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Limited evidenceMen's health

Butea Superba

A Thai tuber root traditionally used for male sexual function. One small clinical trial from 2003 reported improvement in erectile function, and it has never been convincingly replicated.

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What the science says

  • Erectile function Limited evidence

    A single small randomised trial in Thai men with erectile dysfunction reported that 1 g/day for three months improved self-rated erectile performance compared with placebo. It is one modest study by one research group, published in 2003, and no larger independent replication has appeared since.

  • Effects seen only in animals Limited evidence

    Improved penile erection has been shown in diabetic rats, and isolated Butea isoflavones alter the reproductive organs of male mice. Animal findings of this kind frequently fail to carry over to humans.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe clinical trial used 1 g/day of dried root powder. Commercial capsules usually supply 250–500 mg once or twice daily, which is a label dose rather than a studied one.
SafetyHuman safety data are essentially limited to the one three-month trial. Isolated cases of raised liver enzymes and androgenic side effects have been reported with Thai root preparations, and product identity is a real problem because Butea superba is often confused or adulterated with Pueraria mirifica. Not for women, adolescents, or men with hormone-sensitive conditions.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter; the single trial dosed it daily without regard to time of day.
With food?Take with food to reduce stomach upset.
Worth knowingAsk the seller for third-party identity testing, because Butea superba is routinely confused with or adulterated by Pueraria mirifica, which is a potent estrogen and the opposite of what buyers want.

Frequently asked questions

Does butea superba work for erectile dysfunction?

The evidence is limited to one small 2003 trial in Thai men, where 1 g/day of butea superba for three months improved self-rated erectile performance versus placebo. It has never been convincingly replicated.

How much butea superba should you take?

The only clinical trial used 1 g/day of dried butea superba root powder. Commercial capsules usually supply 250–500 mg once or twice daily, a label dose rather than a studied one.

Is butea superba safe?

Human safety data on butea superba are essentially limited to one three-month trial, and raised liver enzymes and androgenic side effects have been reported with Thai root preparations. It is not for women, adolescents or men with hormone-sensitive conditions.

Is butea superba often mixed up with pueraria mirifica?

Yes, butea superba is routinely confused with or adulterated by pueraria mirifica, a potent estrogen and the opposite of what buyers want. Ask the seller for third-party identity testing.

Scientific references

Related in Men's health

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)