Is it possible to restore a low sex drive with natural herbs? Can herbal and plant extracts restore low male and female sex drive? The answer may surprise you, but it is a resounding YES. There are quite a number of natural herbal options that increase men's and women's sex drive and I will mention a number that work for many people... and they are found in a list a few paragraphs below. Several herbs becoming more popular are horny goat weed herb, Tongkat Ali herb and Tribulus. Tongkat ali is quite potent in its ability to enhance sex drive, usually within 2 or 3 days. This page also discusses the psychological and physical factors that are involved in sex drive.

Passion Rx  -- Medical Doctor formulated to Increase Male and Female Sex Drive
Passion Rx is a Bestseller

How quickly does Passion Rx increase sex drive?
Passion Rx increases sex drive within two to four days, and the results improve with use. Our feedback thus far indicates more than 80% of Passion Rx users notice the sex drive enhancement properties of this product within a week and 90 percent within two weeks..

 

A Unique Combination
Dr. Sahelian and his research staff have tested various doses and extracts of dozens of herbs from a number or raw material suppliers to determine the ideal dosage and combination for those with no sex drive or low sex drive. After years of research, a unique proprietary blend with many herbal extracts from the best raw material suppliers has been created. The exact amounts and extract potencies of this herbal sex drive enhancement product is a close kept secret only known to the doctor and his research staff. You will only find this exact combination in Passion Rx.

In recent years science has made breakthroughs in the understanding of the physiological chemicals and hormones involved in increasing sex drive. But, for hundreds of years, civilizations around the world have known about locally grown herbs that enhance sex drive with far fewer side effects than prescription drugs. Now, renowned physician and herbal expert Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of Natural Sex Boosters, has discovered a combination of exotic herbs from the Amazon jungle, India, China, Malaysia, and Africa, that support healthy desire and performance, as well as to simply enhance sexual pleasure. Passion Rx provides a natural solution for those looking for an alternative to synthetic drugs.
   The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include ashwagandha, catuaba, cistanches, cnidium monnieri, damiana, horny goat weed, maca, mucuna pruriens, muira puama, passion flower, rhodiola, tribulus terrestris, tongkat ali, and yohimbe. Another version of Passion Rx does not have yohimbe.

Dr. Ray Sahelian says: "I have tried Viagra and Passion Rx. Viagra works very well for erections, but that's about it. I and the majority of my patients much prefer Passion Rx since, in addition to better and longer lasting erections, it naturally and significantly enhances sensation, sex drive, lubrication, and overall enjoyment. Plus... mood and vision seem to improve."

There are five major areas involved in human sexuality and sex drive:

1. Psychological and Mental -- The causes of psychological sexual dysfunction resulting in low male and female sex drive are numerous, and it is difficult to list them all, but most often low sex drive is related to depression, performance anxiety, marital stress or relationship problems, life crisis, financial difficulties, religious or moral repression, or some type of mental condition or illness. The sex drive of women plummets sharply as they juggle the increasing demands of partners, children and careers.

2. Hormonal- - Androgens, such as testosterone, are a major component of sex drive. Testosterone levels decline about 1 percent each year in men, which may contribute to lower male sex drive with aging. Testosterone also declines with age in women leading to a decrease in female sex drive. Women who have had surgical removal of the ovaries notice a drop in sexual interest. Replacement of androgens can be helpful in those with age related sexual dysfunction. Testosterone is available by prescription only. An over the counter hormones, such as DHEA, converts into testosterone and thus increase sex drive. Pregnenolone is another over the counter hormone that may increase testosterone levels and thus enhance sex drive. However, hormone use has drawbacks due to potential side effects. A better option is to use natural herbs that increase sex drive. Birth control pills could reduce sex drive in women.

3. Vascular -- Alterations in the flow of blood to and from the penis are thought to be a common cause of male erectile dysfunction. For instance, medical conditions such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, hypertension, or diabetes reduce blood flow to the penis and genital organs thus leading to difficulty with erection or genital swelling.  Additional factors that can impede blood flow include penile injury, surgery in the pelvic or abdominal area, and sitting on a bicycle too long. Men who log several thousand miles a year on their mountain bikes suffer scrotal damage that could reduce their fertility.  

4. Neural - Nerve damage from disorders such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke affect the brain’s ability to respond to sexual stimulation. In women, abdominal or pelvic operations can occasionally lead to nerve damage. Sexual dysfunction is common in men undergoing surgical treatment for prostate enlargement or cancer.

