Herbalist in Question

A: Unfortunately your letter contained no specifics about the cause of the sexual dysfunction. There are many reasons for sexual inadequacy, the foremost being stress. It would not make sense for a male who is under great stress at work to suddenly become a passionate loving sexual partner when all that is on his mind is where the next pay cheque is coming from or if he can keep up the pace of holding down two jobs to pay the mortgage.

What he needs is the ability to relax and let go of the stress’s of life, not an aphrodisiac. Stress of course, is not always resolvable but quite often, simple remedies such as skullcap, passionflower, or oatseeds for example, may help to calm and feed the nervous system and might be just what is needed for him to again be an aroused sexual partner. If the problem is lack of circulation, natural remedies such as cayenne pepper or ginger can help.

Sometimes the reason is non-specific and due to poor general health. Bitter herbal tonics are extremely useful for this state and have a beneficial affect in sexual problems due to their ability to improve the digestive processes, improving absorption and assimilation of nutrients. Bitter tonics have a secondary affinity for the sexual organs and appear to affect the entire glandular system in a positive way.

Problems ranging from lack of desire or inability to impotence can be of a psychological or physiological nature. Emotional disturbances such as worry, stress, fatigue, depression, or guilt, and diseases such as diabetes, nerve damage, alcoholism, hormonal imbalance, circulatory disturbances, also surgery, drugs, nutritional deficiencies, etc., are some of the contributing factors and many times can be resolved with traditional medical treatment protocols. Unfortunately for many people, the system has failed them and they have decided to take an alternative approach.

Aromatherapy, or the use of aromatic essential oils either inhaled or massaged into the skin for a beneficial effect can also have aphrodisiac qualities. Jasmine oil for example, is said to be a strong and potent sexual stimulant.

This dangerous so-called aphrodisiac is an insect called the emerald green blister beetle and has a long history as an aphrodisiac. Hippocrates and Pliny wrote of its virtues although even small amounts ingested have been known to cause mental illness and death.

Cantharis contains a chemical that when excreted through the kidneys will irritate the entire urinary tract causing blood to flow into the penis, inducing a painful non sexual erection called priapism. There is extreme pain and sometimes blood in the urine. It is so strong it can blister the skin if applied externally.

This West African herb is sometimes used as an aphrodisiac, and was once available in health food stores but is now considered a drug due to its alkaloid activity. Yohimbe and its extracts are not generally available in Canada, as the Canadian government felt it was not safe to take unless it was prescribed by a medical doctor. The bark extract is available by prescription (under the Emergency Drug Release Program) if your MD is willing to prescribe it and you find a pharmacy, which stocks it.

Yohimbe is considered to be one of the most effective and powerful of all herbal aphrodisiacs. Its action is due to its powerful stimulating affect on the nervous system causing penile erection. This can contribute to an inflammatory response in the genital area and should be used with caution. Another caution is the interaction of alcohol or anti-histamines because of yohimbe’s high alkaloid content.

A native to Brazil, Muira puama, according to Daniel Mowray in his book Herbal Tonic Therapies (1993), is a safe and acceptable alternative to Yohimbe. Muira puama has been used to increase testosterone levels, and can be found on the shelf with body building products along side another male stimulant Smilax (Sarsaparilla).

Traditionally used for impotence, poor sexual performance or diminished vitality, Muira puama is considered an excellent aphrodisiac and was much revered by British explorers who saw it’s effectiveness and decided to take it back to England. It can be found in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (1983) listed as an astringent, aromatic and aphrodisiac, indicated for dysentery and impotence.

Interestingly, clinical research in 1995 by Dr. Jacques Waynberg, a leading authority on sexual function, showed promising results. Trials were conducted trials at the institute of sexology with 262 men with decreased libido or inability to attain or maintain an erection. They were given an extract of muira puama over a 2-week period. The results were quite amazing with 62% of the men having a positive effect on their libido and 51% had improvement with erections. There were no reported side effects with this herb. When compared to the prescription drug yohimbe hydrochloride, with it’s possible side effects, muira puama extract proved to be more effective for loss of libido and impotency.

