System of medicine
Ayurveda
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Ayurveda is the classical Indian system of medicine, recognised and regulated in India as a separate system with its own degree and register. For men's sexual health it uses herbal formulations, diet and daily-routine measures, chosen according to its own traditional framework.
What Ayurveda is
Ayurveda describes health in its own terms: a balance of the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha), the strength of digestion (agni) and the quality of the body's tissues (dhatus). Its classical texts devote a branch, vajikarana, to sexual vitality and fertility. These are traditional concepts of the system; they are not biomedical mechanisms, and this page does not present them as if they were.
Practitioner qualifications and regulator
An Ayurvedic doctor in India holds a BAMS degree (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery), sometimes followed by an MD (Ayurveda), and is registered under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, established by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020[1]. A BAMS doctor is registered to practise Ayurveda, not modern medicine.
- Basic degree: BAMS.
- Postgraduate qualification: MD or MS (Ayurveda).
- Regulator: the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine.
How assessment works
An Ayurvedic consultation asks about the complaint, appetite and digestion, sleep, stress, diet, daily routine and past illnesses, and interprets them within the dosha framework to arrive at the system's own assessment of your constitution (prakriti) and imbalance. A responsible Ayurvedic doctor also asks about blood pressure, diabetes and current medicines, because erectile problems can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease that needs modern-medicine evaluation[5].
- History of the complaint and general health.
- Assessment of constitution and imbalance in Ayurvedic terms.
- A check for symptoms that need a modern-medicine opinion.
Interventions used for men's sexual health
Depending on the assessment, an Ayurvedic doctor may advise herbal formulations traditionally used for vitality, such as preparations of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), shatavari or safed musli, together with dietary advice, sleep and exercise routines and stress reduction. Medicines are prescribed only after consultation.
- Single-herb and classical multi-herb formulations.
- Diet and daily-routine (dinacharya) advice.
- Stress-reduction measures such as yoga and breathing practice.
Evidence by condition and intervention
The clinical evidence for Ayurvedic interventions in men's sexual health is limited. The statements below separate what has been tested in trials from what rests on traditional use.
| Condition | Intervention | Evidence | What the studies show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erectile Dysfunction | Herbal supplements (ginseng and other single herbs) | Limited or mixed evidence | A systematic review of 24 randomised trials with 2,080 men found encouraging but preliminary evidence for ginseng and mixed results for other herbs, and concluded that larger, higher-quality trials are needed before herbal products can be recommended for erectile dysfunction[2]. |
| Low Sperm Count | Ashwagandha root extract | Limited or mixed evidence | A small pilot randomised trial of 46 men with low sperm count reported improved semen parameters after 90 days compared with placebo; one small trial is not enough to establish the effect[3]. |
| Low Libido | Vajikarana formulations for vitality and desire | Traditional practice | Used within Ayurveda on the basis of its classical texts; the controlled trials of herbal products that do exist concern erection rather than desire, and are themselves preliminary[2]. |
| Premature Ejaculation | Ayurvedic herbal formulations | Insufficient evidence | There is not enough reliable trial evidence to say whether Ayurvedic formulations help premature ejaculation; the guideline treatments for it are behavioural and pharmaceutical[6]. |
What the evidence does not establish
A herb's traditional reputation does not show that it works, and a positive result in one small trial does not show that it works reliably. Nor does the traditional dosha explanation of why a herb is chosen amount to a demonstrated biological mechanism. The evidence does not establish that Ayurvedic treatment can replace investigation of an underlying condition such as diabetes or heart disease.
- Most trials are small, short and differ in the product and dose used[2].
- Classical formulations vary between manufacturers, so a result for one product may not apply to another.
Limitations
Ayurvedic assessment does not include the blood tests, imaging or examination that some conditions need for diagnosis. A remote consultation cannot examine you. Herbal treatment typically involves weeks of use, and progress should be reviewed rather than continued indefinitely without benefit.
Safety
Natural does not mean harmless. In a study of Ayurvedic medicines bought over the internet, 20.7% of the 193 products tested contained detectable lead, mercury or arsenic, and the proportion was higher among rasa shastra preparations that deliberately combine herbs with metals[4]. Herbs can also interact with prescription medicines, including those for diabetes, blood pressure and blood thinning.
- Use products only as prescribed by a registered practitioner, from a traceable manufacturer.
- Tell every doctor you see about the Ayurvedic medicines you take.
- Be wary of 'herbal' sexual-health products sold without a prescription, which can contain undeclared drugs.
Referral boundaries
Some symptoms need a modern-medicine evaluation whichever system you prefer: erectile problems in a man with chest pain, breathlessness or diabetes, a lump or swelling, penile curvature with pain, blood in the urine or semen, or a prolonged painful erection. Erectile dysfunction can be the first sign of cardiovascular disease[5], and choosing Ayurveda should never delay that assessment.
How the service is offered
The consultation is a private video or audio call with the practice's Ayurvedic doctor. Under India's Telemedicine Practice Guidelines a registered practitioner prescribes only when reasonably satisfied that the information gathered is adequate[7], so any prescription follows the consultation. If a modern-medicine opinion or test is needed first, the doctor will say so.
The doctor of this system
Dr Vinod Gupta
- Qualification
- BAMS
- System of medicine
- Ayurveda
Consultations in this system: Ayurvedic Sexologist in India
Conditions this system is offered for
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ayurveda a recognised system of medicine in India?
Yes. Ayurveda is recognised in Indian law as a separate system of medicine. Its practitioners qualify with a BAMS degree and are registered under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine.
Is there scientific evidence for Ayurvedic treatment of sexual problems?
It is limited. Some herbs have been tested in small trials with encouraging but preliminary results, and many traditional formulations have not been tested in controlled trials at all. This page lists the evidence by condition with its sources.
Are Ayurvedic medicines safe because they are natural?
Not automatically. Some products have been found to contain lead, mercury or arsenic, and herbs can interact with other medicines. Use only products prescribed by a registered practitioner and tell every doctor what you take.
Can I combine Ayurvedic and modern medicines?
Sometimes, but only with both doctors informed, because some herbs interact with prescription medicines. Mention everything you take during the video or audio call.
References
- Government of India. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 (Act No. 14 of 2020). https://thc.nic.in/Central%20Governmental%20Acts/National%20Commission%20for%20Indian%20System%20of%20Medicine%20Act,%202020.pdf
- Borrelli F, Colalto C, Delfino DV, Iriti M, Izzo AA. Herbal dietary supplements for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Drugs. 2018;78(6):643-673. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-018-0897-3
- Ambiye VR, Langade D, Dongre S, Aptikar P, Kulkarni M, Dongre A. Clinical evaluation of the spermatogenic activity of the root extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in oligospermic males: a pilot study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:571420. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/571420
- Saper RB, Phillips RS, Sehgal A, et al. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet. JAMA. 2008;300(8):915-923. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.300.8.915
- Nehra A, Jackson G, Miner M, et al. The Princeton III Consensus recommendations for the management of erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 2012;87(8):766-778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.06.015
- European Association of Urology. EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health. https://uroweb.org/guidelines/sexual-and-reproductive-health
- Dinakaran D, Manjunatha N, Kumar CN, Math SB. Telemedicine practice guidelines of India, 2020: implications and challenges. Indian J Psychiatry. 2021;63(1):97-101. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_476_20
This information is general and educational. It is not a diagnosis; please discuss your situation with the doctor during your consultation.