In recent years science has made breakthroughs in the understanding of loss of libido. But, for hundreds of years, civilizations around the world have known about locally grown herbs that increase low libido 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 provides a natural solution for low libido to those seeking an alternative to synthetic drugs and hormones.
   There are two version of Passion Rx, with and without Yohimbe. Some of the potent herbal extracts in the formula include ashwagandha, catuaba, choline, cnidium monnieri, coleus forskohlii, damiana, horny goat weed, maca, mucuna pruriens, muira puama, passion flower, rhodiola, shilajit, Tribulus terrestris, and tongkat ali. Certain herbal libido enhancers such as yohimbe and tongkat ali should be taken in low dosages since they have side effects. In my experience, I have not found arginine to be an effective enhancer, nor have I found citrulline to be effective.

Herbs and spices for better libido, diet and food
Garlic, onion, scallion, and ginger definitely help. It is also possible that leeks, chives, cinnamon, fennel, cardamom, anise, turmeric, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and horseradish are of benefit. Deep sea and cold water fish, including halibut, salmon, sardines, and shellfish can increase libido by improving overall sexual health with their high concentrations of essential omega fatty acids.

There are several areas that influence female and male libido and it is important to address these issues
Libido actually means sex drive. A high libido means a person thinks about sex a lot and seeks to satisfy his or her sexual urges.
Daily exposure to high-intensity light early in the morning improves sexual satisfaction and increases testosterone levels in men with reduced libido or erection difficulty.

Psychological / Mental reasons for low libido
The causes of psychological sexual dysfunction, and it is difficult to list them all, but most often low libido is related to stress, lack of adequate sleep, depression, anxiety, marital or relationship problems, life crisis, financial difficulties, problems at work, grieving to a loss of a family member or dear friend, religious repression, or some forms of mental illness. Getting a deep sleep at night can do wonders for a healthy sex life.

Decreased libido disproportionately affects patients with depression. The relationship between depression and decreased libido may be blurred, but treating one condition frequently improves the other. Medications used to treat depression often interfere with sexual function.

Long hours of deep sleep provides for a better sex life in both men and women.

I suffered from a loss of libido after my wife died. It's been 3 months now.
   A. Chances are you will regain it with time once the grieving period is over and you meet someone who you want to be intimate with again.

Hormonal causes
Androgens, such as testosterone, are a major component of libido, and they certainly can be considered libido enhancers. 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 with menopause. 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 has a positive influence on libido. Pregnenolone is another over the counter hormone that may increase testosterone levels and thus enhance libido. I personally prefer the safer approach of libido enhancement with natural herbs rather than hormones since hormones can have many side effects. Testosterone levels and high or low libido are often, but not always directly linked. Men, in general, have a stronger libido than women since women don't have as high a testosterone level as men.

Menopause
Low doses of tongkat ali, muira puama, horny goat weed, mucuna herb, and Passion Rx could be helpful to naturally increase sexual interest in women during or post menopause. Treatment with a patch containing the hormone testosterone can increase desire and activity in women who experience reduced libido after surgical removal of the ovaries.

Vascular, blood vessels
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.

I need a natural supplement that will enhance my libido as well as my erections. I have atrial fibrillation and do not want to hype up my heart. I take an anti-arrhythmic drug and feel that it is causing my loss of libido.
   Most of libido enhancing herbs may stimulate heart contractions and not enough studies are available to know at what low dosage they would be safe in those with heart conditions. Fish oils may be somewhat helpful.

Neural, nerves that are damaged or not working well
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, neurotransmitters
Some chemicals involved in the human sexual response and libido include dopamine, acetylcholine, and nitric oxide. Excess serotonin can lower libido in men and women.

Libido and Medical conditions, diseases
Certain medical conditions lead to low libido  -- or complete loss of libido --  poor performance, or decreased enjoyment. These include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and neurological disorders, and insomnia.

Drugs that decrease Libido
Drugs that interfere with libido or sexual function include some anti-hypertensives, SSRIs, sedatives, and beta-blockers. Alcohol's negative affect increases with age. Smoking can reduce genital blood flow. Finasteride, a drug used to treat enlarged prostate and to stimulate hair growth (Proscar and Propecia), may decrease libido, and in some individuals cause impotence and ejaculatory dysfunction. So does dutasteride.
   Decreased libido is a potential side effect of SSRIs, which include drugs like sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) and fluoxetine (Prozac). The antidepressant bupropion has a different mechanism of action from SSRIs, targeting the nervous system chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine rather than serotonin and as such does not reduce sexual performance.

I regularly read your newsletters as your website gives very reliable information unlike many other health sites which exagerrate health claims without any studies. I am suffering from sexual dysfunction since many years due to depression and anxiety. The SSRI antidepressant i am on helped me tremendously with depression but they resulted in more sexual dysfunction. I took Passion Rx. and i found improvement.

