TITLE:
Herbal Therapies for Male Sexual Health: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Evidence and Mechanisms
AUTHORS:
Shengjie Zhu, Meiling Li, Huijun Z. Ring
KEYWORDS:
Testosterone, Libido, TCM, Yang Tonic, Kidney Deficiency, Herbal Medicine, Male Sexual Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
23,
2025
ABSTRACT: Age-related sexual dysfunction and testosterone decline in men are common conditions that affect quality of life and well-being. Herbal therapies, particularly those rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are gaining popularity as natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. This review synthesizes evidence from eight double-blind randomized controlled trials evaluating herbal interventions for male sexual health, including Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali), Lepidium meyenii (Maca), Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek/Testofen), and a multi-herb topical SS-cream. Findings suggest that these therapies improve sexual function through both hormone-related and hormone-independent mechanisms. Across studies, adverse events were mild and comparable to placebo. In addition to biomedical mechanisms—such as hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis support and nitric oxide (NO) signaling—these herbs align with TCM concepts of yang-tonification, kidney support, and essence nourishment, highlighting their potential as integrative options for male sexual health.