Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to erectile dysfunction.
Many CBD gummy brands promote their products for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The idea of a naturally-derived cure for ED can be appealing to many Americans dealing with this condition.
But is there any research showing that CBD gummies actually improve ED, or are they a waste of money? And does CBD cause side effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze medical studies on CBD and ED to give our take on whether this type of supplement is likely to be effective for ED, or if it’s a waste of money.
We’ll share our concerns about efficacy, feature unsponsored user reviews and discuss potential side effects?
Does CBD Cure ED?
While there is a significant amount of research on CBD for stress, pain and sleep, we can only identify a select few trials on CBD for sexual function in men and ED.
While researching this article, we noted that the majority of articles and products recommending CBD for ED failed to cite a single study suggesting the supplement was effective.
A 2020 medical review found that chronic CBD use can impair sexual function in mice.
A meta-study published in the American Journal of Men’s Health found that cannabis users had nearly double the rate of ED compared with non-users, but this could be caused by cannabinoids other than CBD like THC or by the way cannabis is typically used (inhalation).
A 2020 medical review reported that fewer than 2% of CBD users claim to be taking the supplement to treat ED.
We can’t find any medical evidence that CBD treats or improves symptoms of ED, nor can we even locate one single clinical trial testing the effects of CBD on ED in humans.
There is no theoretical mechanism of action that we can identify that would suggest CBD is effective for ED.
It may be a waste of money to use CBD products to support erection health.
ED is associated with glucose and insulin dysregulation according to a 2017 medical review, so it may be illogical to take a product category like gummies with added, refined sugar to treat ED.
But does CBD cause side effects? We’ll answer that question in the next section.
Does CBD Cause Side Effects?
One of the benefits of CBD is its relatively favorable safety profile.
While we don’t consider CBD gummies likely to be effective for ED, they shouldn’t cause serious side effects in otherwise healthy individuals.
A 2017 medical review reported the most common side effects of CBD to be tiredness, diarrhea and weight changes.
A medical review on the safety of CBD published in the Current Neuropharmacology journal concluded with the following statement:
“Clinical data suggest that CBD is well tolerated and associated with few serious AEs at therapeutic doses both in children and adults.”
Can Ginseng Naturally Support Erections?
Panax ginseng has been studied in multiple clinical trials for its potential to naturally treat ED and improve male sexual function.
A clinical trial published in The Journal of Urology found that after eight weeks of treatment, erectile function scores were "significantly higher" in the ginseng group than the group taking placebo pills.
Another clinical trial found that 60% of patients supplementing with panax ginseng had improvements to ED.
Illuminate Labs sells a Panax Ginseng Extract supplement which is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy, potency and purity, and which contains no questionable additive ingredients.
Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract at this link to the product page on our website, where the supplement can be purchased for only $15 on a subscription basis.
Pros and Cons of CBD Gummies for ED
Here are the pros and cons of CBD gummies for ED in our opinion:
Pros:
- Favorable side effect profile
Cons:
- We can’t find any research backing
- CBD had negative effect on erections in one animal study
- Added sugar may worsen men’s health and ED
- Many brands making questionable and unsupported health claims