Impact of the Persian Medicine Formulation “Dava al-Basal” on Sexual Dysfunction and Testosterone Levels in Men Receiving Methadone Maintenance Therapy: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Men on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) frequently experience sexual problems, particularly erectile dysfunction. The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of a traditional Persian Medicine formulation known as “Dava al-basal” on erectile dysfunction and serum testosterone concentrations in males undergoing MMT. In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 60 male participants were allocated randomly to two groups. The treatment group was given 20 mL of “Dava al-basal” each day—a syrup made from white onion juice, ginger, and honey—while the control group received a plain syrup for a duration of eight weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at the study's conclusion using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire and measurements of total testosterone levels. No notable improvements in IIEF scores were observed in either group after the treatment period (p > 0.05). In the treatment group, baseline testosterone levels were 197.67 ± 23.08 ng/dL, rising to 325.23 ± 32.73 ng/dL post-intervention (p < 0.001). Conversely, in the control group, levels started at 215.33 ± 28.35 ng/dL and fell to 194.17 ± 32.46 ng/dL (p = 0.047). This represented a 64% rise in testosterone in the treatment group versus a 10% decline in the control group, with the intergroup difference being highly significant (p < 0.001). The formulation “Dava al-basal” demonstrated promise in elevating testosterone concentrations among men on MMT, though it failed to improve sexual performance. Additional studies involving extended treatment durations and further biochemical markers are suggested to confirm these outcomes.