Sexuality information and ways to enhance it using natural products rather than prescription medications, by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Enhancing healthy sexuality is possible with the use of natural plants and nutrients? There are several of natural herbal remedies that are effective and many of these work rather quickly, often within a few days. But first let's learn more about the factors involved in sexuality.

Understanding human sexuality
There are several major areas involved in male and female sexuality that influence how much sexual pleasure and interest you have:

Psychological issues
The causes of psychological sexual dysfunction and poor sexuality are numerous, and it is difficult to list them all, but most often low libido is related to depression, performance anxiety, marital stress or relationship problems, life crisis, financial difficulties, religious repression, or some type of mental illness. return of sexuality is possible through various forms of therapy, stress release, vacation, etc.

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In my human sexuality class in college I asked my professor whether there were natural plants that boosted interest, and he said that was a myth, I would like your opinion on whether a plant can improve sexuality.
   Of course. Academics are sometimes the last people to know the practical workings of alternative treatments to improve male and female sexuality.

Hormone issues
Androgens, such as testosterone, are a major component of sexuality and good libido. Testosterone levels decline about 1 percent each year in men, which may contribute to lower male libido with aging. Testosterone also declines with age in women leading to a decrease in female libido. Women who have had surgical removal of the ovaries notice a drop in sexual interest. Return of sexuality through 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 has a positive influence on libido. Pregnenolone is another over the counter hormone that may increase testosterone levels and thus enhance libido. However, hormones have side effects and herbal options are much more preferable.

Blood vessel problems
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. Proper diet and exercise can bring back good sexuality. 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.  

Nerve issues
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.

Chemical
Some chemicals involved in the human sexual response and libido include dopamine, acetylcholine, and nitric oxide. Sexuality can be improved through manipulation of these brain chemicals by using natural herbs.

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

TV viewing
A study by an Italian sexologist has found that couples who have a TV set in their bedroom have sex half as often as those who don't. On average, Italians who live without TV in the bedroom have sex eight times a month. This drops to an average of four times a month for those with a TV. For the over-50s the effect is even more marked, with the average of seven couplings a month falling to just 1.5 times. The study found certain shows are far more likely to impede passion than others. Violent films will put a stop to sexual relations for half of all couples, while reality shows stem passion for a third of couples.

Sexuality research
Even a couple brief sessions with a counselor may help prevent cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among people at greatest risk. Health officials found that among patients at public STD clinics in five U.S. cities, those who received one-on-one counseling had lower rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections over the next year than did patients who received the "educational messages" typically provided with HIV testing.

Using condoms regularly does more than protect couples from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Habitual use is crucial for sexuality since it also reduces the odds of women getting repeated bouts of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a condition that can result in pelvic pain and infertility, according to a study appearing in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Exercise and weight loss may improve sexuality in obese men, researchers in Italy report. In a new study of more than 100 obese men with erectile dysfunction, nearly a third regained normal sexuality and function after participating in an intensive weight loss program.

Sexuality and removal of ovaries
Removing the ovaries during hysterectomy does not negatively impact sexuality or psychological well being in women taking estrogen. Hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, is a common operation among middle-age women that is performed for a variety of reasons, including benign "fibroid" tumors and a painful condition called endometriosis. The issue of whether to remove the nearby ovaries during hysterectomy has been debated for more than half a century. The main reason to remove the ovaries, an operation called oophorectomy, is to eliminate the possibility of ever getting ovarian cancer. However, the ovaries produce key sex hormones called androgens and so removing them could, in theory, decrease sex drive and well being in women.

Secrets to Enhanced Sexuality without Pills
Self-Abstinence - Keep your hands away from those private parts for a few days. Excessive self-stimulation reduces sensation of the genitals and may reduce libido. Many people notice enhanced genital sensation by total abstinence for a week or two. Relax and let your partner’s fingers do the walking and stroking.

Exercise can help you sleep deeper which does wonders for libido. Exercise also makes you feel better about your body, and this could also have an influence on your libido.

