Korean red ginseng effective for treatment of erectile dysfunction
Price, A.; Gazewood, J.
Journal of Family Practice 52(1): 20-21
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0094-3509 PMID: 12540305 Document Number: 558269
To investigate whether Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) is effective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), 45 men with ED without previous treatment recruited from a urology clinic in Korea were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Subjects were randomized to receive either Korean red ginseng (900mg thrice daily) or placebo for eight weeks. After a two-week washout period, subjects received another 8 weeks of crossover treatment. Patients were assessed every 4 weeks during the two eight-week treatment periods using the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF). Results revealed that after 8 weeks of treatment, patients showed significant improvement in mean IIEF scores compared with placebo (baseline: 28.0 plus minus 16.7; Korean red ginseng: 38.1 plus minus 16.6; placebo: 30.9 plus minus 15.7). Sixty percent of treated patients experienced an improvement in erection as opposed to 20% of the placebo group. Scores relating to penetration and maintenance were also significantly higher for the Korean red ginseng group.