5. Chemical -- Some chemicals involved in the human sexual response and sex drive include dopamine, acetylcholine, and nitric oxide.

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Herbs for Enhancing Sex Drive
There are dozens of herbs that enhance both male and female sex drive. Here are a few that I discuss in my book Natural Sex Boosters:
   Ashwagandha, catuaba, butea superba, cnidium, damiana, ginseng, horny goat weed, maca, muira puama, passion Flower, rhodiola, rehmannia, suma. tribulus, tongkat ali, and yohimbe. Nutrients that could be helpful include acetyl-l-carnitine, dmg, tmg, choline, cdp-choline, and hormones dhea and pregnenolone. See raysahelian.com for more details.

Sex drive and Medical conditions
Certain medical conditions reduce sex drive, performance, or enjoyment. These include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and neurologic disorders, and insomnia.

Drugs and sex drive
Drugs that interfere with sex drive or sexual function include some anti-hypertensives, SSRIs, sedatives, and beta-blockers. Smoking can reduce genital blood flow. Many people report no sex drive after starting beta blockers or SSRIs.

Alcohol and Sex Drive
Problem drinking may dampen both a man's sex drive and his chances of having children. Alcoholics have lower testosterone levels and more sperm abnormalities than non-drinkers. Alcohol's negative affect on sex drive increases with age.

Sex Drive Reduced by Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills may suppress some women's sex drive long after they stop taking the pill. Birth control has long been known to alter some women's sex drive. Oral contraceptives can alter the proteins found in the blood, which may be responsible for long-term damage to sex drive. More than 100 million women throughout the world use birth control pills and 80 percent of American women born after 1945 have taken the pill.

Sex drive and testosterone cream
Testosterone cream does not appear to boost the sex drives of women cancer survivors suffering from low libido. Dr. Debra L. Barton of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, wanted to find out if the testosterone hormone cream could be helpful to female cancer survivors who normally experience a drop in sex drive, especially after treatment for breast or gynecologic cancers. The researchers randomized 150 women to receive the testosterone cream or a placebo cream for four weeks, after which they were switched to the opposite treatment for an additional four weeks. While women given testosterone showed an increase in blood levels of the hormone, their change in sex drive was the same whether they were on the real testosterone cream or the placebo. All studies in which testosterone cream was found to help increase libido were conducted in postmenopausal women taking estrogen. But because women in the current study were cancer survivors, estrogen supplementation was not an option, even though their levels of estrogen were low. It's likely, Barton and her colleagues conclude, that a woman must have adequate levels of estrogen in order for testosterone to be an effective treatment for low sex drive. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, May 2, 2007.

Sex drive Research Update
Medical management of male and female sex drive disturbances in treated hypertensive patients: differences between men and women.
Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 2003 Jul-Aug;96(7-8):758-62
Decrease in sex drive is a disturbance affecting treated hypertensive subjects of both sexes. In contrast with erection problems, a low sex drive has rarely been studied in hypertensives treated with antihypertensive drugs. To evaluate, using a self-administered questionnaire, the prevalence of sex drive disturbance (decrease in sexual desire) in treated hypertensive subjects and to determine the management of these troubles. In 428 hypertensive subjects, living in France and referred to hypertension specialists, a self-administered questionnaire evaluating the quality of sexual activity was given before the consultation. Nine specific questions focused on the quality of sex drive for the last 6 months in men or women (interest for sexuality, sex drive , sexual pleasure). Secondly, the doctors were questioned about their management of these sex drive disturbances. RESULTS: In this population of treated hypertensives, including 270 men and 158 women, with a blood pressure level of 139 mmHg, a decrease in sex drive  was reported by 47% of men and 48% of women. sex drive disturbance was related to antihypertensive drugs in 46% of cases, more often in men (59%) than in women (24%). In subjects with sex drive disturbance, a specific medical management has been proposed in 35% of cases, especially in men (in 46% of cases, and consisted in a specialized consultation for 34% and/or the prescription of Sildenafil for 20%. In women, the lack of management of these sex drive troubles was more often observed than in men (82% vs 54%). Modifications of antihypertensive treatments were rarely observed in 15% of cases comparatively in men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women with treated hypertension are at "high risk" of sex drive disturbance. Management of male and female sex drive dysfunction in these subjects concerns only 35% of cases, especially men, including specific treatments and/or consultations, but changing in antihypertensive drugs still remains rare.

