Herbage for Her
Because the world had yet to see the invention of medication (or rechargeable dildos, or Real Dolls), exploring the natural world for nookie enhancement became a calling of the highest order—just ask the local shaman (or his modern-day counterpart, hawking ‘natural male enhancement’ at 3:00am on cable).
We still use herbs today—especially those of us who are looking for ways to nourish and augment our bodies and biochemistry, without relying on chemicals or supporting the current bloated pharmaceutical industry. The challenge, though, is that there’s a veritable litany of inaccurate, unsafe, and downright dangerous information being passed along as fact—and precious few ways by which to pluck the good from the bad. And while we’re not experts in the realm of herbal research, we do want to talk about some of the herbs that are currently being touted as sexual enhancers—and try to separate some of the myths from the realities.
But first, the ubiquitous fine print:
Supplements are not subject to the Food and Drug Administration; therefore, they do not actually undergo scientific testing to ascertain various claims. Some supplements, in fact, can be harmful! Please be smart and do your research, and if at all possible speak with both holistic and traditional medical practitioners before self-treating with any herbal remedy.
For her pleasure:
Bayberry Bark
Bayberry bark has been used to address different female health issues, most notably as a douche to treat excess discharge (leukorrhea) from the vagina and cervix, as well as to increase blood flow. However, it’s also used for vegetable tanning leather—so if you go this route, you’ll want to be very careful about the accuracy of your measurements…we don’t want to think about what the negative effects might be (because, kiddies, nobody wants a vagina that feels like the finest cowskin).
Black Cohosh
Also called squawroot, black cohosh has compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen, balancing the body's hormone levels. Some studies have shown that it can improve symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, mood disturbances, diaphoresis, palpitations, and vaginal dryness—and for women who have those symptoms, you can bet that any relief from them would definitely help get the sex drive back on track!
Dong quai ( Angelica sinensis )
Also known as Chinese Angelica, has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicine. It remains one of the most popular plants in Chinese medicine, and has been called "female ginseng," based on its use for gynecological disorders (such as painful menstruation or pelvic pain), recovery from childbirth or illness, and fatigue/low vitality. Dong quai seems to have minimal side effects for many women, and has been getting a great deal of positive press lately.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne Pepper has been highly touted as a remedy for poor circulation—and the better the circulation, the more our bits get engorged, n’est ce pas? In fact, some sexual lubricants use Capsicum (the chemical component of Cayenne that causes the heat) as a vasodilator to increase stimulation—so while we don’t know that you’d want to use undiluted Cayenne right there, you certainly could try it in other ways. Additionally, it has been used to help regulate menstrual cycles—and being able to rely on your Aunt Flo to arrive on time is often a boost when it comes to planning a hot night of sexing.
Sage Leaf Extract
Sage leaf is used to regulate a women’s menstrual cycle and improve circulation. Again, a regular cycle makes for a generally more relaxed woman—which makes for better sex.
SAMe
SAMe is used for, among other things, infertility, premenstrual disorders and musculoskeletal disorders. Again, this is a substance that has received a good deal of research, and there are a number of indicating studies that show that, especially for musculoskeletal health, SAMe shows considerable promise.
Soy
Soy, and components of soy called isoflavones, have been studied for the treatment of many health conditions. Isoflavones are believed to have estrogen-like effects in the body, and as a result, they are sometimes called phytoestrogens. Laboratory studies aren’t able to determine whether these phytoestrogens block or stimulate the production of natural estrogen; however, there are a number of studies that show that the female libido can increase with the addition of soy to your diet. Tofu Surprise with a side of edamame, anyone?
Wild Yam
Wild Yam contains a natural steroid called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) that rejuvenates and gives vigor to lovemaking, as well as being used by many women as a way to minimize the effects of menopause, such as hot flashes. This is usually found as a cream that you rub into your skin (no, not there!) in order to experience the chemical benefits of the plant.
We still use herbs today—especially those of us who are looking for ways to nourish and augment our bodies and biochemistry, without relying on chemicals or supporting the current bloated pharmaceutical industry. The challenge, though, is that there’s a veritable litany of inaccurate, unsafe, and downright dangerous information being passed along as fact—and precious few ways by which to pluck the good from the bad. And while we’re not experts in the realm of herbal research, we do want to talk about some of the herbs that are currently being touted as sexual enhancers—and try to separate some of the myths from the realities.
But first, the ubiquitous fine print:
Supplements are not subject to the Food and Drug Administration; therefore, they do not actually undergo scientific testing to ascertain various claims. Some supplements, in fact, can be harmful! Please be smart and do your research, and if at all possible speak with both holistic and traditional medical practitioners before self-treating with any herbal remedy.
For her pleasure:
Bayberry Bark
Bayberry bark has been used to address different female health issues, most notably as a douche to treat excess discharge (leukorrhea) from the vagina and cervix, as well as to increase blood flow. However, it’s also used for vegetable tanning leather—so if you go this route, you’ll want to be very careful about the accuracy of your measurements…we don’t want to think about what the negative effects might be (because, kiddies, nobody wants a vagina that feels like the finest cowskin).
Black Cohosh
Also called squawroot, black cohosh has compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen, balancing the body's hormone levels. Some studies have shown that it can improve symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, mood disturbances, diaphoresis, palpitations, and vaginal dryness—and for women who have those symptoms, you can bet that any relief from them would definitely help get the sex drive back on track!
Dong quai ( Angelica sinensis )
Also known as Chinese Angelica, has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicine. It remains one of the most popular plants in Chinese medicine, and has been called "female ginseng," based on its use for gynecological disorders (such as painful menstruation or pelvic pain), recovery from childbirth or illness, and fatigue/low vitality. Dong quai seems to have minimal side effects for many women, and has been getting a great deal of positive press lately.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne Pepper has been highly touted as a remedy for poor circulation—and the better the circulation, the more our bits get engorged, n’est ce pas? In fact, some sexual lubricants use Capsicum (the chemical component of Cayenne that causes the heat) as a vasodilator to increase stimulation—so while we don’t know that you’d want to use undiluted Cayenne right there, you certainly could try it in other ways. Additionally, it has been used to help regulate menstrual cycles—and being able to rely on your Aunt Flo to arrive on time is often a boost when it comes to planning a hot night of sexing.
Sage Leaf Extract
Sage leaf is used to regulate a women’s menstrual cycle and improve circulation. Again, a regular cycle makes for a generally more relaxed woman—which makes for better sex.
SAMe
SAMe is used for, among other things, infertility, premenstrual disorders and musculoskeletal disorders. Again, this is a substance that has received a good deal of research, and there are a number of indicating studies that show that, especially for musculoskeletal health, SAMe shows considerable promise.
Soy
Soy, and components of soy called isoflavones, have been studied for the treatment of many health conditions. Isoflavones are believed to have estrogen-like effects in the body, and as a result, they are sometimes called phytoestrogens. Laboratory studies aren’t able to determine whether these phytoestrogens block or stimulate the production of natural estrogen; however, there are a number of studies that show that the female libido can increase with the addition of soy to your diet. Tofu Surprise with a side of edamame, anyone?
Wild Yam
Wild Yam contains a natural steroid called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) that rejuvenates and gives vigor to lovemaking, as well as being used by many women as a way to minimize the effects of menopause, such as hot flashes. This is usually found as a cream that you rub into your skin (no, not there!) in order to experience the chemical benefits of the plant.
Hmmm Most of the herbs I had never even heard of, but I must admit they pique my interest. That said, I'm glad you started with a disclaimer. Too many people experiment with the wrong things instead of getting proper medical care.
nice review
Good article, thanks!