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Vitamins and Supplements to boost your Libido
 Women
Fitness brings to its visitors a detailed resource on the vitamins and
supplements available to boost one's Libido. Waning sexual desire or erection
problems are very common. Maybe you've been tempted to try ginseng, ginkgo, and
similar supplements. There's no lack of products out there. Hilda Hutcherson,
MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University
Medical Center, and author of the book Sex and Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to
Getting the Sex You Want and Need and Deserve, advices on women's supplements:
The supplements are generally harmless, she says. She has found that herbal oils
and supplements do seem to help some women having trouble with sexual desire and
vaginal dryness. Yet she always advises talking to your doctor before taking any
supplements -- as some have dangerous side effects.
Christopher Saigal, MD, assistant professor of urology at UCLA School of
Medicine says about men's supplements -- mostly for erectile dysfunction (ED).
He' is open minded about supplements that mimic Viagra, but he's also got
definite opinions. If you're buying an off-the-shelf supplement, the quality is
worth questioning, Saigal says. "There is so much fraud in this industry,"
Saigal says. "Go to a site that evaluates the contents, like ConsumerLab.com.
One evaluation of ginseng showed that half the brands had contaminants like
pesticides. So buyer beware. Look for high-quality products."
Supplements to boost Sexual Desire
Ginseng: There are several types of ginseng, two of which are Siberian
ginseng, which is occasionally used as an aphrodisiac, and red Korean or Asian
ginseng, which is used in Chinese traditional medicine and has slightly more
research behind it, Saigal says. "Ginseng, like a lot of herbs, is thought to
work by helping the body make more nitric oxide -- as does Viagra," he says. "A
couple of good studies showed some effect from ginseng, so people can look at
this as an alternative to Viagra. But it's not going to be as effective as
Viagra or Levitra or Cialis."
Ginseng appears to help women, too, says Hutcherson. "Ginseng gives people
energy and may improve mood, and you need energy and endurance for sex, right?"
Black Cohosh: In the past, black cohosh has been used to treat arthritis
and muscle pain and was traditionally used for �female� complaints. Today, it is
marketed to treat hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, premenstrual
syndrome, and other menopausal symptoms.
"Black cohosh has estrogen-like properties, and increases blood flow to the
pelvis -- which increases arousal and response to sexual stimulation,"
Hutcherson says. "More blood flow means more lubrication, and that's good for
sex." The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding studies of black cohosh
as a treatment for menopausal symptoms.
 Chasteberry
(Vitex): Chasteberry is native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia
-- and is approved in Germany for premenstrual and menstrual problems. It is
said to increase sexual desire by boosting the hormone progesterone and the
brain chemical dopamine. Chasteberry also decreases the brain chemical prolactin
that interferes with sexual desire. "It works for some patients," Hutcherson
says.
L- Arginine (Arginine): Arginine is an amino acid the body needs for many
functions, like boosting immunity. The body also uses arginine to produce nitric
oxide -- an effect similar to the way Viagra works. Arginine has been found to
improve blood flow to the penis.
One study showed improvements when L-arginine, glutamate, and yohimbine were
combined. (Yohimbine is FDA approved as a drug therapy for ED, so how much of
the effect was due to arginine is unknown.) Another study showed "significant
improvement in sexual function" when low dose (500 mg three times daily) L-arginine
and pycnogenol were combined -- but not when L-arginine was used alone. Higher
doses, around 5 grams daily, might be necessary for L-arginine to work by
itself.
Arginine is generally safe, although there may be drug interactions --
especially with high blood pressure drugs. In addition, men taking Cialis,
Levitra, or Viagra � or nitroglycerin (nitrates) for chest pain ( angina) --
should be cautious as combining them with L-arginine can cause a potentially
serious drop in blood pressure.
"It's something to try. And if it works for those arteries, it could also help
the heart arteries, too. Men with heart disease might benefit most from taking
arginine," says Saigal.
Ginkgo: Ginkgo has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for
thousands of years. Ginkgo leaf extract is used today to boost mental power,
help Alzheimer�s, and treat tinnitus, asthma, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction.
Some studies show that gingko enhances the effects of nitric oxide -- which
allows better blood flow to the penis.
"Ginkgo is one of those herbs that are pretty popular," says Saigal. "The thing
is there's no great data for sexual function on it." Ginkgo is thought to help
with sexual dysfunction related to antidepressant use, he notes. "One study
showed that ginkgo made no difference; the other showed some slight difference.
There may be a large placebo effect, but there have been anecdotal reports that
it helps some people."
Yohimbe: Yohimbe is derived from bark of the yohimbe tree, native to
Africa -- and traditionally used as an aphrodisiac. In current times, "this
extract has been shown to be moderately effective in treating ED," says Saigal.
"It may perhaps increase erections and libido, because it has some effect on the
brain.