Every since my doctor put me on propranolol for high blood pressure, my interest in sex is gone.
   Propranolol is a beta blocker, and almost all beta blockers interfere with optimal sexual functioning, including reduction of male libido and sensation, along with difficulty with erection.

I have loss of libido due to the use of SSRI drugs, particularly Prozac. Does the drug Wellbutrin reverse this condition?
   I'm not sure, it may. Wellbutrin may increase dopamine levels and hence lead to improvement but I'm not sure. Most SSRI antidepressants decrease sex drive. A natural antidepressant such as SAM-e may have no effect on libido or lead to a mild enhancement. Loss of sexual interest is common with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.

Natural supplements that reduce libido and cause sexual dysfunction
The most common natural herbs and supplements that decrease libido include 5-HTP and kava. 5-HTP has its influence through the formation of serotonin, an inhibitory neurotransmitter as far as sexual urge.

I am having a high high sex drive. I have to control this high libido so that it does not affect my work. Although i am not having such thoughts all the time, but of late i have started to observe myself and felt that I want to reduce my urges. I have started on 5-HTP (50 mg) today and also thinking about SAM-e.
   5-HTP or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan could help lower high libido. SAM-e is not known to lower it. Perhaps occasional use of kava my also be helpful.

Is there any food that helps increase libido?
I have been asked many times if there is a food that increases sexual drive, erectile function, lubrication and orgasms. No food that I know of available in grocery stores increases libido in an immediate way, that is within hours. It is possible that cold water fish, such as salmon, halibut, sardines, and shellfish, along with fish eggs or roe, may increase libido by improving overall sexual health since they contain important fish oils. These fish oils help dilate blood vessels and also help brain cells work better, and perhaps influence hormone balance. Eating a healthy diet with lots of vegetables and herbs, spices, can sometimes help. Libido increasing foods can make a significant difference in some people.

I was told that a food increasing libido is turkey. Is that true?
   I have not seen any studies with turkey, chicken or other birds for such a purpose. It is quite likely that certain spices used in food have an influence when ingested in larger than usual quantities.

Using herbs in a common sense way
What might cause energy and libido boosting herbs to stop working after awhile and result in fatigue, impotence, low libido, muscle fatigue, bloodshot eyes, after a few weeks or months of use? Other than discontinuing use, is there any conceivable way that a person could keep them working long-term?
   Sexual herbs have dozens of substances in them that work in various ways so it is difficult to know exactly how they influence and enhance sexuality or how tolerance develops. Three possibilities include: resistance of receptors to the same stimulus over time, depletion of testosterone or other hormones from constant stimulation and release from the herbs, and insomnia or poor sleep from the stimulating nature of these herbs. There are probably other factors involved. I prefer people take herbs for sexual enhancement no more than 3 days a week and to take a full week off each month, perhaps longer. This way, if these herbs were having their sexual benefits by releasing testosterone, other hormones, or influencing the production of certain chemicals, the body can come back to its homeostatic balance and the natural pills can start working again.

Top 10 Ways to Increase Libido naturally
1. Exercise almost every day, even if it is as little as a 20 minute walk around the block. Exercise will help you sleep deeper at night which does wonders for sexuality. It also makes you feel better about your body, and this could also have an influence on your overall sexual pleasure and stamina. Consider creatine as muscle building supplement if you wish to have more muscles and feel better about your body. Low or moderate physical activity can increase libido, but heavy and exhaustive athletic activity, such as running a marathon can lower it for a few days until a person recovers their overall energy levels.
2. Eat more cold water fish, more vegetables, and avoid or reduce high sugar foods, junk foods, sodas, white bread, pastries, etc.
3. Add more spices in your cooking, such as cloves, mustard, nutmeg, garlic, ginger, etc.
4. Try to get adequate sleep of high quality.
5. Take a class in tantra or other sexual enhancement workshops
6. View more erotica if this is consistent with your moral viewpoint.
7. Take a vacation to the Caribbean, Hawaii, or other warm and exotic regions.
8. Try to reduce your stress and anxiety, have a massage.
9. Try to approach your partner with an open heart and warm feelings, including forgiveness for any hurts or harsh words used in the past.
10. And, of course, it never hurts to add romance to your life.... flowers, notes of appreciation, etc.

How do I max my libido? I have problems due to taking antihypertensive medications. I take Inderal.
   To max libido, get a deep sleep, eat more vegetables and fish, exercise moderately, lead a low stress life, take vacations to warm climates near an ocean. Also, if you lose weight and eat more vegetables and fish, your blood pressure may naturally come down and hence you could perhaps need less of medicine that is causing the problem. Eating ginger and garlic could help.

