Sexuality
herbs, vitamins, supplements and dietary pills over the counter
Ways to enhance it using natural products rather than
prescription medications
December 21 2017 by
Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Enhancing healthy sexuality and pleasure is possible with
the use of natural
plants and nutrients that are available in health food stores, in
pharmacies, and online. There are several natural herbal remedies that
are effective and many of these work rather quickly, often within a few days.
They also have fewer and less serious adverse effects than those
available by a doctor's prescription.
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, mental health that influences desire and performance
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.
Medical Doctor formulated to enhance Healthy Sexuality
with aphrodisiac plants, enhance your desire and performance within days
The herbal extracts in
Passion Rx Yohimbe include ashwagandha, catuaba, cnidium monnieri,
coleus forskohlii,
dmae methyl
donor,
damiana herb,
horny goat weed
extract, maca, mucuna pruriens, muira puama,
passion flower
herb,
suma, rhodiola, shilajit, tribulus terrestris, tongkat ali.
A version is available without
yohimbe plant
extract.
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, over the counter and
prescription hormones
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.
Sexual satisfaction is known to increase during the spring and summer, compared to fall and winter. Perhaps it may have something to do with natural daylight. Exposure to light in the morning increases testosterone levels.
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 that cause impotence problems
Nerve damage from disorders such as diabetes, multiple
sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, and stroke affect the brains 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 and medications
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.
Brain. 2013. Neural response to visual sexual cues in dopamine treatment-linked hypersexuality in Parkinson's disease. Hypersexuality with compulsive sexual behavior is a significant source of morbidity for patients with Parkinson's disease receiving dopamine replacement therapies.
Q. What is you opinion about the Baylor College study
as pertains to the findings of prescribing Cabergoline twice a week for older
men. The positive results on most of the men for achieving a satisfactory sexual
orgasm is encouraging. While the study is limited it suggests a new approach for
helping solve an "old man's" sexual problem.
A. I do not have experience with this medication so, at this time,
I do not know how effective it is and whether it has serious side effects when
used for sexual health.
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.
Sexual activity rarely leads to cardiac arrest. In 2017 study in Oregon, sex was associated to only 34 out of more than 4,500 cardiac arrests. That's a rate of of less than one percent.
Issues associated with aging
Sexuality is an important component of emotional and physical intimacy that
men and women experience throughout their lives. Research suggesting that a high
proportion of men and women remain active well into later life refutes the
prevailing myth that aging and sexual dysfunction are fully linked. Age-related
physiological changes do not render a meaningful relationship impossible or even
necessarily difficult. Many of these physiological changes are modifiable. There
are various therapeutic options available to patients to achieve maximum
capacity in old age.
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.
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. In a 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.
Sexsomnia can involve varying degrees of sexual activity
while unconscious, including masturbation, fondling, groping, and intercourse.
Patients often are unaware they have the condition, and signs of the disorder
frequently are reported by a partner, roommate, or spouse.
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.
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.
Some herbal plants that have pro-sexuality effects
Massularia acuminata
Andrologia. 2011. Pro-sexual effects of aqueous extracts
of Massularia acuminata root in male Wistar rats. Aqueous
extract of Massularia acuminata root at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg
kg(-1) body weight was investigated for its effect on sexual behaviour
in male Wistar rats. Overall, the present study supported the acclaimed
use of M. acuminata root as an aphrodisiac in Yorubic medicine of
Nigeria. Therefore, the aqueous extract of M. acuminata roots at 50 and
100 mg kg(-1) body weight may be explored in the management of disorders
of desire, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction in males.
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.