Some studies indicate that yohimbe may help ED in men taking antidepressants as
well as other types of ED, although research in this area is limited. Caution:
Some yohimbe bark extracts may not contain significant amounts of yohimbine, so
they may not have these effects. "There's a buyer-beware issue," Saigal says. "A
lot of supplements use names that sound like yohimbe but are basically
worthless. Look at the content label. Make sure it's from the yohimbe tree."
Also, look for the name of the active ingredient -- yohimbine or yohimbine
hydrochloride.
In some people, yohimbine can cause high blood pressure, stomach upset, anxiety,
or other psychological problems. Use cautiously and under the direction of your
health care provider.
Maca: Maca is a vegetable native to Peru that is traditionally used as an
aphrodisiac, says Saigal. "There have been rat studies, but studies to support
its use are very limited," he says. "But because it's a vegetable, maca won't
hurt you."
 Pycnogenol:
Pycnogenol is an extract of the bark from French maritime pine. It is believed
that pycnogenol helps protect blood vessels and boost production of nitric oxide
-- similar to L-arginine, yohimbe, ginkgo, and ginseng.
"Some studies show that taking L-arginine and pycnogenol together boosts nitric
oxide production," says Saigal. "Those weren't randomized trials [meaning the
combination wasn�t compared to placebo], but there was an effect." So there
might be some effect in combining the two.
ArginMax: If female patients are interested in herbs, Hutcherson guides
them to ArginMax (a combination of Panax ginseng, L-arginine, ginkgo biloba,
damiana, multivitamins, and minerals). Two large clinical studies found that
ArginMax improved sexual function in menopausal and other women with low sexual
desire, Hutcherson explains.
Zestra for Women: Zestra, a blend of botanical oils and extracts, is
designed to increase female sexual desire, arousal, pleasure, and satisfaction
when applied to the female genitalia, says Hutcherson. Zestra�s ingredients
include borage seed oil, evening primrose oil, angelica extract, coleus extract,
vitamin C, and vitamin E.
In a preliminary study, Zestra was shown to increase sexual sensation, arousal,
pleasure, and satisfaction in "normal women" and women with arousal problems.
Zestra also helped with sexual side effects related to antidepressants. "You rub
it on your clitoris, which is supposed to increase blood flow," Hutcherson
explains. But "I don't know whether it's the Zestra that works or because
they're rubbing the clitoris."
In a study funded by Zestra Laboratories Inc., 217 women were randomized to
either Zestra or a placebo oil. In some aspects, such as sexual desire and
arousal, the Zestra group fared better. In other aspects of the study, there was
no difference between Zestra and placebo. The only side effect mentioned was
mild to moderate genital burning in more women in the Zestra group.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E oil -- when applied to the vagina -- helps improve
lubrication. "It is very effective," Hutcherson says.
DHEA Supplements
DHEA ( dehydroepiandrosterone) is a natural hormone that is converted into male
and female sex hormones in the body. DHEA is sold as an antiaging supplement
that improves energy, strength, and muscle, plus it increases immunity and burns
fat.
However, the NIH says, "there is no conclusive evidence that DHEA supplements do
any of these things,� and "there is little scientific evidence to support the
use of DHEA as a 'rejuvenating' hormone." Long-term effects of DHEA supplements
have not been studied -- but there are "early signs that these supplements, even
when taken briefly, may have detrimental effects on the body, including liver
damage."
Even if DHEA does rev your libido, it won't help erections, Saigal says. "If the
goal is a better erection, getting more testosterone won't help. I advise using
a pharmaceutical instead. I would say, start with Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra
first -- especially since we don't know the long-term effects of DHEA."
Keeping Your Libido Healthy
 Pills
aren't the only answer. If flagging sexual desire is the problem, "find
something that adds spice," Hutcherson says. "Find something interesting that
stimulates your mind, since the brain is the largest sex organ."
Female Libido-Boosting Suggestions
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Sleep in the bedroom. Have sex anywhere else -- the den, kitchen, or
laundry room.
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Seize the moment wherever, whenever, it hits.
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Buy something new. New lingerie definitely qualifies.
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Send hot sizzling notes to each other during the day.
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Buy a sex toy. Read an erotic novel together. Watch an erotic video.
"There are so many things, you can never run out of ideas," Hutcherson says.
"What helps most -- the best aphrodisiac -- is going on a field trip to an adult
store together. Try different things, touch, giggle, have a good time. You find
you can't wait to get home to try them."
Protecting Your Sexual Desire
To keep your libido in prime form, you've got to walk, jog -- do some kind of
aerobic exercise -- daily. Maybe it doesn't sound sexy, but a two-mile walk
every day keeps the blood flowing, Saigal says. Losing weight, if you're obese
and eating a low-fat diet also helps restore sexual function, he adds. "You'll
feel better about yourself, and your partner will be more interested in you.
You'll also help your heart." And that�s very sexy.
Women Fitness hope that using these vitamins, supplements and libido-boosting
suggestions shall act as a catalyst to make our viewers sex life more fulfilling
and happy.
Dated 06 May 2015
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