Not feeling oh so sexy? You’re not alone. Both men and women around the world struggle with the constant pressure of sexual experiences and the need for comfort.
According to the NHS, the loss of sex drive and libido affects 1 in 5 men and women at some point in their lives.
The decrease in sex drive or overall sexual pleasure can be a normal and common issue due to a variety of factors and should never be something to be ashamed about.
Yet sexual health and pleasure is an important factor when it comes to overall health in the body.
Stress is the most common factor when it comes to a loss of libido.
Whether it’s struggling in a relationship, feeling a lack of sensuality or excitement with your partner, or feeling a disconnect in an area of your life with friends or with your job, these stress factors all play a part when it comes to your overall sex drive.
When we’re stressed, we’re too focused on solving these problems stacking up in our life that it’s hard to allow our bodies to fully let go and experience pleasure.
That’s where nature can come and help us. Medicine is found all throughout nature and the plants and herbs that surround us.
For centuries people around the world have used various herbs to enhance their health, hormones, and boost their longevity when it comes to their sex life.
Not only that, connecting back to nature allows us to better connect with our true selves, allowing us to settle into our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual essences.
Life is about pleasure, and nature is here to help us better connect and accept feelings of pleasure and excitement.
If you find yourself struggling with a low libido, we’ve listed five amazing herbs that will naturally help assist with getting your power and sensuality back.
Maca
Also known as “Peruvian ginseng,” Maca has been used for over 10,000 years by the indigenous people of the Andes to help promote stamina and overall sexual health.
This edible root is jam packed with naturally occurring amino acids – arginine and histidine – as well as phytonutrients and zinc that naturally act as an aphrodisiac and libido stimulant.
For those of us needing a little extra pep in our step and energy to do the act, Maca also supports energy and stamina in both men and women.
Because of this, Maca has been widely used and shown to treat a variety of sexual health issues, including infertility, hot flushes, sexual dysfunction, sleep disruptions, and even night sweats associated with the menopause.
Maca has also been shown to improve sperm production and ease the mind, allowing the body to relax and soothe itself into pleasure.
You can easily incorporate maca as a powder into smoothies, oatmeal, tea, coffee, or even as a topping on some ice cream.
Rose
Aside from being one of the most beautiful and sexiest flowers, Rose holds some powerful aphrodisiac capabilities.
Instead of directly fueling the libido, rose helps to fully distress the mind, heart, and nervous system to fully let go and feel present in our body.
Because of this, the use of rose to help naturally promote the libido and sensual feelings results in the warming and moving of blood throughout the body and heightens sensitivities of the skin.
Rose also acts as a natural “pelvic decongestant,” where it adds an increase of circulation and movement to the pelvic area to nourish and “hug” the reproductive tissues, allowing us to feel more emotionally and sexually connected with our partner.
Rose can be used in a variety of ways, including placing fresh or dried rose petals in a warm bath, infused into tea, honey, or used simply as a fresh scent or massage oil.
Damiana
Often referred to as “Mother Nature’s Love Potion,” Damiana is considered one of the best warming herbs to boost libido in both men and women.
Damiana dates all the way back to the ancient Mayans who used it to naturally improve sexual interest and desire, as well as promote passion, digestion, mood, and less stressful feelings.
Research has shown that ingesting damiana alongside ginseng and ginkgo increased sexual satisfaction in women by allowing them to better connect with their body and deepen physical pleasure.
Damiana is also shown to stimulate blood and oxygen to the pelvis, promoting warmer feelings to the lower half of the body and promoting overall sensuality.
Cacao
Do you love chocolate?
You need to try cacao! As the main ingredient of the sweet and delectable food, cacao has been used for centuries for its all encompassing digestive, respiratory, cardiac, and aphrodisiac health benefits.
Most notably were the Aztecs, who used cacao as a spiritual component to prepare for physical battles and to open their hearts for love.
Cacao seeds contain theobromine, an active alkaloid that gives cacao and chocolate its energizing and healing qualities.
When made into chocolate, it also contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural amphetamine linked with romance, promoting overall feelings of stimulation, relaxation, and sensuality.
In a spiritual sense, cacao balances and clears the heart and mind, allowing the body to connect on a deeper level with the present moment and stimulate creativity.
Cacao also supports healthy blood flow to the brain, supporting overall desire, arousal and sensation throughout the whole body.
Research has also shown that cacao’s naturally occurring levels of zinc improves sperm quality in men and improves nitric oxide levels in the blood, promoting a healthy level needed for male sexual arousal.
The thing about cacao is that it’s so versatile! You can great fresh ground cacao to sprinkle on just about anything.
You can also make a fresh cup of cacao, which is similar to hot chocolate but just more bitter and thick, and drink it to promote a plethora of health and spiritual benefits.
Ashwagandha
Also called Winter Cherry or Indian Ginseng, Ashwagandha has long been considered one of the most important and prominent herbs in Ayurvedic medicine, the ancient system of Indian medicine focused on holistic prevention and whole-body healing.
Its main function has significantly shown to reduce stress hormones in the body.
Because of this, ashwagandha allows both men and women to comfortably settle into their body and stay present.
Research has shown that ashwagandha acts as a true aphrodisiac and boosts libido in both men and women.
A 2015 research study indicated that women who took ashwagandha root twice a day saw significant improvements in sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction while also experiencing a decrease in sexual distress and an increased number of sexual encounters.
Additionally, ashwagandha stimulates blood flow to female reproductive organs, increasing sensitivity and arousal while naturally promoting sexual pleasure and sex drive.
Contraceptive pills and hormonal birth control have been shown to decrease libido in women.
This seems somewhat counteractive, since you’d think you’d want to have more sexual experiences without having to worry about getting pregnant.
Thankfully, ashwagandha can also be taken safely with contraceptive pills, allowing women to naturally boost their sex drive.
The same is true for men! Translating to “strength of a stallion” in Sanskrit, ashwagandha has been scientifically shown to improve sperm motility, sperm count, and erectile dysfunction.
Ashwagandha can easily be integrated in your daily supplement routine as an easy-to-mix powder or vitamin capsule. It also makes a delicious tea.
