Let's face it: sometimes your sex drive needs a little boost. It's natural for sexual desire to surge and wane depending on how relaxed and rested you are, and your sex hormones--which influence libido--can also fluctuate over time. The good news is, however, that some natural herbs have been shown over the years to enhance sex drive, and these are often readily available in natural food stores and even large drug store chains.
Gingko Biloba
Supplements of gingko biloba, an herbal remedy produced from the leaves of the gingko biloba tree, can help get juices flowing. According to the website Discovery Health, gingko biloba increases blood flow to the brain and sexual organs and may boost excitement and orgasm.
Yohimbine
Yohimbine is another herb that could boost sex drive. It has been used in Africa for centuries and is sometimes referred to as "natural Viagra." A study published in the journal Science in 1984 by J.T. Clark and colleagues found that it increased sexual motivation in male rats and made them more likely to copulate. And a 1992 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by F.M. Jacobsen found that yohimbine improved libido in eight out of nine patients who were suffering from low sex drive as a result of antidepressant medication.
Horny Goat Weed
Despite its comical name, horny goat weed, also called epimedium and Yin Yang Huo, has been clinically shown to improve sex drive in animals, but not in people. A 2007 study published in Ethnopharmacology by M.N. Makarova found that oral administration of an extract of Epimedium improved erectile function in aged rats. The herb has been a staple of Chinese traditional medicine for centuries, according to the website A Healthier Life. Horny goat weed is a leafy plant that grows at high altitudes; its leaves contain a variety of flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols and an alkaloid called magnaflorine.
Catuaba and Muirapuama
According to Discovery Health, the herbs catuaba and muirapuama--used together--may also improve sex drive in both men and women. However, no clinical trials have been done on either drug alone or in combination, so the recommendation is based on folklore.
