Supplements for Love, Lust and Libido

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Supplements for Love, Lust and Libido

 

Every culture has it's own history and knowledge of aphrodisiacs from

their own areas whether it be from myths, stories and objects or

plants were labeled as such because of shapes and textures.

 

Staying healthy is your best and number one bet for a great sex life!

According to a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

study reported on in February 1999, about 43 percent of women and 31

percent of men suffer sexual inadequacy for one reason or another.

The reasons cited included low desire, performance anxiety, premature

ejaculation and/or pain during intercourse. Interestingly, this is

thought to actually underestimate the real level of sexual

dysfunction in the U.S. While the study didn't look at the specific

physical causes of sexual dysfunction, the research indicated that

many of the sexual concerns were likely treatable, as they are due to

physical and health issues. There are dozens of natural herbal and

nutritional herbs that enhance sexual drive and pleasure in both men

and women, along with enhanced erections and more satisfying orgasms

and climaxes—and some of them are quite powerful. These natural herbs

not only enhance libido, but they enhance most aspects of the human

sexual response, particularly if they are used in combination.

 

 

Androstenedione:

 

Androstenedione, (pronounced " an-dro-stene-dye-own " ) is a metabolite

of DHEA and a natural precursor of testosterone. For those whose

testosterone levels may need a boost, 25-50 mg of androstenedione

taken at bedtime, and perhaps again first thing in the morning, will

mimic the body's normal diurnal rhythms. The same dose may be taken

30-60 minutes before exercise (for enhanced performance) or after

completion of exercise (to enhance muscle recovery and growth).

 

Serum levels of testosterone start rising about 15 minutes after oral

administration and stay elevated for around 3 hours. Blood

testosterone levels usually peak in around 1 to 1.5 hours after

ingestion. Because the elevated testosterone levels swiftly return to

normal baseline levels, there is little risk of negative feedback

suppression of the hypothalamus, pituitary or testicles.

 

 

Arginine:

 

One of the more popular supplement ingredients for sexual dysfunction

is L-arginine, also referred to as arginine. Arginine is required to

carry out the synthesis of nitric oxide, a compound that, working

through cGMP, relaxes blood vessels and allows more blood to flow

through arteries. It has been hypothesized that taking extra arginine

will increase nitric oxide levels and increase blood flow to the

penis.

 

Arginine appears to offer some modest benefit for sexual dysfunction

in men. A double-blind, placebo controlled trial of 50 men with

erectile dysfunction tested arginine at a dose of 5,000 mg per day

for six weeks. Only about a third of the participants who received

arginine showed improvement, but that improvement was greater than

the 10% improvement seen in the placebo group. Moreover, erectile

dysfunction is caused by a variety of factors. L-arginine may be

effective only in those men whose erectile dysfunction is due to low

levels of nitric oxide. Studies in animals provide some evidence for

effectiveness as well.

 

Although arginine alone has not been studied as a treatment for

sexual dysfunction in women, a reasonably good preliminary double-

blind trial found evidence for benefit with a combination treatment

providing a daily dose of 2,500 mg of L-arginine, as well as amounts

of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba extract, damiana, plus numerous

vitamins and minerals. In a four-week, double-blind study, 77 women

with decreased libido were given either the combination of these

supplements or placebo. As expected, a high percentage of

participants taking placebo showed improvement. However, participants

taking the product showed statistically greater improvement such as

increased reported sexual desire level in 71% of participants given

the treatment vs. 42% in the placebo group. Other improvements noted

included: relative satisfaction with sex life (74% vs. 37%), improved

frequency of orgasms (47% vs. 30%), and improved clitoral sensation

(53% vs. 35%). No significant side effects were seen in either group.

There have been other studies of arginine for sexual dysfunction in

women, but because they were not double-blind, placebo-controlled

trials, they are of little scientific value.

 

 

Avena Sativa:

 

An extract from wild oats straw, and a rather recent entry to the

field of aphrodisiacs. While oats have a long reputation of being the

most energizing grain, the alleged sexual effects have not commonly

been recognized in previous centuries. Avena sativa is said to free

up bound testosterone in both men an women. Most positive effects of

testosterone, including sex drive, are attributed to free

testosterone, while bound testosterone is mainly a subject of study

when enlarged prostates are the primary concern. Although not much

research has been done, there is much anecdotal evidence to suggest

that it not only stimulates the interest to have sex but enable more

and better orgasms.

