Top 10 Weird Historical Alternatives to Viagra

For the past few decades, Viagra and other similar medications have become well-accepted and popular treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED). Research has proved that these medications are extremely effective, and they have done very well on the market as a result. Though men taking certain other medications, or with certain pre-existing conditions, cannot take Viagra or other similar medications, these drugs have been effective in over 80% of men who use them.

These drugs, coupled with a few other options for treating erectile dysfunction have made life much easier for men dealing with erectile dysfunction, and research is only continuing to become more effective in finding good treatments.

However, erectile dysfunction has been an issue for hundreds, even thousands of years, long before these pills came into being. Even if it had no formal name until somewhat recently, erectile dysfunction is not a new condition, as many texts from history have shown. Humans have been using many different methods to deal with erectile dysfunction throughout time. As is the case with a lot of historical medical practices, they may seem appalling. Some of these practices are still used today in some parts of the world, and some have been modified and improved from their earlier versions to help treat men who cannot take oral pills like Viagra. Before modern research and improvement, there were some very weird alternatives to Viagra:

Top 10 Weird Historical Alternatives to Viagra

1. Penis injections

This method was a favorite of none other than Adolf Hitler. According to historical research, Hitler did not like taking pills of any kind, and often had medications taken through injection. It is rumored that he took medications for Parkinson’s, psoriasis, and other conditions. He used the same solution when he was faced with libido difficulty at a young age. It was one of his close doctors, Dr. Theodor Morrell, who would give him penis injections of solutions composed of semen from young bulls so that he could have sex with his girlfriend, Eva Braun. Morrell is now regarded as somewhat of a medical quack, who gave Hitler large doses of different medications via injection. Whether or not these injections of bull sperm worked is unknown, though the idea of taking testicles and sperm from young animals to treat erectile dysfunction is a theme that recurs throughout history.

Hitler was not the only one to consider injection as a method for treating erectile dysfunction. A British physiologist, Giles Brindley, injected his own penis with a solution of papaverine in order to induce an erection (it is believed that the first time he did this was by accident). This method serves to help blood vessels expand, thus increasing blood flow to the penis. He even gave a presentation to the American Urological Association on his work, and demonstrated his success by dropping his pants in front of the audience to show that he could maintain an erection throughout the lecture. Papverine injections are still accepted as a form of treating erectile dysfunction, with a prescription.

In the modern world, penis injections are still sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction – though, obviously not with semen from animals, as Hitler used. Alprostadil and a combination of alprostadil, phentolamine, and papaverine known as TriMix are most commonly used in penis injections nowadays, with success. These injections were developed in the 1990s, and are commonly used for men who cannot take pills orally. Those who take it receive these injections from a doctor who determines what the best medication for them is, and give themselves the injection at home when they need to.

2. Herbs and acupuncture

In ancient China, it was widely believed that erectile dysfunction was caused by an imbalance in a man’s yin and yang. It was also widely known that this usually occurred around age 60 or later, when older men begin to struggle with impotence. As a solution, the Chinese made potions that were said to help. Some old Chinese texts have listed dozens of different herbs and mixtures used to treat this condition and restore balance to the body. Acupuncture was also a popular method used, sometimes in addition to these potions.

Even today, acupuncture is sometimes seen as a legitimate method for treating erectile dysfunction. Acupuncture has been proven in many cases to help treat stress and improve mood, which in some cases can be a contributing factor to erectile dysfunction. So while there is no strong evidence yet that acupuncture can treat the physical causes of erectile dysfunction, it can certainly help if mood and stress are factoring into impotence, which may be why it was believed to be a cure for so long.

