Natural cures for impotence, low desire, vaginal dryness, more

Couples who enjoy sex regularly tend to live longer than those who rarely or never have sex. Sexual activity purges congestion from the prostate gland and relieves pain by stimulating the release of endorphins.

Yet millions of Americans struggle to have satisfying sex, or any sex, because of physical limitations. Medications can help with problems such as an inability to get erections or vaginal dryness, but they don’t always work — and can carry the risk for side effects.

Better: Natural remedies that improve energy and libido as well as sexual performance. In my 40 years of specializing in herbal medicine, I have found them to be quite effective for many people. (The herbs and supplements noted here are readily available at most health-food stores and online.)

Lubrication

Vaginal dryness can be as problematic for a woman as erectile dysfunction is for a man. Women naturally produce less moisture (in the vagina, as well as in the eyes, skin and other parts of the body) as they get older. But it’s one of the easiest sexual problems to correct — and without the use of store-bought, chemical-filled lubricants. Try one of the following remedies. If that doesn’t work, try another until you find what works best for you.

  • Barley water. Barley water is an emollient that also nourishes and strengthens vaginal tissues. Cook two cups of light pearled barley in 10 cups of water for two hours. Strain, and reserve the water. Drink a glassful three or four times a day between meals for at least three weeks. If it helps, continue doing it. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days. (You can use the leftover barley in soups and salads.)

 

  • Acidophilus. Dryness is sometimes caused by an overgrowth of vaginal yeast. Before going to bed each night, insert a capsule of acidophilus into the vagina. It inhibits yeast and helps the vagina produce more lubrication.

 

Important: Don’t use an enteric-coated capsule — it won’t dissolve readily. Use an acidophilus gel capsule.

  • Chemical-free lubricant. Mix one ounce of softenend cocoa butter with one tablespoon each of powdered dong quai (an herb in the parsley family), licorice root and marshmallow root, along with one tablespoon of powdered wild yam and two tablespoons of vitamin E oil.

 

Optional: Two drops of essential oil of rose for a pleasant aroma.

Roll the mixture into suppository shapes about the size of your little finger. Store them in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to six months. Insert one in the vagina daily before bedtime.

Low Libido

If your sex drive is lower than you (or your partner) would like…

  • Eat black foods. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys govern sexual vitality. Foods with natural black color, such as black olives, black sesame seeds, chia seeds and black beans, strengthen the kidneys and improve sexual energy and performance.

 

Bonus: Black olives and chia increase the production of mucilage, important for sexual lubrication.

  • Muira puama. This is a South American herb that traditionally is used as an aphrodisiac and to improve erections as well as orgasms in men and women. It’s a warming herb that increases circulation. If you have cold hands and/or feet, you probably have impaired circulation to the genitals as well. Muira puama can help.

 

Dose: One-half cup of muira puama tea… or 10 to 30 drops of tincture, mixed with an inch of water or taken straight, three times daily. Also available in capsules. Natives of South America sometimes apply the cooled tea directly to the genitals as a sexual stimulant.

  • DHEA, an over-the-counter hormonal supplement that’s converted to testosterone in the body, can increase libido and sexual responsiveness in women and men.

 

Important: Improper dosing can cause acne, the growth of facial hair in women and other side effects — including an increased risk for some cancers. Take DHEA only under the supervision of a doctor.

Erectile Dysfunction

The arteries that carry blood to the penis are just slightly wider than the head of a pin. Even slight buildups of plaque (atherosclerosis) can impede circulation and make it difficult for a man to get and/or maintain an erection.

The same things that improve overall cardiovascular health, such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, can improve a man’s ability to achieve an erection. Also helpful…

  • The Deer. This is a Taoist exercise that removes energy blockages, stimulates hormone production and improves erections. Sit on the edge of the bed, and rub your hands to warm them. Hold the scrotum with one hand. With the other hand, massage right below the navel in a circular motion. Do it 81 times, then switch hands and rub in the other direction 81 times.

 

Follow this with 36 Kegel exercises, in which you tighten and then release the pubococcygeus muscles — the same muscles that you would use to stop urine in midstream.

  • Foot massage. Once or twice a day, massage the entire foot, paying particular attention to the sides of the heels. The meridians (energy pathways) that support sexual potency run through this part of the foot.

 

  • Yohimbe. Yohimbe bark extract is among the most effective natural products for improving erections. It increases blood flow to the genitals while at the same time impeding the flow of blood out of the penis — important for keeping an erection.

 

Dose: One cup of yohimbe tea… or 30 drops of tincture, mixed with an inch of water or taken straight, 30 minutes to an hour before sex. Also available in capsules.

Caution: Yohimbe can elevate blood pressure and cause insomnia. It also interacts with many common drugs, including antihypertensives and heart and diabetes medications. Use it only under the supervision of a doctor and never more than twice a week.

  • Omega-3 fatty acids enhance circulation and help the nervous system function better. Eat fish (such as salmon, tuna, sardines) twice per week or supplement with fish oil (follow directions on the label).

 

Better Orgasms

Men and women who eat well, exercise regularly and are comfortable with their bodies experience better and more frequent orgasms. Also helpful…

  • Arginine. An amino acid called L-arginine is a vasodilator, which means it helps to widen or open up blood vessels. Arginine cream can be applied to the clitoris or penis before sex to increase arousal and the intensity of orgasms. You also can take an oral capsule form to increase blood flow to sexual organs. Follow directions on the label.

 

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