Improving Sexual Enjoyment
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Name not given
Posted on: November 22, 1998

My husband and I have been married for 19 years. We love each other very much. I would like very much to put the sexual excitement and arousement back into my life so I could enjoy my husband much more. What types of herbs could I use to help?

Herbs recommended to stimulate male and female libido and sexual activity are Ginseng, Damiana (Turnera diffusa), Oats (an extract made from 1 part oats to 1 part alcohol) and Saw Palmetto. Cayenne can be used as a blood stimulant with these herbs. Sexually stimulating aromatherapy preparations that can be used in a massage are Ylang Ylang, Patchouli and Jasmine.

James Duke in "The Green Pharmacy" ( St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010) notes factors leading to a loss of sexual desire include illness, injury, emotional stress, alcohol and many prescription drugs. If you are on medications, your doctor or pharmacist can inform you whether any of them affect your sex life, and your doctor may be able to recommend alternatives.

For male libido, Duke reports on research that has shown that the smells of cinnamon in hot cinnamon buns, pumpkin & nutmeg in pumpkin pie, and lavender stimulate blood flow to the penis. Male sexual impotence in often a problem of the circulatory system. Ginkgo is used to stimulate to blood flow to the penis, and with 60 to 240 milligrams a day of a 50:1 extract (50 pounds of ginkgo used to produce 1 pound of extract) a 6 month study has shown improved erections in half of the men studied.

Included in Duke’s suggestions for increasing female libido are Dong Quai, a sexual and reproductive tonic, Fennel and Anise, which act like estrogen, Fenugreek and Parsley which are estrogenic and also help with vaginal dryness, and chocolate, which improves the mood..

Siegfried Gursche, in "Encyclopedia of Natural Healing" (Alive Publishers, Canada, (800) 663-6580 or Natural Life Publishing Inc., U.S. (800) 663-6513) states that fatigue, depression and nutrition are often factors in loss of libido. He suggests a healthy, whole food diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, with supplementation of Vitamin E and zinc to nourish the sex glands.

Other questions that we have answered previously on a similar topic can be found on our website at http://www.richters.com. Go to the "Q&A" area and search for "Herbs for Vaginal Dryness", "Enlarging the Penis" and "Sexual Performance".

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