There are many natural ways to support hormones and physiology in women that combine to promote increased sexual arousal and desire.
An anti-inflammatory diet filled with high-quality animal protein, healthy fats and an abundant variety of seasonal organic vegetables, plus limiting or removing sugar, alcohol, stimulants, grains, dairy and processed foods is essential.
In addition, regular movement, moderate exercise, and overall stress reduction are important steps to maintaining a healthy, balanced body.
Beyond lifestyle, there are also specific supplemental herbs, formulas, botanicals and spices that can help stimulate pleasurable and satisfying sexuality in women.
Women’s Libido from Gaia Herbs contains a unique blend of herbs known to support female libido and arousal. One of the main ingredients is horny goat weed, a Chinese herb also known as yin yang huo. In Chinese medicine, yin yang huo unblocks cold obstruction in the liver channel, which passes through the genitals. This action increases the flow of warm, exciting yang qi, helping improve sensitivity and stimulation in women.
Another major ingredient in Women’s Libido is maca, an adaptogenic herb that helps the body adapt to all forms of stress and is well-known for its sexual-enhancing effects. Maca has been found in clinical trial to increase arousal in premenopausal women and improve orgasms in postmenopausal women. Its ability to support estrogen levels can also alleviate vaginal dryness by increasing female lubrication.
Saffron is best known as a beautiful red spice, but it’s also an aphrodisiac found in clinical study to significantly improve sexual arousal in women after 4 weeks. In Chinese medicine, saffron guides qi and blood to the liver channel, resulting in increased genital blood flow. Promoting vaginal and clitoral blood flow enables protrusion of the glans clitoris and engorgement of the labia minora. Both of these actions help to increase stimulatory pleasure and enjoyment during sex.
Fenugreek has been found to support optimal estrogen and testosterone hormone levels, which helps contribute to healthy sexual desire in women. Fenugreek is also a Chinese herb, known as hu lu ba, that strengthens kidney yang energy responsible for sexual function. A 2015 study of healthy, menstruating women found fenugreek seed extract increased sexual arousal and desire in women with low sexual drive. In those participants who took fenugreek, free testosterone and estradiol were found to be significantly increased.
Female X Booster is really an all-in-one, who’s who of female sexual support. The very impressive VIP list includes maca, dong quai, muira puama, velvet bean, hops flower, horny goat weed, gokhru fruit, eleuthero, ginseng, ashwagandha, black cohosh, l-arginine and l-citrulline. Several of these––dong quai, ginseng, eleuthero, ashwagandha––are the most potent adaptogenic herbs in existence. Adaptogenic herbs help our body adapt to all forms of stress, simultaneously increasing energy and calming the nervous system. Stress is one of the greatest hindrances to sexual desire and arousal and must be addressed for optimal sexual function.
In fact, psychological stress and emotional distress are typically the more likely underlying causes of sexual dysfunction than any true physical impairment. Adaptogenic herbs are the perfect approach in these cases. Additionally, Female X Booster includes amino acids to increase vasodilation via nitric oxide, increasing blood flow to the vagina, as well as the aforementioned aphrodisiacs horny goat weed and maca, and several other compounds well-known for their sex-enhancing effects.
Tribulus is an herb that has been studied for its effects on hormones with indications that it effectively boosts testosterone levels, which can improve interest in sex. A 90-day study in women with low libido found that taking tribulus increased vaginal sensitivity and lubrication, as well as overall sexual desire. Another study found women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder achieved greater sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction after taking tribulus for four weeks. Tribulus has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a sexual tonic.
Arouse Power is a formula of Chinese herbs specifically designed to stimulate powerful sexual arousal. It includes the frequently mentioned yin yang huo (horny goat weed), as well as many other Chinese herbs known to support kidney yang energy, which relates to warm, fertile, stimulating, creating energy. In addition, there are many other herbs that increase the circulation of blood to all parts of the body, tonify the qi, strengthen the heart energy and consolidate the reproductive kidney essence. A perfect formula to invigorate warm, sensual arousal.
Dong Quai is also known as angelica root in English and dang gui in Chinese medicine. It is often referred to as “the female ginseng” due to its ability to balance every aspect of a woman’s body better than perhaps any other single herb. In Chinese medicine it is one of the premiere blood regulating herbs. As women are most associated with yin and blood (with men being most associated with yang and qi), blood-focused herbs are incredibly important for women. Dang gui is arguably the number one herb to regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle, and thus relates very closely to her hormonal balance, fertility and sexual energy.
Ginkgo Biloba is derived from the world’s oldest species of tree and is a Chinese herb known as bai guo. It is used in Chinese medicine to stabilize and bind the kidney energy, helping to support sexual energy. Ginkgo biloba has been found to cause the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and prostacyclin, which increases vasodilation. In addition, ginkgo biloba boosts nitric oxide, leading to vascular relaxation. Both of these effects increase blood flow to peripheral tissues, including the vagina, labia and clitoris.
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