Journal List > Korean J Urol > v.47(9) > 1069987

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Park, Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, Min, Park, Park, Lee, Chung, Hong, and Park: Evaluation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Treating Patients with Erectile Dysfunction
Original Article
Korean Journal of Urology

Korean Journal of Urology 2006; 47(9): 987-993.

Published online: 30 September 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2006.47.9.987

Evaluation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Treating Patients with Erectile Dysfunction

Bong Hee Park, Soo Woong Kim1, Sae Woong Kim2, Je Jong Kim3, Hong Sik Kim4, Kweon Sik Min5, Kwangsung Park6, Nam Cheol Park7, Sung Won Lee8, Woo Sik Chung9, Jun Hyuk Hong10, Jong Kwan Park

Department of Urology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, and The Institute for Medical Sciences, and The Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University Hospital, The Regional Research Centers Program of the Korean Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development through the Center for Healthcare Technology Development, Jeonju, Korea.

1Department of Urology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

3Department of Urology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.

4Department of Urology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.

5Department of Urology, Inje University, Busan, Korea.

6Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

7Department of Urology, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.

8Department of Urology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea.

9Department of Urology, Ewha Womens University, Seoul, Korea.

10Department of Urology, Ulsan University, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author (rain@chonbuk.ac.kr)

Received 10 April 2006       Accepted 24 July 2006

Copyright © 2006 The Korean Urological Association

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) employed for treating patients with erectile dysfunction.

Materials and Methods

A total of 204 patients with erectile dysfunction who completed a questionnaire between January and June 2005 were evaluated. The questionnaire was composed of 13 questions. This survey employed a broad definition for CAM, including acupuncture, biofeedback, folk remedies, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnosis, massage, psychotherapy, relaxation, energy healing, imagery, special diet, spiritual healing and herbal medicine. The CAMs used by the patients with erectile dysfunction were divided into processed health foods, natural health foods and other therapies, and these were all analyzed.

Results

The mean age was 57.9±10.1 years. 78 of the total patients with erectile dysfunction had employed at least one CAM. CAM users were more likely to be high school educated, nonsmokers and exercisers. The CAMs used were processed health foods 62% (48/78), natural health foods 15% (12/78), and other therapies 66% (52/78). The processed health foods were soy 25%, ginseng 23% and mushroom 19%. Of the natural health foods, tomato was 42%, soy was 25% and ginseng was 17%. Of the other therapies, herbal medicine was 45%, acupuncture was 25%, moxibustion and cupping a boil were 17%. 35% (27/78) of the patients with erectile dysfunction had employed more than one of the processed health foods, natural health foods and other therapies.

Conclusions

Patients with erectile dysfunction had mainly employed processed health foods more than the natural health foods, herbal medicine and acupuncture. We think that more research is required about the effects and benefits of CAM in association with ED.

Keywords: Erectile dysfunction, Complementary medicine, Alternative medicine

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Socio-demographical characteristics of the patients with ED*
kju-47-987-i001

*ED: erectile dysfunction, †CAM: complementary and alternative medicine

Table 2
The processed health foods employed by the patients with ED*
kju-47-987-i002

*ED: erectile dysfunction

Table 3
The natural health foods employed by the patients with ED*
kju-47-987-i003

*ED: erectile dysfunction

Table 4
The other therapies employed by patients with ED*
kju-47-987-i004

*ED: erectile dysfunction

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ORCID iDs

Kwangsung Park
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8827-162X

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