3. Plants and flowers

Many different ancient civilizations used different types of plants (in different ways) to treat erectile dysfunction. Many ancient cultures would grind up animal parts to consume, believing that it would help with impotence. However, many of these same cultures found that certain types of plants do an even better job. Ancient Egyptians used lotus flowers. This method actually has some reason to it, as lotus flowers do contain apomorphine, which is very similar to dopamine and is used to treat some other diseases. Apomorphine will improve mood, as it acts as a dopamine mimic. Like acupuncture, a better mood could help contribute to potency, especially for those who suffer from nervousness or stress, which can cause impotence, or at least contribute to it. Lotus flower extracts have been used for a long time as aphrodisiacs, though there have so far been no conclusive tests to prove a link between lotus flowers and treating erectile dysfunction physically.

It is believed that the Mayans also used plants similar to the lotus flower for medical purposes, possible to treat erectile dysfunction. We know from architecture and art of the era that flowers and plants were popular in different medical treatments, which leads researchers to believe that these plants were also likely used to treat erectile dysfunction.

The idea of using flowers for treatment of erectile dysfunction didn’t die out with those ancient civilizations. Edward Bach, a British man in the 1930s, wrote a book of remedies for many health issues which flowers would cure. Sexual transmitted diseases and impotency were among these. He believed that larch, a tree extract, could help men gain more sexual confidence. Similarly, crab apple could be used to help people feel more confident and open during sex, especially if they were inhibited because they were taught that it is wrong and the guilt is inhibiting their performance.

4. Transplants

Beginning in 1917, a Russian surgeon by the name of Serge Voronoff began a new method of treating erectile dysfunction: grafting monkey testicle tissue onto human male testicles. Voronoff developed this idea when he began grafting the testicles of younger animals to older ones, and found that this technique seemed to restore the vigor of older animals. In 1920, he successfully transplanted tissue from monkey testicles into a human male scrotum. Voronoff believed that this treatment did a number of things for patients, such as giving them more energy and helping them to feel younger. Of course, he also believed that it would help treat any issues with the male sex drive. This technique became widely popular, and hundreds of men received it around the world in the 1930s. Often, it was not successful, as the grafted skin and parts would either be rejected by the host’s body, or, more commonly, simply not take to the host. Though there were some reports of this surgery causing scarring and illness, it usually did nothing at all.

In 1914, another scientist, Dr. G. Frank Lydston implanted the testicle of a dead man onto his own scrotum. This method stemmed from Voronoff and other researchers’ ideas that younger male parts were key to restoring vigor. Other doctors would use the testicles of young, dead human males to transplant in much the same way that Voronoff did. This practice was still in line with the idea that the testicles were the source of potency (true), and that they simply needed younger, more vigorous tissue to replace or be added to them in order to get that youthful vigor back.

Another type of surgery became popular in the late 1900s to treat erectile dysfunction: penile implants. Before the 1960s, some doctors attempted to implant animal bone into human male penises. This method came about due to the observation that many animals have actual penis bones while humans do not. This type of implant often failed. Starting in the 1960s doctors began using synthetic materials as implants. However, many complained that there were painful. Today, penile implants is still a method sometimes used by doctors and surgeons to treat erectile dysfunction, though these implants are now designed as either malleable rods or implants that can fill with air, so that they don’t cause pain from being constantly rigid. This is one of the less popular treatments for erectile dysfunction, as all surgeries carry some risk to them. Malleable rods tend to make the penis somewhat rigid at all times, and it’s difficult to find a material that will only become rigid when one wants. Obviously, this type of surgery is also a fairly permanent solution.

5. Consuming seal penis

Oddly enough, this is still a practice that is popular today in some regions of the world. Some Asian cultures believe that seal penises contain properties that can treat erectile dysfunction. Seal penises are either eaten dry or mixed into a liquid solution for consumption. This practice is still so popular that a portion of all seal meat sales are from penis sales. This practice has become scrutinized as many seals are hunted and killed just for their meat and penises.

Seal penis is actually very popular for many things, and is eaten for pleasure and not just as a way to improve sexual performance. Oddly enough, even today there are some ongoing studies about seal penis as an aphrodisiac, which means this practice may not go away completely anytime soon. This is one of the most weird Viagra alternatives.

