Low sex drive is often the result of fatigue or stress. Medications, including antidepressants, can also lower libido. But some herbs, many of which are available at the drug store, have been used for centuries as natural sex drive enhancers. And in recent years, some of these herbs have been shown to elicit strong effects in scientific studies.
Horny Goat Weed
Also known as Epimedium, horny goat weed has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat erectile dysfunction. Its leaves contain a variety of libido-boosting flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols and an alkaloid called magnaflorine. In 2007, Epimedium was tested in a small study by M.N. Makarova and colleagues, and was shown to boost sexual activity in older male rats. The study was published in the journal Ethnopharmacology. There have been no known clinical trials on the effects of Epimedium in people.
Yohimbine
Yohimbine is sometimes called "natural Viagra." It has been used in African medicine for many years to treat erectile dysfunction. A study published in Science in 1984 by J.T. Clark and colleagues showed that yohimbine extract increased sexual behavior in male rats and made them more likely to initiate sex. In addition, a 1992 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by F.M. Jacobsen reported that yohimbine boosted libido in patients suffering from low libido due to the effects of antidepressant medications. Yohimbine is only available by prescription.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba, also sometimes called Gingko Biloba, is a common herb that's thought to elicit a range of physiological effects. A study published in 2008 in the Archives of Sexual Behavior by C.M. Meston and colleagues found that an extract made from Ginkgo Biloba improved sexual arousal in women in the short term, but that it provided no long-term sexual benefits. According to the website Discovery Health, gingko biloba increases blood flow to the brain and sexual organs.
Catuaba and Muirapuama
According to Discovery Health, when used together, the herbs catuaba and muirapuama may improve sex drive in men and women. However, no clinical trials have been conducted on either drug alone or on the two in combination, so the recommendation is based mainly on folklore.
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