Natural remedies for men’s health
Direct answer
Coenzyme Q10 is the best-supported option here, rated Moderate (3) for male infertility, and nothing else is rated better than Limited (2). Erectile dysfunction and new urinary symptoms are worth a doctor’s visit before you self-treat, because either can point to another condition.
For coenzyme Q10, a 2025 meta-analysis of 9 randomised trials (781 men) found higher sperm concentration and motility, though the trials were small and the pregnancy result rests on few studies.
Among the Limited (2) options, nettle root has one large positive trial for urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate. Ginseng gives a small, borderline-useful gain in erectile dysfunction, and ashwagandha has only limited data for male fertility.
Compare the options
Of the 5 remedies for men’s health we have rated, 1 has Moderate or Strong evidence for this use (none Strong). See our evidence report.
Click a column heading to sort.
| Rated for | Typical form & use | Main caution | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coenzyme Q10 Ubiquinone / ubiquinol (body coenzyme) | Moderate | Male infertility (idiopathic), sperm quality | Capsule (ubiquinone) | Ask first if on warfarin; may alter its effect | 4+ weeks |
| Ashwagandha Withania somnifera (root) | Limited | Male fertility | Root extract, 250–600 mg a day | Avoid with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer | 4+ weeks |
| Ginseng Panax ginseng (root) | Limited | Erectile dysfunction | Korean red ginseng, 1.8–3 g daily | May lower blood sugar and disturb sleep | 4+ weeks |
| Nettle Urtica dioica (root and leaf) | Limited | Prostate urinary symptoms (root) | Root extract, about 300–720 mg a day | See a doctor for urinary symptoms before self-treating | 4+ weeks |
| Saw palmetto Serenoa repens (fruit) | Limited | Enlarged prostate urinary symptoms | Fruit extract, 320 mg daily | Have urinary symptoms checked by a doctor before using it | 4+ weeks |
- Rated for
- Male infertility (idiopathic), sperm quality
- Form
- Capsule (ubiquinone)
- Onset
- 4+ weeks
- Rated for
- Male fertility
- Form
- Root extract, 250–600 mg a day
- Onset
- 4+ weeks
- Rated for
- Erectile dysfunction
- Form
- Korean red ginseng, 1.8–3 g daily
- Onset
- 4+ weeks
- Rated for
- Prostate urinary symptoms (root)
- Form
- Root extract, about 300–720 mg a day
- Onset
- 4+ weeks
- Rated for
- Enlarged prostate urinary symptoms
- Form
- Fruit extract, 320 mg daily
- Onset
- 4+ weeks
Quick picks
Rated Moderate (3) for male infertility: a 2025 meta-analysis of 9 randomised trials (781 men) found sperm concentration up by 10.2 million per mL, motility up about 5 percentage points and higher odds of clinical pregnancy (odds ratio 6.02, with a very wide interval of 1.97 to 18.41). The trials were small and NCCIH says the research is too limited for conclusions; check with a clinician first if you take warfarin or insulin.
Traditional favouriteGinsengA 2021 Cochrane review rated ginseng Limited (2) for erectile dysfunction: a 3.5-point gain on a 30-point scale, below the 4-point level the reviewers treated as meaningful, with low-certainty evidence. It was never compared with standard drugs such as sildenafil.
Key facts about men’s health
- In the US, an enlarged prostate (BPH) affects an estimated 5% to 6% of men aged 40 to 64 and 29% to 33% of those aged 65 and older. It is the most common prostate problem in men over 50.6
- Men are more likely to develop BPH if they are 40 or older, have a family history of it, or have heart and blood vessel disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease or erectile dysfunction.6
- An enlarged prostate is not caused by prostate cancer and does not raise the risk of it, but new urinary symptoms still need a GP check, because they can sometimes be caused by prostate cancer.3
- Between 30 million and 50 million men in the US have erectile dysfunction. It becomes more common with age: about 40% of men are affected at 40, and 70% report it by 70.7
- Most men occasionally cannot get or keep an erection, usually because of stress, tiredness or too much alcohol. If it happens often, it may be caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression or hormone problems.1
- About one in six people of reproductive age worldwide experience infertility in their lifetime. In men it is most often caused by problems ejecting semen, absent or low sperm, or abnormally shaped or moving sperm.8
- Around 1 in 7 UK couples may have difficulty conceiving, but more than 8 out of 10 couples where the woman is under 40 conceive naturally within a year of regular unprotected sex.9
Talk to a doctor first if…
Who should avoid
- Urinary symptoms with fever, blood in the urine or retention: these need a doctor first.
