Experience Healthy Sexuality

By Marilyn Zink

Fifteen to 20% of married North Americans have sex no more than 10 times a year.

That's less than once a month, which is how psychologists define the sexless marriage. Between working hard, attending meetings, running errands and carting kids to and fro, many couples are too exhausted to find time or energy for sex.

Sexless marriage has become so widespread, according to First for Women magazine, it has earned its own acronym, DINS (Double Income, No Sex).
A psychiatrist coined the term sekusuresu, or sexless marriage, which is becoming so common in Japan construction firms are incorporating separate bedrooms for couples in new houses.

Surprisingly, though, it not always the woman who is withdrawing in the bedroom. Many times it's the husband who is shutting down for reasons that include everything from work stress to hormonal imbalances.
What to do?

Herbs can help couples have a more satisfying sex life in many ways.
They help; set the mood, increase sexual desire and drive, and increase sexual pleasure

Herbs also help with health conditions that inhibit sex. These include:

Male problems of impotence, prostate and male menopause
Female problems of menopause and PMS
Chronic health problems such as arthritis or diabetes
Prescription drugs that affect your libido
Other conditions that affect your overall well-being include a lack of energy or addictions to cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.

Enhancing Libido

If you don't have the urge or lack energy, herbs will help restore your energy levels and your sex life. First identify and eliminate the cause of your fatigue - lack of sleep, stress, health problems, etc. Controlling stress and reducing tension can help too. Give your reproductive system the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and stimulate the libido. One great way to stimulate your libido is with regular exercise.

The following herbs can help improve your sex life; muria puama, gingko biloba, ginseng, maca, damiana and saw palmetto berry.

Muria puama is a popular stimulant and aphrodisiac in Brazil. It is one of the best herbs to deal with lack of libido. It has long been used as an aphrodisiac and in South American folk medicine as a nerve stimulant. In 1990 a clinical study was done on 62 male patients in Paris by Dr. Jacques Waynberg at the Institute of Sexology. Patients were given a daily dose of 1 to 1.5 gm of the Muria Puama extract for two weeks, with 62% percent claiming it had a dynamic effect and the other 51 saying it helped with 'erectile failures.'

Gingko biloba has been proven to increase blood flow. It has a positive effect on the vascular system by facilitating the delivery of blood and oxygen to the sexual organs and all organs of the body.

Ginseng has long been considered an aphrodisiac. It is helpful in frigidity and considered most beneficial taken daily for 5- 6 weeks followed by a six week break. The panax ginseng (Chinese or Korean ginseng) and Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng) are likely effective in male fertility. Results of panax ginseng in animals support the use of it as a fertility and virility aid. Do not use ginseng if you have hypoglycemia, high blood pressure or heart disorders.

Maca is an herb that will increase your energy and stimulate libido while balancing the hormonal system. It will also help with exhaustion of adrenal glands due to stress. That alone will help stressed out individuals relax and enjoy a better sex life.

Damiana leaves have been used in the U.S. since 1874 as an aphrodisiac and to improve sexual function. It is often used with other herbs in commercial preparations.

Saw palmetto is beneficial for the reproductive organs of both sexes, but particularly for men's prostate. It works as an aphrodisiac and tonic. Saw palmetto is effective in controlling and reversing the effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a swelling of the prostate gland.

Also consider taking essential fatty acids, vitamin E and the B vitamins (particularly for PMS and stress).

And enjoy a better sex life!