Procter & Gamble Co.'s testosterone patch intended to boost sex drive in women needs to undergo more study to identify potential, long-term safety risks before it could be approved, says a US advisory panel.

Sexual desire (sex drive) and relationship functioning: the effects of marital satisfaction and power.
Brezsnyak M, Whisman MA. University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
J Sex Marital Ther. 2004 May-Jun;30(3):199-217.
The present study examined the association among marital satisfaction, marital power, and sex drive in a sample of 60 community couples. We predicted that marital satisfaction would be positively correlated with sex drive and that this association would be moderated by marital power, such that marital satisfaction would be more strongly correlated with sex drive among individuals who perceive themselves as having less power in their relationship. Results indicated that marital satisfaction was significantly associated with sex drive, but there was no evidence for the moderating effects of various forms of marital power.

Predictors of decreased sex drive in women during the late reproductive years.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Menopause. 2004 Mar-Apr;11(2):136-7.
To identify risk factors for decreased sex drive among women in the late reproductive years. Women aged 35 to 47 years identified through random digit dialing were prospectively followed for 4 years with serial hormone assays and standardized questionnaires. Mean hormone values, hormone trends over 4 years, and fluctuation in hormone levels were compared among women with and without a decrease in sex drive at the last assessment period. Total testosterone, dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, body mass index, psychosocial, and socioeconomic variables were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 326 women, 87 (27%) reported a decreased sex drive, whereas 239 (73%) did not. Participant-specific means for all hormone levels over the study period were similar among both groups. However, total testosterone fluctuation over the study was significantly different between groups. Women whose testosterone levels fluctuated from 3.8 to 21.5 ng/dL around a mean value of 9 ng/dL were four times more likely to report decreased sex drive compared with women with little fluctuation in testosterone, Depression, vaginal dryness, and children living at home were also independently associated with decreased sex drive. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in sex drive in the late reproductive years is associated with a pronounced fluctuation in total testosterone over time. Other independent risk factors for decreased sex drive include vaginal dryness, depression, and living with children.

Depression and sex drive
RL. Phillips, M.D., and JR. Slaughter, M.D. University of Missouri­Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, MI
Am Fam Physician 2000;62:782-6. low sex drive female sex drive
Decreased sex drive disproportionately affects patients with depression. The relationship between depression and decreased sex drive may be blurred, but treating one condition frequently improves the other. Medications used to treat depression may decrease sex drive and sexual function. Frequently, patients do not volunteer problems related to sexuality, and physicians rarely ask about such problems. Asking a depressed patient about sex drive and sexual function and tailoring treatment to minimize adverse effects on sexual function can significantly increase treatment compliance and improve the quality of the patient's life. Symptomatic loss of sex drive is a common problem in the United States. In a national survey conducted in 1994, 33 percent of women and 17 percent of men reported sexual disinterest. In another survey, one third of women 18 to 59 years of age reported feeling a lack of sexual desire within the previous year. Patients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder have an even higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction, including lowered sex drive, than the general population. In one study it was found that more than 70 percent of depressed patients had a loss of sex drive when not taking medication, and they reported that the severity of this sex drive loss was worse than the other symptoms of depression. In this same study, sex drive declined with increasing severity of psychologic illness. The complex association between depression and lowered sex drive is further illustrated in a case control study in which increased lifetime prevalence rates of affective disorder were found among patients with inhibited sex drive. Regardless of the cause-and-effect relationship, depression and decreased sex drive are associated, and the treatment of one condition may improve the other. This article focuses on decreased sex drive associated with depression, the effects of treatment of depression on sex drive, and the effects of changes in sex drive and sexual functioning on compliance.

Sex drive emails
Q.  Have received Spam mail and seen on web sites pills that the vendors say are guaranteed to increase the size of your penis. The ingredients seem to be the common supplements spoken about with regard to penile health.   Is there any substance to these claims and the medical certified statements.
   A. I have gotten similar emails. I am not aware of any pills that permanently increase the size of a penis, but I am sure many herbal combinations do increase sex drive.

Q. Does arginine increase sex drive?
   A. In my personal experience, I have not found the amino acid arginine to be an effective sex drive enhancer, at least not in doses less than 5 grams, and not in the short term.