 

 

Chrysin:

 

A bioflavonoid called chrysin has shown potential as a natural

aromatase-inhibitor. Chrysin can be extracted from various plants.

Body builders have used it as a testosterone boosting supplement. The

problem with chrysin is that because of its poor absorption into the

bloodstream, it has not produced the testosterone enhancing effects

users expect. In a study published in Biochemical Pharmacology (1999,

Vol.58), the specific mechanisms of chrysin's absorption impairment

were identified, which infers that the addition of a pepper extract

(piperine) could significantly enhance the bioavailability of

chrysin. Pilot studies have found that when chrysin is combined with

piperine, reductions in serum estrogen (estradiol) and increases in

total and free testosterone result in 30 days.

 

Chrysin is also a potent antioxidant that possesses vitamin-like

effects in the body. It has been shown to induce an anti-inflammatory

effect.Chrysin has one other property that could add to its libido-

enhancing potential. A major cause of sexual dissatisfaction among

men is work-related stress and anxiety as well as " sexual performance

anxiety " that prevents them from being able to achieve erections when

they are expected to.

 

 

Cocoa:

 

Yes, chocolate can be a pleasure herb. Compounds known as

phenylethyamines work like natural neurotransmitter dopamine with

epinephrine (also known as adrenalin) creating an elevation of senses

and feelings of well being. So there is something to be said about

that pound of chocolate for valentines day.

 

 

Damiana (Turnera Diffusa):

 

Damiana leaves have been used as an aphrodisiac and to boost sexual

potency by the native peoples of Mexico, including the Mayan Indians.

The two species used in herbal healing, both of which are referred to

as damiana, are Turnera aphrodisiaca and Turnera diffusa.

Historically damiana has been used to relieve anxiety, nervousness,

and mild depression, especially if these symptoms have a sexual

component. The herb is also used as a general tonic to improve

wellness. Damiana has also been used traditionally to improve

digestion and to treat constipation, as in larger doses it is thought

to have a mild laxative effect.

 

The libido-boosting power of damiana hasn't been tested in humans,

although a liquor made from the leaves has long been used as an

aphrodisiac in Mexico. How damiana works as an aphrodisiac is

currently not known. It's mild stimulating properties is believed to

be the catalyst for women and in men, it is said to irritate the

urethra in men therefore sensitizing the penis and making it more

responsive to stimulation.

 

 

DHEA (dehydroepiandosterone):

 

This is a natural steroid hormone, one of the hormones produced by

the adrenal glands. After being secreted by the adrenal glands, it

circulates in the bloodstream as DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) and is

converted as needed into other hormones. DHEA is chemically similar

to testosterone and estrogen and is easily converted into those

hormones. Though claims abound that DHEA stimulates sexual appetite,

no well-controlled trial has investigated the effects of DHEA on

sexual activity. However, preliminary research has suggested that it

may help improve sexual function in women. DHEA has other potential

uses, including the treatment of lupus.

 

 

DIM (diindolylmethane):

 

This is a plant compound called an indole, and has been shown to help

regulate and promote a more efficient metabolism of estrogen, and an

optimal ratio of estrogen metabolites. DIM balances estrogen levels,

promoting health and well-being. This powerful phytonutrient is found

in broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts, unlike other

phytonutrients like soy isoflavones, has no hormonal properties in

itself. Men can also benefit from DIM supplementation. Studies show

it works indirectly by increasing the activity of enzymes that

control estrogen production. DIM boosts levels of " good " estrogens

called 2-hydroxy estrogens and reduces levels of " bad " estrogens

which are 16-hydroxy and 4-hydroxy estrones. Both forms of " bad "

estrogen are carcinogens, and studies show that women with elevated

levels of 16-hydroxy estrone have a high rate of breast cancer.

There's evidence that benign prostate enlargement and some types of

prostate cancer may be related to a buildup of estrogen in that

gland, not testosterone. In overweight men because fat cells convert

DHEA and testosterone to estrogen, DIM supplementation can be

especially helpful. A combination of DHEA and DIM together for one

month is a recommended treatment for increasing testosterone levels.

