiana, pygeum, and muria puama. However, there is as yet no real evidence that they work.

Not Recommended Treatments
The herb yohimbe is the source of the drug yohimbine, which has been shown to be modestly better than placebo for impotence. However, this is a fairly dangerous treatment, and is not recommended.