Q. Does exercise increase sex drive?
   A. Perhaps not directly, but indirectly exercise can help you sleep deeper which does wonders for sex drive. Exercise also makes you feel better about your body, and this could also have an influence on your sex drive.

Q. My doctor told me that I need testosterone to enhance my sex drive ever since I've had my ovaries removed. Do you think herbs can restore sex drive without resorting to hormones? I really don't want to take testosterone.
   A. Most doctors don't realize that there certain natural herbs increase sex drive as much as the hormones. 

Q. Do birth control pills cause low sex drive?
   A. Not that I am aware of.

Q. What's the best food to improve male sex drive?
   A. I would say eating fish on a regular basis would be my pick on the best food to improve sex drive.

Q. Is there a supplement that can reduce high male sex drive?
   A. 5-HTP may reduce high male sex drive since it converts into serotonin. Serotonin is a sex drive suppressant. SSRIs such as Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac can reduce sex drive. These drugs are used for depression, and unfortunately depression itself can reduce sex drive. Wellbutrin may increase sex drive since in enhances dopamine levels as opposed to increasing serotonin like the SSRIs.

Q. Which herb or vitamin helps with female sex drive? My wife has a low sex drive and I don't know what to do to enhance it.
   A. Many herbs help with female sex drive, you can see a list of these herbs in Passion Rx, a sex drive supplement pill for men and women.

Q.  Does lack of sex drive in a woman be caused by menopause? Would certain herbs increase sex drive in women with menopause?
   A. In some women, menopause can lead to a lack of sex drive. Certain herbs such as mucuna pruriens, muira puama, and tongkat ali could increase sex drive in women.

Q. I want to boost my sex drive with a vitamin, which vitamin would you suggest?
   A. I am not aware of any common vitamins found in a multivitamin pill that increase sex drive, but certain nutrients that are not considered vitamins, such as choline and cdp-choline can enhance sex drive in men, but I have not had feedback from women.

Q. Can a beta blocker lower sex drive? I am a man on propranolol and ever since I started on the medication 3 months ago I have had a decrease in sex drive..
   A. Certainly. Most, if not all of the beta blockers, can lead to lower sex drive and sometimes male impotence.

Q. Do insulin injections lead to a loss in female sex drive?
   A. I am not aware of insulin leading to low female sex drive. Diabetes, over time, could lead a woman to have a lower sex drive, or a man, but an insulin injection by itself should not.

Q. I used to have a high sex drive, but ever since I started using kava every day, I think I now have a lack of sex drive like I used to. I am a man in my forties.
   A. It's possible that regular kava use could have a numbing effect on sensation of the penis and perhaps regular use could lead to a lower or lack of sex drive. You may consider taking a break from kava use for a few days or weeks.

Q. My wife has no sex drive. Could DHEA hormone help a woman with her lack of sex drive?
   A. It depends on the cause of the no sex drive. If it is a lack of androgens such as DHEA or testosterone, then under medical guidance it may be worthwhile to try a low dose of DHEA to see if it leads to an increase in sex drive.

Q. I got a spam email about a product called Encore Tabs. Encore Tab claims that this product is good for low sex drive. Does Encore Tabs work? Can you tell me more about it, do you have an Encore Tabs review? I was also searching the internet and came across a post that Encore Tabs is being posted excessively on Craig's List repeatedly and making people on Craig's List really irate.
   A. We generally prefer not to comment on other products, but we can comment on the ingredients found in Encore Tabs. A look at their website reveals that Encore Tab has maca, tribulus, horny goat weed, dodder seed, and several other herbs. Thus far Encore Tabs looks like it has good herbs for low sex drive. However, it concerns us that the Encore Tabs website mentions that this product has no side effects. That cannot possibly be true. Hence, there is some loss in credibility. Being familiar with the herbs in Encore Tabs, we can be quite certain that it Encore Tabs must have some side effects, as do all sexual drive products. At this time we don't have an Encore tabs review. It is always a poor reflection on a company when they market their product by spam or posting repeatedly on Craig's List and making people upset.

Q. I was taking 5htp 100mg 1 tablet everyday for six months to alleviate the tension headaches I was having. It did help with that but also lost my sex drive, caused apathy and muscle twitches. I have been off of the 5htp for about 5 months now and I still don't notice a change in symptoms? Did the 5htp deplete my dopamine levels?
   A. Yes, 5-htp can reduce sex drive. Discuss with your doctor some of the information about herb on this sex drive page. We're not sure how or why exactly the 5-HTP in the long run is still causing your lack of sex drive even after withdrawal. But perhaps some herbs or herbal combinations can help restore you low sex drive. If you doctor approves, always start with low dosages, even if it is half of a capsule of a sex herb. Keep us updated.