 

 

Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis):

 

Dong quai has been called the " female ginseng " and is excellent as an

all purpose women's herb. It has been used for centuries in China for

regulating the menstrual cycle and easing menstrual pain and

cramping. It can be used to help women regain normal menstrual cycles

after taking " the Pill. " It has proven helpful for relieving hot

flashes during menopause. Dong quai can be used for insomnia and

blood pressure stability for both men and women. (The affect on blood

pressure can be an overall lowering although sometimes it may rise

slightly first, followed by a decline). It can reduce PMS and may

help anemia, suppressed menstrual flow, uterine bleeding, abdominal

pain after childbirth, dry intestines, chronic pelvic disorders and

constipation and headaches due to blood deficiency. Dong quai helps

the liver utilize more oxygen and therefore can be useful in treating

hepatitis and cirrhosis. It may also help with abnormal protein

metabolism. Dong quai helps dilate peripheral blood vessels, increase

circulation, and has been used as a mild laxative.

 

Dong quai contains estrogenic substances that may exert some

regulating effect on estrogen levels and on estrogenic biological

mechanisms. They seem to enhance estrogenic effects when estrogen

levels are too low, and compete when levels are too high. This would

be in keeping with the idea of a menstrual tonic. It is doubtful if

dong quai has any direct estrogenic effects.

 

Substantial pharmacological research has validated these properties

in dong quai. Anticramping, hypotensive, tonic, antiasthmatic,

analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic properties in the root

have all been demonstrated by basic research. It has also been shown

to be effective against several strains of microorganisms, especially

fungi such as Candida albicans, the primary causative agent in

vaginal yeast infections. This constellation of properties would help

explain the plant's sometimes dramatic effect on the PMS symptoms.

 

 

Ginseng:

 

The herb Panax ginseng has a traditional reputation for enhancing

sexual function in men. One study supports this use for a particular

form of ginseng: the steamed and heat-dried product called red

ginseng. This three month double-blind, placebo-controlled study

evaluated the effects of Korean red ginseng in 90 men with erectile

dysfunction. Participants received either red ginseng at a dose of

1,800 mg daily, the drug trazodone (an antidepressant with marginal

effects on erectile dysfunction) and placebo. The results indicated

that red ginseng improved erectile function compared to placebo.

Contrary to some reports, ginseng does not appear to affect estrogen

or testosterone levels, or mimic their effects.

 

 

Ginkgo Biloba:

 

Ginkgo biloba is an herb that can improves sexual function in men.

Case reports and open trials suggest that Ginkgo biloba may be an

effective treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in

both men and women. Ginkgo not only helps brain circulation but also

penile blood flow. A study using a standarized extract showed 78% in

regained erections which where known to be caused by poor blood flow.

 

 

Horny Goat Weed (Herba Epimedium grandiflorum):

 

Yin Yang Huo in Traditional which has been loosely

translated by some as " licentious goat plant " and explains why

Western supplement companies have adopted the titillating name by

which it is known in the U.S: (horny goat weed). Epimedium is grown

as an ornamental herb in Asia and the Mediterranean region, and

various species are used for medicinal purposes. The use of epimedium

as a medicinal herb dates back to at least 400 A.D., where it has

been used as a tonic for the reproductive system (boosting libido and

treating impotence) and as a rejuvenating tonic (to relieve fatigue).

Epimedium is thought to work via modulation of cortisol levels (the

primary stress hormone). Under conditions of high stress, the

increased cortisol levels are known to cause fatigue and depress sex

drive - so bringing cortisol levels back into normal ranges is also

thought to help restore normal metabolism, energy levels and libido.

 

There is also evidence that epimedium can restore low levels of both

testosterone and thyroid hormone (bringing low levels back to their

normal levels) - which may account for some of the benefits of

epimedium in improving libido (sex drive). Animal studies using

epimedium have shown a reduction in bone breakdown, an increase in

muscle mass, and a loss of body fat-each of which may be linked to

the observed return of abnormal cortisol levels back to normal values

(and rhythm). In a series of studies conducted in humans and animals

by Chinese researchers, immune-system function was directly

suppressed and bone loss was accelerated, by using high-dose

synthetic cortisol (glucocorticoid drugs). Subsequent administration

of epimedium extract reduced blood levels of cortisol and improved

immune immune-system function (in the humans) and slowed bone loss

and strengthened bones (in the animals).

