Natural Aphrodisiacs
It’s the season of love! What a great time to talk about natural aphrodisiacs. The health benefits are incredible, and not only for sex. Sure, you can use some of these ingredients to create a love potion and get frisky with a special someone,but you can also use them to give yourself more energy, feel more creatively inspired and sensitive, or to feel more relaxed. There are different facets to getting in the mood, and whatever your case may be, this guide can help you find the herbs and aromas to benefit yourself and your sweetheart.
A Note About Aphrodisiacs
An aphrodisiac is a substance that can increase sexual desire. Aphrodisiacs have different ways of stimulating feelings of love and sexuality. Some dilate the blood vessels, helping you feel more sensitive. Some balance hormones or neurotransmitters, relax the muscles and help you destress, helping with the psychological aspects of “getting in the mood.” Please keep in mind that there are contraindications for some herbs, so check for them if you have any medical conditions or are on any medications.
What influences sexual desire?
I’ve decided not to delve too deeply on the emotional factors here and go more into the physiological aspects. I mean, typically if you’re in an argument with your partner you’re likely not wanting sex (unless that’s your kink- no judgement here). That seems too lengthy of a topic to get into, so let’s look instead at the reasons behind why sexual desire fluctuates.
There are actually some differences here between men and women’s experiences. For women, while desire fluctuates with a range of physical and emotional factors, having a low libido can also stem from hormonal imbalances. For men, leading reasons for low libido are from medications like anti-depressants and anti-hypertensive drugs, drug or alcohol abuse, or low testosterone. Interestingly, testosterone also influences women’s sexual function. There are several neurotransmitters that enhance sexual arousal in both men and women, like dopamine, oxytocin, and nitric oxide. There are also feel-good neurotransmitters that decrease arousal, like GABA and serotonin.
Foods
I’m sure you’ve heard that oysters are an aphrodisiac before. It may have something to do with its high levels of zinc. It’s been found that getting enough Zinc in the diet boosts libido, likely from its assistance in raising testosterone and dopamine levels. Dark chocolate is also high in zinc, and the antioxidants in it can help stimulate blood flow. That’s probably why it’s such a hit around Valentines day. Chili peppers can stimulate blood flow with their capsaicin. Other foods considered to have aphrodisiac qualities are asparagus, watermelon, figs, pomegranate and other deep red berries, and avocado.
Exercise
Consistent exercise is especially helpful for those looking to increase their mood and their desire in bed. This study showed a relation between women that chronically exercised and their sexual satisfaction, through increased cardiovascular health and preserving their autonomic flexibility. It also improves self-image, which in turn can improve sexual wellbeing.
Herbs
There are tons of different herbs used for sexual health. One of my personal favorites is ashwaghanda, shown to increase testosterone in men. It’s a great adaptogenic herb to balance hormones regardless of your sex. Other ones I’ve used before are:
Maca
Blue Lotus
Damiana
Rose
Kava
Gingko Biloba
Ginseng
Horny Goat Weed
It’s interesting to note here that I also use things like ginseng, cordyceps and maca in post workout smoothies because of the boost it gives to your vitality. I also have made tea with a teaspoon each of rose, blue lotus, and damiana to assist me in my creative work.
Essential Oils
While researching I found that, while some essential oils can be used for both men and women, like Ylang Ylang and Nutmeg, actually there are different scents that can be used. Scents that can improve libido in women are Clary Sage, Geranium, Idaho Balsam Fir, Lemongrass, Jasmine, and Frankincense. For men, scents like Idaho Blue Spruce, Pine, Myrrh, Black Pepper, and Ginger were more effective. An easy way to add these in would be to add them to a massage oil and massage your partner. For every 1 ounce of carrier oil, you’d use 10-12 drops of essential oil. It’s a lovely way to add a sensual element to your play.
In Conclusion
Whether through food, herbs, essential oils or getting into an exercise routine, my desire is that you found something here that you may want to try. Whether it’s for yourself or your partner, using the natural world’s aphrodisiacs are doing more than just creating a more fulfilling sex life. These herbs and remedies are here to help us become more sensitive, more creative and more at ease within ourselves, and can help us treat our bodies with more care.