A second clinical trial conducted at the same institute with 100 patients reported that 70% indicated a strengthening of their libido, 66% reported a greater frequency of sex, and 66% reported less fatigue.

Found in Southern USA, Mexico, and the sub tropics of America and Africa is another plant whose very name hints at its values as a sex herb. This herb contains testosterone-like substances, which increase stamina and directly stimulate the sexual organs, increasing sperm count and strengthening the egg in females. It was found to be especially good for impotence when caused by sexual excesses.

My clinical experience with this particular herb has shown definite positive results in sexual deficiencies for both males and females. Damiana is very useful for nervous debility and exhaustion, a probable cause for waning sexual enthusiasm.

Along with other ginsengs, it has a long history of being used as a male sexual stimulant. This adaptogenic herb is a favourite of mine with its wonderful balancing properties, over or under active conditions are brought back to normal. It is superior in the treatment of physical, mental or emotional stress, which is, of course one of the contributing factors to low or absent libido.

This plant is found along the Eastern coast of North America, North Africa and Southern Spain and is considered an aphrodisiac because of its marvellous restorative and building qualities. This herb has a nutritive and building effect, relieving fatigue, improving nutrient assimilation, increasing body mass, and gently increasing sexual vigour. Apart from its nutritive content, saw palmetto also contains the androgen hormone sitosterol. For those males who feel that size is important, this may be the herb for you. Saw palmetto has not only been shown to regulate the size of an organ, reducing an enlarged prostate but also paradoxically to increase the size of abnormally small reproductive organs. But before you run out to buy a kilo or two of the berries or swallow the entire bottle, I had better mention that most of the research references are related to enlarging small breasts in females.

A native to the United States, False unicorn is primarily used for female problems such as infertility but can also used to treat male impotence. It is considered one of the best tonics for the reproductive systems of both male and female. King wrote in his dispensatory 91898, reprinted in 1984) that “Chamaelirium... has a decidedly beneficial influence in cases of sexual lassitude in both sexes...”. Generally considered a female herb and found to possess estrogen precursors, this herb has the ability to normalize hormonal imbalance.

In Europe, this herb is not only traditionally used for balancing female hormones but also for male sexual problems. It is especially useful in cases of “premature old age due to abuse of sexual power”. Although the opposite may be true, according to a recent epidemiological study headed by Professor G. D. Smith involving 1000 Welshmen aged 45 to 49 spanning a 10-year period. It was found that the mortality risk was 50% lower in the group with high orgasmic frequency than in the group with low orgasmic frequency.

The symptoms relieved by using this herb are impotence, parts cold, or cold parts if you prefer, lack of desire, scanty emission without ejaculation, cold, swollen hard and painful testicles. According to herbalist David Hoffman, chaste has the reputation of being both an aphrodisiac and an anaphrodisiac (decreases libido) but will enable what is appropriate to occur. In other words it has a normalizing and balancing effect.

The active ingredients in this male tonic are thought to increase energy and endurance, improving virility and vitality. It is generally used in body building programs, as it contains saponins that have been used in the synthesis of sex hormones including testosterone.

Aphrodisiacs are not always what they claim to be. While herbs recently substantiated by clinical trials like yohimbe and muira puama appear to be the real thing, the reality is, that there is more to feeling sexy than just taking a stimulant. There can be many causes of sexual dysfunction and if a person is in perfect physical, mental and emotional health they probably have no need of an aphrodisiac. To bring back that healthy human feeling of sexuality one should first make sure that normal health is restored. This can be achieved with nutritional support, exercise, relaxation, stress management, yoga, meditation, and massage to name a few. For those who are in relatively good health but feel the need to increase their libido, go ahead and try one of the above mentioned herbs.

Peter Laker is a practicing Clinical Herbalist and Iridologist at Herbs and Health in North York, Ont. He is also, the President of The Central Canadian Herbal Practitioner‘s Association.