A new cream has been developed that uses curcumin – a chemical found in turmeric – that’s said to help with erectile dysfunction.
A team of American scientists have used the chemical, which is known for giving turmeric its distinctive yellow colour, in an ointment because it’s known to boost blood flow to the genitals after being applied to the stomach. Itworks by being absorbed by the skin and dilating blood vessels that lead to the groin.
This is strange but true, as previous studies from Cairo in 2014 have shown that curcumin can boost the male sex drive more than many prescription drugs, including sildefanil (the active ingredient in Viagra). When combined, the two caused an even more powerful result.
What causes erectile dysfunction?
Impotence is a common issue, with around one in 10 men experiencing it at any given time. Problems with maintaining an erection can be caused by many things, including:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Ageing
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure (discover how to lower blood pressure here)
- High cholesterol
- Hormonal problems
- Surgery or injury
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Problems in your relationship
Can eating turmeric improve erectile problems?
Sadly for curry fans, it doesn’t work by eating it – although there are lots of other health benefits to turmeric, including being an anti-inflammatory, helping to prevent narrowed arteries and good for aiding digestion. And one particular benefit of the spice is improved blood flow, which might go some way to helping erectile issues.
Erectile dysfunction is a common problem, with one in 10 men experiencing it at some point in their lives. While Viagra is now available to buy cheaply over the counter (even at Asda!) it doesn’t work for all men, with around 30% finding no difference.
Don’t try this at home
While it might be tempting to give it a go at home, it won’t work with your store cupboard spices, unfortunately. The ointment is made by a team at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and uses minute nanoparticles that are small enough to be absorbed into the blood stream. There’s currently no news about if and when it might be available to purchase.
