Whether you have an inhibited sexual desire or an overly high sex drive, both can cause problems in a relationship. An insatiable libido can lead to poor judgments, a bad reputation and painful infidelities. Consultation with your physician may become advisable if your sex drive has skyrocketed. You might also take a look in your kitchen cabinet for a remedy, as certain herbs may lower libido levels.
Libido
Libido, a Freudian term for sexual desire, naturally fluctuates over time due to age and physical and emotional health. Saunders Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health describes libido as,"the psychic energy derived from instinctive biological drives." Simply put, a high sex drive means an increased sexual attraction to men and/or women, and is often an energizer of sexual behaviors.
Herbs for Male Libido
Chasteberry has a long history as a remedy for an assortment of female gynecological problems. According to Steven Foster, author of the book "Nature's Medicine," the Greek physician Dioscorides was the first to recommend chasteberry as a libido inhibitor for men. In fact, clergymen used chasteberry as an aid in keeping vows of celibacy.
Hops and marijuana also have reputations as male libido inhibitors. Hops, the herb used in beer that enhances its bitter taste, has a sedative effect that leads to difficulty in maintaining an erection. Heavy use of marijuana, an herb botanically related to hops, has a similar effect. Skullcap, also known as mad-dog weed, not only acts as a sedative, but lowers blood pressure, making it difficult to get and maintain an erection.
Herbs for Female Libido
The volatile oils contained in dried hops induce sleep and can cause vaginal dryness in women. Valerian, another herb with sedative and tranquilizing effects, also contains volatile oils that affect the nervous system. According to Steven Foster, the Greek physician Galen first recognized it as a treatment for insomnia. Today, herbalists use valerian tea as a remedy for menstrual problems, sleep disorders, nervous anxiety, hyperactivity and high libido in women.
Considerations
Many herbs carry warnings or have safety issues. Unless medically prescribed, marijuana is illegal in most states. While chasteberry has few side effects, skullcap may cause liver damage. In addition, although hops and marijuana may decrease libido, they may also increase weight gain by stimulating gastric secretions and thereby appetite. Furthermore, hops, marijuana and valerian may impair your attention level, so do not drive a vehicle.
Expert Insight
In a 2005 article published by the "American Academy of Family Physicians," Dr. Beatrix Roemheld-Hamm of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School reported that few high-quality studies exist on the efficacy of chasteberry as a libido inhibitor. One small study indicated that small doses of the herb decrease sexual desire by decreasing prolactin levels. However, high doses of chasteberry showed the opposite effect.
In fact, although practitioners of alternative medicine claim otherwise, when it comes to scientific proof, evidence is lacking for the effectiveness of herbs in general as treatments for low libido levels.
References
- Saunders Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health: Benjamin F. Miller, M.D.; 1983
- "Nature's Medicine;" Steven Foster; 2008
- AAFP: Chasteberry
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing;" Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
