7 herbs for men: what does the research say? (a 7-minute read)

Ask an older generation which herbs are good for men and the list goes on and on: black ginger, ginseng, cordyceps, oysters... Some are legends passed down; some have serious research behind them.

This article is a "map" of seven popular herbs for men: what each is good for, and how much research backs it. It’s a 7-minute read, and you can click through to the deep dive on any herb that interests you.

The 30-second summary

• Garlic has the strongest evidence (for blood vessels)
• Black ginger, Korean ginseng and zinc from oysters have interesting human studies directly on men
• Cordyceps and African mango are still at an early research stage
• Black pepper is a "helper" that improves absorption of other compounds

Why look at the "research"?

Being used for centuries doesn’t mean every herb works, and herbs that work don’t all do the same thing. Some support blood vessels, others energy. Knowing each one’s strengths helps you choose well and not fall for ads.

1. Black ginger, the "Thai ginseng" for men

Good for: sexual performance in older men and physical fitness

Black ginger is a Thai herb with a deep purple rhizome. A 2012 Thai study in 45 older men taking 25–90 mg of extract a day for 2 months found better sexual response than placebo, with no change in hormone levels. There is also research on grip strength and fitness.

Evidence: ●●○ moderate (several human studies, but small)

👉 Read the black ginger deep dive

2. Korean ginseng (red ginseng)

Good for: sexual performance and fatigue

A 2008 review of 7 studies on red ginseng found "suggestive evidence" for sexual performance, while a 2021 Cochrane review found the effect real but small. Separately, a review of 10 studies found moderate evidence that it reduces fatigue.

Evidence: ●●○ moderate

👉 Read the Korean ginseng and cordyceps deep dive

3. Cordyceps

Good for: endurance and oxygen use

Cordyceps is a medicinal mushroom from Tibet, now cultivated (golden cordyceps). A study of people aged 50–75 taking it for 12 weeks found their bodies could work about 10.5% harder before getting breathless, though some studies in elite athletes found no effect.

Evidence: ●○○ early

👉 Read the Korean ginseng and cordyceps deep dive

4. Garlic

Good for: blood pressure, cholesterol and blood vessels

This is the herb with the strongest evidence on this list. A meta-analysis of 12 trials found it lowered systolic blood pressure by 8.3 mmHg on average in people with high blood pressure, and a meta-analysis of 39 trials found it lowered total cholesterol by 17 mg/dL in people with high cholesterol. That matters, because blood vessels are the number-one suspect in erection problems.

Evidence: ●●● strong

👉 Read the garlic deep dive

5. Black pepper

Good for: helping absorb other compounds

Black pepper isn’t the hero; it’s an important helper. Its compound piperine slows the "checkpoints" in the gut and liver, and human studies found it helped the body take in more CoQ10, beta-carotene and curcumin. A formula with black pepper is a sign of careful design.

Evidence: ●●○ moderate

👉 Read the black pepper deep dive

6. African mango

Good for: metabolism, waistline and blood lipids

African mango seed extract is rich in fibre. A study in 102 overweight adults found interesting results for waistline and blood lipids, but reviews note the research is limited and comes from one research group.

Evidence: ●○○ early

👉 Read the African mango deep dive

7. Oyster (a zinc source)

Good for: male hormone levels in men low in zinc

Oysters are the number-one food source of zinc, and zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. A 1996 study found that young men deprived of zinc saw testosterone drop, while older men low in zinc saw it rise with zinc supplements.

Evidence: ●●○ moderate (clearest in men low in zinc)

👉 Read the zinc bisglycinate deep dive

One herb, or several together?

Notice how each herb does something different: garlic for blood vessels, zinc for hormones, ginseng and cordyceps for energy, black ginger as the Thai men’s favourite, and black pepper as the helper.

Buying all 7 separately is a hassle, expensive and hard to dose. That’s why modern men’s formulas combine several in one capsule.

Nicky9 Men: all 7 in one capsule

Nicky9 Men (Nicky Pimpz 9) contains all 7 herbs in this article, plus L-arginine, zinc bisglycinate and alpha-lipoic acid: 10 ingredients in total.

Herbs in this article	Per capsule
Oyster extract	100 mg
African mango seed extract	75 mg
Korean ginseng extract	50 mg
Cordyceps extract	50 mg
Garlic extract	25 mg
Black ginger extract	25 mg
Black pepper extract	20 mg
+ L-Arginine · zinc bisglycinate · alpha-lipoic acid	100 · 35 · 20 mg

Why men choose Nicky9 Men

• ✅ 7 herbs + 3 nutrients: no need for 10 bottles
• ✅ Every amount listed: checkable, no secret formula
• ✅ Pocket-sized and discreet: 2 capsules in a small box
• ✅ Thai FDA registered: No. 74-2-05260-5-0012

👉 See details and order Nicky9 Men

Important: dietary supplements are not medicines. If you have heart disease or take nitrates, blood thinners or regular medication, talk to a doctor first.

FAQ

Which herb is best for men?

None is best for everyone, because each does something different. For blood vessels, garlic has the strongest evidence; for hormones, zinc matters; for energy, Korean ginseng and cordyceps are worth a look.

How long until I see results?

Most studies looked at 4–12 weeks of continued use. For a finished product, follow the label.

Can I take several herbs together?

Yes, and they are often combined in formulas. Choose a product that lists every amount clearly, and check with a doctor if you take regular medication.

Can herbs replace medicine from my doctor?

No. Herbs support health; if problems continue, see a doctor to find the cause.

The bottom line

Several herbs for men have real research behind them, each strong in a different area: blood vessels, hormones or energy. If you want them all without buying several bottles, take a look at Nicky9 Men, which brings the 7 herbs in this article together in one capsule.

Read more: How to choose a men’s supplement · 10 foods for men · Erection problems after 35

References

Full references for each herb are in the deep-dive articles linked in each section. The main studies summarised here:

1. Wannanon P, et al. Efficacy assessment of Kaempferia parviflora for the management of erectile dysfunction. OnLine J Biol Sci. 2012.
2. Jang DJ, et al. Red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction: a systematic review. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008.
3. Chen S, et al. Effect of Cs-4 on exercise performance in healthy older subjects. J Altern Complement Med. 2010.
4. Ried K. Garlic lowers blood pressure in hypertensive subjects: a review and meta-analysis. Exp Ther Med. 2020.
5. Shoba G, et al. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin. Planta Med. 1998.
6. Ngondi JL, et al. IGOB131, a seed extract of Irvingia gabonensis. Lipids Health Dis. 2009.
7. Prasad AS, et al. Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition. 1996.

Dietary supplement — not intended to prevent or treat any disease. Eat a varied, balanced diet from all 5 food groups. This article is for education only and is not medical advice.