Sexual desire and intimacy are important aspects of life. But for men and women, there are many factors that can interfere with libido, physical satisfaction and mood. One of the best botanicals to counter these issues—for both men and women—is red ginseng.
RED GINSENG
Red ginseng (Panax ginseng), like the other botanicals that I recommend for restoring and enhancing desire and satisfaction, is an adaptogen.
Adaptogens are special herbs that help bolster resilience in the face of stress, reduce fatigue, and promote an overall sense of vigor.
While red ginseng has been well known as an enhancing herb for male sexual satisfaction, there is growing research that shows it is just as helpful for women, too.
For example, women in a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study reported that red ginseng significantly improved their sexual arousal and desire. The success of red ginseng was strong enough for researchers to consider that the herb may be used as an alternative to prescription medication for women to improve intimacy and libido.
Other clinical work showed that red ginseng also boosted a sense of well-being, reduced menopause symptoms, and increased arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction as well.
Additionally, because ginseng has also been shown to improve overall quality of life during menopause, it can help restore a woman’s desire as she ages—a common complaint from women experiencing menopause.
Bear in mind that not all red ginseng is the same. Like any natural ingredient, there can be wide variations in quality and potency. The red ginseng that I prefer is hydroponically grown in ultra-clean conditions without pesticides. The ginseng roots are provided with the proper nutrients and levels of stress they need at exactly the right time. That’s important, because stressing a plant—controlling temperature, humidity, hydration, and nutrients—can ramp up production of beneficial compounds.
This special process is so effective that it concentrates rare compounds called noble ginsenosides at seven times that of conventionally grown and processed ginseng. Noble ginsenosides are up to 17 times better absorbed than classic ginsenosides, making this a very effective botanical for daily energy, focus, and of course, enhancing and improving desire and intimacy.
ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic botanical known for its ability to restore energy, and help people feel more mentally and physically resilient to cope with daily stress. It is also an incredibly helpful herb for restoring sexual desire.
A pilot study of ashwagandha found that the herb improved multiple aspects of sexuality, including arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction. Researchers believe that withanolides, key compounds from the herb, are primarily responsible for these effects.
MACA
Maca (Lepidium meyenii), is an adaptogenic plant from the Andes mountains in Peru, where it has a long-established and well-deserved reputation as an incredibly helpful herb for energy, mood, and enhanced sexual health.
In one clinical study, women who had experienced serious sexual arousal or orgasmic dysfunction found a significant improvement in sexual experience, satisfaction, and libido in just three months after a daily regimen of maca supplementation.
These results mirrored an earlier study that found similar outcomes. And while that previous research included men and women, 85 percent of the participants were women, so maca appears to work quite well for women.
Maca compounds, including macamides, may be responsible for some of these effects, which can include a better balance in hormone levels. Balanced hormones are a big contributor to a woman’s sexual satisfaction. So aside from the plant’s natural adaptogenic, energizing strengths, like the other herbs I’ve discussed so far, maca appears to directly improve intimacy and desire through hormone balance.
RHODIOLA
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) is a truly amazing herb. It has been clinically shown to boost concentration and focus, reduce fatigue, and promote resilience in the face of hectic schedules.
Rhodiola appears to have a direct action on receptors within our own natural brain chemistry, including dopamine and serotonin. It also may boost the expression of neuropeptide-Y (NPY), an amino acid peptide that calms the central nervous system and is reported at higher levels in individuals with a great degree of self-confidence. All of these actions on stress relief, boosting confidence, and overall increase in feel-good compounds in the brain can absolutely help someone feel better chemistry in the bedroom, too.
In addition to its tonic effects for resilience, energy, and stress relief, rhodiola relieves menopause symptoms by acting as a natural selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). That means that it can assist in alleviating hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and help improve libido.
Compounds in rhodiola that can address all of these concerns include rosavins and salidroside, so that’s why I prefer extracts that are standardized for those components.
ZINC
It may seem odd to include zinc in a list of ingredients for sexual well-being, but this mineral is truly critical for virtually every aspect of health. In the case of intimacy and desire, zinc can help balance sex and thyroid hormones for levels that are appropriate to increase mood and satisfaction.
Restore DESIRE & Enhance SATISFACTION
A woman’s sexual health is connected to a wide range of factors—stress, physical activity, daily schedules, and an overall sense of resilience and well-being.
There are hormone treatments for women who find that their sex drive has diminished, but hormone therapy is not always effective and may also bring along a number of risks. A combination of adaptogens, plus the crucial mineral zinc, can improve all of these aspects of life and directly enhance sexual desire and satisfaction safely, effectively, and naturally.
To restore desire and satisfaction, I recommend using Zinc (from Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate), Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root Extract standardized to ≥ 0.6% macamides and macaenes, Rhodiola (Rhodiola Rosea) Root Extract standardized to contain ≥ 3% rosavins and ≥ 1% salidroside, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract standardized to contain ≥ 5% withanolides, and Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Root Powder containing rare, noble ginsenosides.