Libido and testosterone levels
Dr. Thomas G. Travison, from the New England Research Institutes in Watertown, Massachusetts evaluated data from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Men were assessed at the outset and two more times approximately 9 and 15 years later. Overall, libido was significantly associated with testosterone levels. However, the difference in testosterone levels between participants with low and those with high was small. Looked at the other way, a low libido did not mean a man was particularly likely to have low levels of testosterone. Therefore, if a man complains of reduced interest or drive, it cannot always be interpreted as a sign of testosterone deficiency. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006.

Medications
Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis drugs work well to improve erections, but they do little to increase libido or sexual urge, and they have no effect on sensation of genital organs. Sometimes increased sexual interest is achieved indirectly with these drugs due to more confidence resulting from a larger erection. Impotence is defined as the inability to have a strong erection enough to last through sexual intercourse while a person can have a strong libido but still have impotence. On the other hand, if someone takes a Viagra, they can have a strong erection but still have a low drive and little or no sensation of the penis.

Email inquiries
My boyfriend has been on Cymbalta for several years and has very little libido. The drug really works for his depression, and he's understandably reluctant to switch (largely because he's had the same side-effect w/ other meds, without so much mood enhancement). Are natural sexual supplements typically safe to use in conjunction with anti-depressants? I know this question would ultimately have to go to the psychiatrist, but I imagine you have some general information about this.
    Natural supplements can reverse low libido resulting from the use of anti-depressants that influence the serotonin system. However, it is difficult to predict in any one individual which natural sexual herb or herbal formula will have a positive influence on reversing this condition. Also, the interactions of libido herbs and SSRI or SNRI antidepressants is not easily predictable. Many such herbs are stimulants that can cause alertness and perhaps insomnia in high dosages. Therefore there are no easy answers and if his psychiatrist approves he can try low dosages of certain herbs even if it means at first taking half a capsule or tablet.

I was wondering if you guys know of a product that I can take that will help me with a low libido problem something that actually works. I have tried horny goat weed and other products that do nothing! Some of the products I have tried give me an good erection but this is not what I’m after.
    It's difficult to predict in any one individual which herbal product will help, but tribulus terrestris, mucuna pruriens, tongkat ali, muira puama and Passion Rx are good choices.

I'm 33, healthy male. I've seen a significant decrease in my libido and erections over the last 2 months. Just 5 months ago I had a very healthy sex drive. I've been trying to trouble-shoot what may be causing this and have only recently come across a few articles related to substances I'm using. About 2-3 months ago I started taking melatonin (2.5mg) to help me fall asleep. Around the exact same time period I started using a topical DHT inhibitor made by Nutri-Ox. I apply it twice a day to my scalp as directed by the product label. I stopped taking melatonin about 3 days after reading that it could lower libido. I then also found that DHT blockers can cause the same type of reaction. My question is, can this topical hair solution be a possible cause of sex drive loss? Below is the write-up on the Nutri-Ox site for the product: The strongest of the Nutri-Ox treatments, this product contains patented Pro-Oxiden HG™ to encourage healthy hair growth. Formulated with a special blend of Biotin, Vitamin A and Coix Extract for healthy hair and scalp. Contains a vasodilator, Benzyl Nicotinate, known to encourage scalp micro-circulation, in combination with a blend of known DHT inhibitors and vital nutrients. Thicker, Fuller-Looking Hair in just one Week.*
   A. I doubt over the counter products are potent enough to effective be DHT inhibitors. I am not familiar with Nutri-Ox so I cannot say for sure if it had an influence. Melatonin could have had a negative influence on sexuality.

Steel Libido
What is the difference between Passion Rx and Steel Libido by Irwin Naturals ? There is also one for men and Steel Libido for Women by Irwin Naturals. Is there a review I can read?
   Passion Rx was formulated several years after I formulated Steel Libido which works in a man. In my opinion Passion Rx is more potent. I am not aware of a Steel LIbido review. Both are good products. I formulated Steel Libido in the year 2000 when I was associated with Irwin Naturals. I had nothing to do with formulating Steel Libido for women. I am not sure if Irwin Naturals has changed the formula since I first put it together years ago therefore I don't know how well the newest batches work. I have no idea if Steel Libido for Woman is effective. I stopped my association with Irwin Naturals in April 2006, and no longer endorse Steel Libido. I withdraw my association with Irwin Naturals for several reasons, including the fact that I did not like their management style and the new products they were coming out with under the brand name Irwin Naturals, including a carb blocker and cortisol weight loss blocker trying to copy the infomercial product Cortislim. Irwin Naturals is a company based out of Marina Del Rey, CA and has another line called Nature's Secret. I have been unhappy with Irwin Naturals ever since I formulated a product called System Six, back in the year 2000., and without my approval they added ephedra to the product. My contract clearly stated that they needed my approval before making changes to the formulas I had developed. This matter was eventually settled after I filed a lawsuit and Klee Irwin, CEO of Irwin Naturals, admitted that the company had wronged me and damaged my reputation and we made a financial settlement.