Having exhausted Western medicine, it seems that people Americans are turning to Ayurvedic medicine for their most elusive bodily goal: growing a bigger penis. Ayurveda is a holistic Indian medicinal practice that has been used for centuries for a plethora of health issues, though clinical trials and scientific studies have yet to validate much of it. Generally, ayurveda emphasizes a harmonious balance between mind, body and spirit, combining lifestyle practices like yoga and meditation with herbal remedies.
What does any of that have to do with your dick?
Depending on what you’re looking for, not much. There has yet to be a product — natural, human-made, prescription or otherwise — that’s had any success in safely, permanently increasing penis size. In Ayurvedic medicine, there are a few herbs and ingredients that have been claimed to do so, but again, there’s no evidence to validate this. That said, it’s possible that ingredients used in Ayurvedic medicine could be useful for other aspects of sexual health.
One blog by an Ayurvedic sexologist claims that kaunch beej and ashwagandha can help libido, stamina, sperm production and other forms of sexual dysfunction. With these ingredients, there’s partial evidence of their efficacy to this end. For example, kaunch beej, also known as velvet bean, is considered an aphrodisiac with prolactin-suppressing properties. Though we recently learned that prolactin-suppressants are likely ineffective in assisting with sexual performance for most men, velvet bean is nutrient rich when consumed as a food and may be beneficial to overall health in this respect.
Ashwagandha, meanwhile, has become increasingly popular as a supplement. Men’s health platform Roman carries an Ashwagandha supplement for testosterone support, and the herb does have some scientific backing to suggest that it can help with blood sugar levels, cortisol reduction, stress, anxiety and depression. Some studies have even found ashwagandha effective in increasing testosterone and sperm count.
While that’s all well and good, one thing to consider before taking such a supplement is its quality. According to the National Institutes of Health, many of them contain toxic elements. “A 2015 published survey of people who use Ayurvedic preparations showed that 40 percent had elevated blood levels of lead and some had elevated blood levels of mercury,” the site says. “About one in four of the supplements tested had high levels of lead and almost half of them had high levels of mercury.”
Presumably, high levels of lead and mercury will only hinder your sexual health. If you’re going to try out some of these herbal remedies, try to ensure the reputability and quality of the distributor, and consider consulting with your primary care physician first.
As for other aspects of Ayurveda, like yoga or meditation, they will almost certainly only benefit you as aspects of your overall well being. That said, many issues with sexual health are tied to heart and mental health, and doing something like yoga or meditation that can improve each of those things is a step in the right direction. No, they won’t make your dick bigger, but they might make you a happier, more limber person — two things that will probably better contribute to good sex, anyway.
Magdalene Taylor
Magdalene Taylor is a staff writer at MEL. She covers internet culture, sex and the online adult industry. She lives in Brooklyn but is from God's Country, Western Massachusetts.
