As an Herbalist & Naturopath, a common, sheepish query I receive is ‘How can you help my partner & I in the bedroom? There’s no need to be shy! A decreased libido is simply a reflection of bodily imbalance, like any other condition. Thus, we treat it as such; holistically, sensitively & as an extremely important, personal aspect of health.
‘Aphrodisiac’ is libido lingo for a substance that increases sexual desire, and can take many forms. Oysters are a traditional libido-enhancing food due to their high zinc content, important for supporting healthy testosterone levels in men. Studies have shown that their appearance and slipperiness only adds to this effect!
I have also employed herbal aphrodisiacs with great success (alongside a holistic plan that addresses underlying nutritional and/or emotional causes).
NB: Herbal tonics are only available with a prescription from your Naturopath or Herbalist. A qualified practitioner will ensure your medication, supplements or disease state does not interact with the herbs. When an herbalist prescribes herbal medicine they consider one’s constitution: age, allergies, sensitiveness, robustness, size, temperature, current status of health and personality. Always remember to tell you practitioner if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
5 favourite Herbal Tonics for bedroom pizazz
1. The Ginseng family – considered a tonic to enhance physical performance (including sexual), promote vitality and increase resistance to stress and ageing.
2. Shatavari or Asparagus racemosus – is a species of asparagus common throughout Sri Lanka, India and the Himalayas. Often known as “she who possesses 100 husbands” (the name says it all!) It has a reputation as a fertility-enhancing plant that improves the health of both male and female reproductive tissues.
3. Muira puama – also called “potency wood” is a small Brazilian tree that grows across the Amazon river basin. Muira puama is used mainly as an herbal remedy for erectile dysfunction and sexual dysfunction in women. It has a long history of use in Brazilian folk medicine as an aphrodisiac. This is one of our favourites and have used it with great success in our clinic for impotency, menstrual cramps and PMS. It is used for both men and women.
4. Damiana – is a plant native to Mexico and the southern United States. Spanish missionaries first recorded that the Mexican Indians drank Damiana tea mixed with sugar for use as an aphrodisiac. It is used for both men and women.
5. Tribulus terrestris – sometimes known as “devil’s thorn” is an herb that has been used in the traditional medicine of China and India for centuries. Tribulus is most often used for infertility, erectile dysfunction, and low libido. It is used for both men and women.
These herbal helpers can certainly aid a lackluster love-life in the context of a holistic plan for health. Getting the foundations right (the ‘bedrock’, if you’ll pardon the pun) will support a healthy libido for life, with nutritional and herbal aphrodisiacs adding that little something extra in times of need.
By Anthia Koulloros
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