Q. My wife has had a dramatic loss in sex drive due to medications she's been on for the past year. The Dr. put her on clonazapem for severe panic attacks, And anxiety,. Her quality of life is MUCH improved but our sex life is near non existent. Is there one of these herbs that you would think would be better/ safer to try then others? She says shes almost numb down there and has no sex drive or desire.
   A. Certain medications can significantly dampen sex drive. Klonopin ( clonazepam )  is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which are known to take away sensation and sexual desire. We are not in a position to recommend herbs for people who are on medicines since unexpected side effects can occur.

Q. I am 41 years old male. Is there any medicine to decrease my sex drive? Last few years my lovely wife does not like sex more often than once every three, four months. Is appositive situation with me.
   A. 5-HTP can convert into serotonin which can decrease sex drive in some users.

Q. i have a question about Passion Rx. I am 27yrs old and have no sex drive and in the past 4mths have lost two cup sizes. Will this product make me lose the rest of my breast tissue? if so do u know anything that will help me regain my sex drive and bra size?
   A. It is important to have a full medical evaluation to determine the reason for reduced breast size. Passion Rx, to the best of our knowledge, does not seem to have an effect on breast size.

Q. My wife has very little or sex drive. Is there any drug or herb or anything over the counter that we could buy say like at CVS or Walgreens, something that helps her low sex drive.
   A. I am not familiar with what kind of sex drive herbs or products Walgreens or CVS stores have since I have not stepped into them for several years.

Q.  My problem is I have no sex drive since I was 25 years old. I am now 33. I had a total removal of all insides, ovaries, tubes, and uterus. My doctors say when my stars align then I will have hormones. tried alot of things, like patches and hormones pills but nothing has ever worked. Willing to try things but want to check with someone else to see if Passion Rx will help in my case or I'm doomed not to have a sex drive ever again. Please help me if that's even possible.
   A. It's impossible to predict in any individual person which herbal product will work. There are many to choose from, and sometimes Passion Rx or another herbal combination, or individual sex herbs, may work but for someone who has no sex drive, it may take time, such as weeks, for the full effects of the herbs to become apparent. Sometimes several products may be tried until one finally starts working.

Q. Is it commonplace for those with ADHD to have low or non-existent sex drive ? I have ADHD and have been suffering with low to non-existent sex drive for the last 9 years. I've had tons of blood works, psychiatric assessment and have seen many docs, but they all think I'm too anxious and that is what kills my sex drive -- I admit they may very well be right on.
   A. To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of a relationship between ADHD and low or high sex drive. It is possible that the anxiety is causing a lack of sex drive.

How to increase sex drive naturally
Sex drive is such an important part of human life and happiness. People who lose their sex drive often find that they are not as happy or do not feel the magic in life as much as they wish to. It is wonderful to know that female sex drive and male sex drive can be enhanced by natural herbs and supplements. There is no reason to go on the rest of your life with a low sex drive. You can increase your sex drive by exercising, getting a deep sleep at night, eating well with lots of cold water fish, a variety of vegetables, spices, and herbs such as ginger, and reducing the amount of white bread and junk food such as sweets or pastry. I have seen people with no sex drive revert to a happy and vital sexuality after following dietary, exercise and herbal supplements. Many people, unfortunately, are or blood pressure or antidepressant pills that cause a loss of sex drive. Women's sex drive is also influenced by these prescriptions drugs. An older woman with low sex drive problems may benefit from the temporary use of hormones such as testosterone or the over the counter natural hormone DHEA. Low male sex drive in older men may also be improved by hormones, but since hormones have risks, the lowest amount should be used for the least period of time. A woman can increase female sex drive initially by hormones, and then later switch to herbal supplements that improve sex drive. Increasing sex drive is not that hard. For instance, tongkat ali can consistently increase sex drive in a woman or a man after a day or two of use. Sometimes other herbs can be helpful, such as muira puama which normally starts working on the second or third day, and also has some mood enhancing properties in addition to dealing with the issue of lack of sex drive.
This sex drive page was last updated January 2008.