- Pregnancy, thyroid or autoimmune conditions, or existing liver disease: ashwagandha is not advised.
- Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: ashwagandha may raise testosterone, so it is a poor fit.
- Diabetes medicines or warfarin: ginseng is not advised without asking a clinician.
- Warfarin, insulin, blood pressure medicines or cancer treatment: coenzyme Q10 needs a clinician’s advice first.
- Ginseng and sleep: ginseng can disturb sleep.
- Under 18: nettle root is not recommended.
Known interactions
- Ginseng and warfarin: ginseng may reduce the effect of warfarin (one trial saw a lower INR with American ginseng, another found none with Panax ginseng).
- Ginseng and blood sugar: ginseng may lower blood sugar.
- Coenzyme Q10 and warfarin: it may also weaken warfarin (case reports; one small 4-week trial found no change in INR).
- Coenzyme Q10 and insulin or blood pressure medicines: it may interact with insulin, and can add slightly to blood pressure medicines.
- Ashwagandha: may add to thyroid medication, sedatives and immunosuppressants.
- Nettle root: the entry lists no known interactions.
Before you reach for an ingredient
For erectile dysfunction and prostate urinary symptoms, the NHS lifestyle steps come first, and both problems are worth a GP appointment.
- For erectile dysfunction, the NHS suggests losing weight if you are overweight, stopping smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising daily, easing stress and anxiety, and keeping to 14 units of alcohol a week or less. It says to see a GP or sexual health clinic if erection problems keep happening, as it might be a sign of a treatable health condition.1
- Erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of heart disease. A 2019 meta-analysis of 25 studies (154,794 men) found men with ED had a 43% higher risk of cardiovascular disease and a 59% higher risk of coronary heart disease than men without it. These were mostly observational studies, so ED is a warning sign, not a proven cause.2
- For urinary symptoms, the NHS advises seeing a GP if you have difficulty peeing or need to pee more often, because they can sometimes be caused by conditions such as prostate cancer. It says to get urgent help if there is blood in your pee, pain when peeing, or you cannot pee. Self-help includes cutting down on alcohol and caffeine, drinking less before bed, and keeping to a healthy weight.3
Questions people ask
Does ginseng work for erectile dysfunction?
Only slightly. A 2021 Cochrane review of 9 trials found a 3.5-point gain on the 30-point IIEF score, below the 4-point threshold the reviewers treated as clinically meaningful, and rated the certainty low. It has not been compared with standard drugs such as sildenafil.
Should I see a doctor about erectile dysfunction?
Yes, if it keeps happening. The NHS says it may be a sign of a treatable health condition, and a 2019 meta-analysis found ED was linked to a higher risk of heart and circulation disease. A GP can check your blood pressure and other causes.
Can nettle root treat an enlarged prostate?
The evidence is limited. One 6-month trial of 620 men reported symptom improvement in 81% on nettle root against 16% on placebo, but it was a single-centre trial and a systematic review found no convincing evidence for nettle alone. The NHS says urinary symptoms should be checked by a GP because they can have more serious causes.
Do coenzyme Q10 or ashwagandha improve male fertility?
Possibly, though the trials are small. A 2025 meta-analysis of 9 randomised trials (781 men) found higher sperm concentration and motility with coenzyme Q10, and NCCIH says the research is too limited for conclusions.
For ashwagandha, a systematic review found higher sperm concentration and motility in men with low counts after about 90 days, but it included only one randomised trial, and NCCIH calls the evidence limited.
Sources (9)
- Health service guidance NHS. Erectile dysfunction (impotence). nhs.uk (page last reviewed 28 July 2023).
- Meta-analysis Zhao B, Hong Z, Wei Y, Yu D, Xu J, Zhang W. Erectile Dysfunction Predicts Cardiovascular Events as an Independent Risk Factor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sex Med. 2019.
- Health service guidance NHS. Enlarged prostate. nhs.uk.
- Systematic review Bakri S, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Coenzyme Q10 in Idiopathic Male Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. World J Mens Health. 2025.
- Regulator guidance NCCIH. Coenzyme Q10.
- Health agency guidance National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Enlarged Prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). niddk.nih.gov (last reviewed June 2024).
- Health agency guidance National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction. niddk.nih.gov (last reviewed October 2024).
- Health agency fact sheet World Health Organization. Infertility (fact sheet). 2025.
- Health service guidance NHS. Infertility. nhs.uk (page last reviewed 9 August 2023).
Reviewed by Healthy and Herbal editors · 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.