6. Penis pump

This is another method that is still used in the modern day, and more widely than eating seal penis. The penis pump was developed in the 1870s, and is exactly what it sounds like. The basic idea of the pump is fairly simple and hasn’t changed much over time. It is still sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. The cylinder of the pump is placed over the penis and the air is pumped out of it either by hand or through the use of a battery device. This creates a vacuum in the cylinder, which helps the penis become erect. A restraining band is then slid down the penis to the base, which will help the penis stay erect when the pump is removed. Usually, the man then wears the restraining band during sex to maintain the erection.

Obviously, there are a few downsides to this method, which was popular in the 1900s, and is still sometimes used today. It’s usually necessary for a man to pump right before intercourse, and leave the band on throughout, which limits when and where he can use it, and how long intercourse can last. It can also be somewhat uncomfortable.

7. Spanish fly

The term “Spanish fly” has been around for a long time, often referring to a somewhat dangerous sort of drug that is used as an aphrodisiac. The Spanish fly is believed to have been used many hundreds of years ago, and has held a place in pop culture all the way to the modern age. The Spanish fly isn’t exactly a fly though, and it is not merely consumed.

Spanish fly is a substance, and is an extremely strong aphrodisiac. It comes from blister beetles, who are believed to secrete cantharidin, a toxin, as a way of protecting itself and warding off predators. Cantharidin can be dangerous to many animals, and causes skin blisters and can be poisonous when consumed. When it is consumed by humans, it tends to cause a burning sensation as it leaves the urethra. In women, this causes nothing but discomfort. In men, it often causes the penis to become erect after urinating. It is believed that people used this method throughout history to treat erectile dysfunction. However, it is an extremely dangerous method and can lead to erections lasting so long that medical attention is needed, sickness, and even death. It is very difficult to find a legitimate source that recommends this treatment anymore.

8. Drinking urine

The practice of drinking one’s own urine was a method for treating erectile dysfunction popular in India and China. It was believed that when men urinated, they may lose some essential nutrients that help them maintain an erection (it is true that there are some small traces of testosterone in male urine, but certainly not enough to have any effect). The solution was for men to drink large amounts of their own urine in order to get these nutrients back. Some cultures also believed that drinking urine mixed with bran and pig’s liver could help cure women or men’s impotence. This is one of the most weird Viagra alternatives too.

9. Electricity

In the 1800s and 1900s, electricity not only came into being as a controllable human force, it was also used for many medical purposes. Of course, erectile dysfunction was one of those purposes. The electric belt was developed to treat impotence, and was wildly popular between 1890 and 1920. It did especially well on the market because it was portrayed as a form of treatment that was somewhat secretive. Unlike operations, men could purchase these electric belts to use at home.

Most of these belts worked by having a coil wrapped around the penis, connected to the belt that was powered by a battery. The belt would produce small electric shocks that would travel up the coil. These belts were often worn for long periods of time, intended to help overall potency, not just for use before sexual intercourse.

10. Radium

Though most would be shocked to hear of this treatment today, many men in the 1800s used radium as a way of curing erectile dysfunction. It was believed that putting this radioactive substance near the penis for long periods of time could help restore potency. Obviously, this quickly showed ill effects, as radioactive substances greatly increase the risk of cancer.

Treatment today vs. Viagra Alternatives

Luckily, the treatment of erectile dysfunction has come a long way in recent history. While some of these older methods are still used, the most popular and effective treatment was developed in the 1980s and comes in the form of a small pill. Beginning with Pfitzer’s Viagra, a number of medical pills have been developed to treat erectile dysfunction, with much higher success rates and less risk of side effects than these older methods.

Though Viagra is still under patent and requires a doctor’s prescription, many pharmaceutical companies outside the US produce and sell generic forms of Viagra and similar medications, making them cheaper and easier to obtain. There is no longer the need to resort to such odd Viagra alternatives.

You May Also Like