 

 

Nettle Root Extract:

 

About 90% of testosterone is produced by the testes, the remainder by

the adrenal glands. Testosterone functions as an aphrodisiac hormone

in brains cells, and as an anabolic hormone in the development of

bone and skeletal muscle. But testosterone that becomes bound to

serum globulin is not available to cell receptor sites and fails to

induce a libido effect. It is, therefore, desirable to increase

levels of " free testosterone " in order to ignite sexual arousal in

the brain.

 

A hormone that controls levels of free testosterone is called sex

hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). When testosterone binds to SHBG, it

loses its biological activity and becomes known as " bound

testosterone, " as opposed to the desirable " free testosterone. " As

men age past year 45, SHBG's binding capacity increases almost

dramatically-by 40% on average-and coincides with the age-

associatedloss of libido.

 

A highly concentrated extract from the nettle root provides a unique

mechanism for increasing levels of free testosterone. Recent European

research has identified constituents of nettle root that bind to SHBG

in place of testosterone, thus reducing SHBG's binding of free

testosterone. As the authors of one study state, these constituents

of nettle root " may influence the blood level of free, i.e. active,

steroid hormones by displacing them from the SHBG bindings site. " The

prostate gland also benefits from nettle root. In Germany, nettle

root has been used as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia

(enlargement of the prostate gland) for decades. A metabolite of

testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulates prostate

growth, leading to enlargement. Nettle root inhibits the binding of

DHT to attachment sites on the prostate membrane.

 

 

Puncture Vine - Tribulus Terrestris:

 

This herb found in the Chinese Materia Medica, Bai Ji Li (Chinese)

also known as Gokshura and Gokhru (Ayurveda), traditionally has been

used for sexual and kidney dysfunctions as well as colic pains,

hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. It has a long standing use of

being a revitalizer and energizer. Research indicates it actually may

possess the ability to increase sexual desire verses just being a

physical stimulant. It is a promising herb in the areas of menopause

and infertility. Tribulus terrestris (tribulus) is thought to

increase DHEA levels, so it has been proposed as a treatment for

sexual dysfunction. However, investigation of tribulus has largely

been limited to trials in animals. Bulgarian studies have shown that

this herb stimulates Luteinizing Hormone, which stimulates the

production of testosterone in men.

 

 

Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides and Ptychopetalum unicatum):

 

Popularly referred to as potency wood, muira puama is an old

Brazilian folk aphrodisiac and cure for sexual impotence. Salves,

tinctures, and other formulations are made from the trunk or roots of

these two shrubs. Muira puama is typically touted for sexual potency.

Despite a lack of evidence that it actually works, men continue to

take muira puama to prevent impotence and enhance sexual desire.

There is also little evidence to support its use for rheumatism, for

which it is also often used. Muira puama is employed around the world

today in herbal medicine. Early European explorers noted the

indigenous uses and the aphrodisiac qualities of muira puama and

brought it back to Europe, where it has become part of herbal

medicine in England.

 

It is also used in Europe to treat impotence, infertility, nerve

pain, menstrual disturbances, and dysentery. In Germany, muira puama

is employed as a central nervous system tonic, for hookworms,

menstrual disturbances, and rheumatism. Muira puama has been gaining

in popularity in the United States, where herbalists and health care

practitioners are using it for impotence, depression, menstrual

cramps and PMS, nerve pain, and central nervous system disorders.

 

 

Spanish fly (Cantharides):

 

No discussion of aphrodisiacs would be complete without mention of

Spanish fly, the most legendary of the love drugs, but also the most

dangerous. Spanish fly, or cantharides, is extracted from dried

beetle dung. Reported sexual excitement after taking Spanish fly

stems from its ability to irritate the urogenital tract, causing a

rush of blood to the genital area. And that's the upside. The

dangerous downside: Spanish fly is a poison that burns the mouth and

throat, and can cause urinary infections, scarring of the urethra

and, in some rare cases, death.

 

 

Yohimbe:

 

Yohimbe is made from the bark of the Pausinystalia johimbe tree found

in Africa. It contains the chemical, yohimbine, which is an FDA-

approved drug that is marginally effective for male erectile

dysfunction. Yohimbine is believed to act through the nervous system

to increase blood flow to the penis. Most clinical studies have been

conducted with yohimbine rather than yohimbe bark. These days, some

call it the herbal Viagra. Unfortunately, there are side effects, and

for some men can be very serious. Side effects of yohimbe can include

anxiety, weakness, overstimulation, paralysis and hallucinations.

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

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