TCM for Men's Health, Prostate Symptoms and Erectile Dysfunction
What research found for acupuncture and Chinese herbal products used for erectile dysfunction and prostate symptoms, and why sexual enhancement products can hide drugs.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Check the cause first
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common, and the NHS says it is usually nothing to worry about but advises seeing a GP if it keeps happening, because it may be a sign of a treatable condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression or anxiety, or hormone problems. [1] Prostate symptoms also deserve a check. The NHS says problems peeing can sometimes be caused by more serious conditions than an enlarged prostate, and asks for an urgent appointment if there is blood in the urine, pain when peeing, or inability to pee at all. [2] The NHS describes prostatitis as potentially serious and treated with antibiotics. [3]This page is information only. It does not suggest replacing or stopping any prescribed medicine. For background, see Erectile Dysfunction, Urinary Symptoms and Enlarged Prostate and Prostatitis.
Read this before buying anything labeled for "male vitality"
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says many products that claim to help with sexual enhancement or sexual dysfunction, including male enhancement supplements and "stamina" pills, are likely to be contaminated with dangerous hidden ingredients. [4] These products are sometimes falsely advertised as dietary supplements, food or all-natural treatments, can lead to severe health issues and hospitalization, and the FDA's list covers only a small fraction of them; a product that is not on the list is not thereby safe. [4] This applies to any product, whether or not it is described as a traditional Chinese formula. See Undeclared Drugs in Chinese Patent Medicines.How TCM frames men's health
Terms such as "kidney yang" or "kidney essence" are part of traditional pattern language, not biomedical anatomy. See Traditional Frameworks vs Biomedical Explanations and Kidney Yang Marketing Claims Checked. The rest of this page reports what trials measured.What research found
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture for ED | A 2026 meta-analysis of 21 randomized trials found higher erectile function scores (IIEF-5 mean difference 3.28) and no significant difference in adverse events, but graded the certainty as very low to moderate and said weak evidence precludes firm conclusions. [5] | Promising but limited |
| Chinese herbal products plus tadalafil for ED | A meta-analysis of 11 studies (903 people) found better scores than tadalafil alone and no increase in side effects; it called for longer, multicenter, double-blind trials. [6] | Promising but limited |
| Ginseng for ED | A Cochrane review of 9 placebo-controlled studies (587 men, follow-up up to 12 weeks) found a trivial effect on erectile function scores (low to moderate certainty) but possibly more men reporting the ability to have intercourse. [7] | Mixed |
| Acupuncture for chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) | A sham-controlled trial of 440 men in 10 Chinese hospitals found 60.6% responders at week 8 with acupuncture versus 36.8% with sham, and 61.5% versus 38.3% at week 32. It noted sham acupuncture might have had some physiologic effects, and was funded by Chinese national traditional-medicine bodies. [8] A review of 12 trials also found larger symptom reductions, especially for pain. [9] | Promising but limited (best-tested use on this page) |
| Chinese herbal products for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, enlarged prostate) | A 2013 review of 31 trials said the evidence is too weak to support efficacy because of poor methods and few trials; adverse events were similar to placebo. [10] | Insufficient evidence |
Notes on reading the table. Trials without a sham or placebo comparator can be shaped by expectation, which matters for outcomes like erectile function that people report themselves. None of these results show that acupuncture or herbs match prescription ED medicines. The prostatitis trial is the only one above described as sham-controlled, and its authors' own limitation applies. For general concerns about trial quality, see Quality of TCM Clinical Trials.
Prostate herbs and supplements on this site
Saw palmetto, a herb often sold for prostate symptoms, has its own pages; see Saw Palmetto and Saw Palmetto and Prostate Supplements. The TCM-specific evidence summarized above is separate from those.When to get care urgently
Blood in the urine, pain when peeing, being unable to pee, or fever with prostate pain need prompt medical attention. [2][3] If you have chest pain, sudden weakness, or trouble speaking, call emergency services (911 in the US).Frequently asked questions
Does acupuncture work for erectile dysfunction?
A 2026 review found improved scores in trials but rated the certainty of evidence very low to moderate. [5] It is not an established treatment.
Can Chinese herbs replace Viagra-type medicines?
We found no source showing that. One review looked at herbs added to tadalafil, not replacing it. [6] Do not stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice.
Is ginseng good for erectile dysfunction?
A Cochrane review found a trivial effect on erectile function scores compared with placebo, with low to moderate certainty. [7] See Ginseng in Chinese Medicine.
Is acupuncture useful for chronic prostatitis?
One large sham-controlled trial in China found more responders with acupuncture, and a review of 12 trials was supportive; both come with limits. [8][9]
Are "natural" male enhancement pills safe?
Not necessarily. The FDA warns that many are contaminated with hidden drug ingredients. [4]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Acupuncture: no serious adverse events were reported in the prostatitis trial and review above, and the ED review found no significant difference in adverse events. [8][9][5] Needle-related risks are covered on the acupuncture pages.
- Herbs: ask a doctor or pharmacist before combining any Chinese herbal product with ED medicines, blood pressure medicines or other prescriptions. See Chinese Herbs and Prescription Medicines.
- Only buy from sources that can show what is in the product; see Buying Chinese Herbs Safely.
- Online sellers of ED medicines are a risk too: the NHS warns that many websites sell fake medicines and suggests seeing a doctor before buying online. [1]
References
- NHS. Erectile dysfunction (impotence). Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS. Enlarged prostate. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS. Prostatitis. Read 2026-10-22.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sexual Enhancement and Energy Product Notifications. Content current as of 10/15/2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- Yan M, Zhu T, Xue K, et al. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sex Med Rev. 2026;14(2):qeag042. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wang YL, Geng LG, He CB, Yuan SY. Chinese herbal medicine combined with tadalafil for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Andrology. 2020;8(2):268-276. Read 2026-10-22.
- Lee HW, Lee MS, Kim TH, et al. Ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;4:CD012654. Read 2026-10-22.
- Sun Y, Liu Y, Liu B, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2021;174(10):1357-1366. Read 2026-10-22.
- Qin Z, Guo J, Chen H, Wu J. Acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2022;46:55-67. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ma CH, Lin WL, Lui SL, et al. Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for benign prostatic hyperplasia: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Asian J Androl. 2013;15(4):471-82. Read 2026-10-22.