When it comes to men’s health, there are many important aspects to consider: prostate health, libido, fertility, and heart and nervous system health, as examples. For all of these concerns, at every age, herbs and supplements for men can help to naturally support the body.
One of the most important ways to nourish your health and well-being is to support your endocrine system, which produces hormones that control much of your body’s functions. Hormones are the body’s messengers, carrying vital information to organs and tissues.
In the hierarchy of the endocrine system, the reproductive hormones are on bottom, as they are not essential to sustaining life (although your libido is connected to overall wellness). The thyroid and the adrenals are on top, as they control life-sustaining functions such as metabolism and the innate stress response.
Though a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress-management practices are all key for feeling your best, the right supplements can also help gently and naturally support your body’s rhythms and functions.
Here, we discuss five of the best herbs to support men’s health through all seasons of life. Keep scrolling to read about the wonders of each herb and to discover how to easily work them into your daily routine with supplements.
Herbs and Supplements for Men’s Health
There are many herbs and mushrooms that can support general well-being for both men and women.* Here, we focus on Ashwagandha, Hawthorn, Maca, Nettle, and Saw Palmetto.
We believe these are five of the most important herbs for men because they nourish the endocrine, nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems; support healthy libido and fertility; and promote healthy prostate gland function.*
Ashwagandha
When your body is stressed, your immune and nervous systems can be affected, leaving you depleted. Adaptogenic herbs help nourish nervous and immune system health by supporting a positive mood, healthy energy levels, and overall immune function.
Ashwagandha is one of the most popular Ayurvedic herbs used today. This herb is both a tonic, meaning it supports the body’s overall well-being, and an adaptogen, meaning it supports the body’s natural resistance to stress.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is so closely connected to the heart that the tree has long been a symbol of love.
The herb has been used as a heart tonic since first-century Rome. Hawthorn(Crataegus spp.) extracts have been well-researched for their ability to support many different aspects of heart function and cardiovascular health.
The trees bear delicate white flowers with a deep, musky smell, and the berries, leaves, and flowers are all used to support heart function. In addition, this herb has traditionally been used to support the emotional aspects of the heart, including grief.
Maca
Maca hails from the Andes mountains of Peru, an extreme environment in which this herb uniquely thrives.
Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) has been used as a performance enhancer since the days of the Inca warriors. It supports a healthy libido and promotes healthy energy and stamina.
This root helps give you the energy you need without the caffeine crash. Additionally, it’s considered a superfood, as it packs a nutritious punch of essential amino acids, fatty acids, iron, and calcium.
Recently, studies have shown that Maca can naturally support male fertility by helping to maintain normal reproductive hormone levels. There is also evidence that Maca can boost sperm count as well as movement.
While more research and clinical studies will need to be done before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about the effect of this herb on increased sperm function, we are excited by these promising early results.
Thanks to its nutty, delicious taste, Maca can be readily incorporated into the diet and is commonly added to smoothies, oatmeal, and juice. But it can also be taken as a supplement.
Nettle
You may know Nettles (Urtica dioica) from their sting when you brush up against them. However, this plant also has a rich history of use to support health and wellness.
While Nettle leaf is most commonly used in Western herbalism, the root and seeds of this plant are also beneficial.
The leaves support a healthy inflammatory response and natural histamine levels, while the seeds promote healthy kidney function. Finally, the roots have been traditionally used specifically for men’s health, to support healthy function of the prostate gland.
Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto promotes healthy prostate gland function.
This small shrub is native to the Southeastern US, and its berries were a food source for Native Americans. It has long been used to support healthy prostate function associated with the natural processes of aging.
In addition, Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) has recently been studied to support healthy hormone balance in women. This plant’s name comes from its saw-toothed leaves with thorny stems.
Looking after your health requires focusing on the building blocks of wellness: a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management. But it also means providing targeted care for your heart, nervous system, endocrine system, prostate, libido, and fertility.
The herbs and supplements for men listed above can help provide your body with the natural support it needs.