Tantric sexuality - sacred
Tantra is not a belief or a faith but a way of living and acting, a way to sexual and spiritual health. While many western religions separated intimacy  and sex from spirituality, tantric practitioners in Asia embraced the connection. On the tantric path, sexuality and sexual energy are celebrated rather than repressed. The tantric path encompasses sensitivity and exhilaration through drinking, tasting, smelling, and touching, in some ways similar to Epicureanism, the teachings of Greek philosopher Epicurus in the third century BC. However, tantra is much more. It embraces and enhances all forms of creative expression, such as movement and dance, massage, and healing. Through experiencing and glorying in the delights of the body, the body becomes a temple in which you experience the sacred. It becomes a doorway to spiritual evolution and optimal sexuality.
   Those who practice tantra view sexuality and energy as a divine, all-encompassing life force that permeates the individual. As sexual beings, we have the ability to raise that energy within ourselves and use it to directly experience alternate or mystical states of consciousness. In effect, we become "gods" and "goddesses," our bodies transformed into temples of male and female divinity.
   Some tantric postures are designed to help stimulate blood flow to the genital area while others are directed toward maximizing libido and satisfaction. While there's no scientific proof that these ancient exercises add up to effective aphrodisiacs, most practitioners seem pleased with the results.

Yoga and stretching
Most postures in yoga do not directly address or focus on the enhancement of sexuality or sexual energy. However, by the mere relaxation, stretching, slow breathing, and sense of wellbeing that yoga provides, there is, over time, a significant enhancement in vitality along with an increased interest in sexual intimacy. Also, by becoming more flexible, it is easier to engage in a variety of more challenging sexual positions. Physical fitness has a positive influence on libido.

Massage works magic for sexuality
Few things get yourself or someone else in the mood as well as massage. If you give your partner a sensual massage, you basically have them in the palm of your hand. They will definitely be in the mood. If you are not experienced in giving, consider taking classes or workshops. Thai massage is one of my favorite forms, it is fun to give, and since most of the massage is done using one’s own body weight, it is not tiring at all.

Articles on human sexuality
The Journal of human sexuality is a good resource for the study of sexuality and sexuality survey.

Elderly sexuality and menopause
There's no reason sexuality should diminish with menopause or aging. There are quite a number of natural sexuality plants that could be helpful, and the occasional or temporary use of hormones, such as DHEA could be beneficial in restoring lagging sexuality.

A global survey of sex behavior after age 40 reveals that most people continue to have sex. However, aging romantics tend to encounter problems in their sexuality. An international group of researchers found that 80 percent of men ages 40 to 80 said they had sex within the last year, as did 65 percent of similarly aged women. Moreover, 38 percent of women and 44 percent of men said they had sex more than once per week. Sexuality was particularly high for men and women in their 40s, but tapered down with increasing age. Around one-quarter of men reported some type of sexual problem, most commonly early ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems were reported most commonly by Asian men. Among women, nearly 40 percent said they experienced an acknowledged problem with sex, most commonly lack of sexual interest, inability to reach orgasm, lack of enjoyment, and lubrication problems. Women in Asia and the Middle East reported the highest proportion of problems. It makes good evolutionary sense for women to reduce their interest in sex from time to time. During the early days of human beings, people lived "close to the knuckle, and when times were tight, pregnancy took up a lot of limited resources and put women at risk.  If women did not regulate their sexual interest, they would be weeded off. Although times have changed, our biology has not shifted nearly so quickly. Consequently, it's easy for life's stressors -- such as financial concerns, fatigue from a stressful day -- to interfere with a woman's sexuality.

Questions
My doctor told me that I need testosterone to boost my sexuality ever since I've had my ovaries removed. Do you think herbs can restore sexuality without resorting to hormones? I really don't want to take testosterone.
    Most doctors don't realize that there certain natural herbs have sexuality enhancement abilities as much as the hormones.

I read on a website on sexuality called TheMensChoice dot com that Orexis was a better product than Passion Rx. Can you explain why?
   See Orexis for more information, the company who promotes this product was sued.

Would taking a zinc  supplement be helpful in improving urge or performance?
   This is unlikely. Only if a person is significantly deficient in zinc would there be an improvement in desire or performance.