Updated: March 31, 2024
A healthy sexual relationship can promote every aspect of your life, including your physical health and self-esteem. And although sex in your idle or later years may be a bit atypical from how it was in your twenties, it can be every bit as pleasing and fulfilling. Simply understand the normal changes that are occurring in your body and your partner’s body. These changes can affect your capability to have and enjoy sex and, if not addressed, you might have difficulties with arousal or performance (sexual dysfunction). Results from a national research of people aged 18 to 59 years reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicate that sexual dysfunction is common among both women (43 percent) and men (31 percent).
Like the fabled fountain of youth, aphrodisiacs – foods thought to enhance sexual prowess – have always belonged more to the realm of mythology than modern day science. But as researchers continue to unlock the unique protective and curative benefits of fruits and vegetables, what once looked like wishful thinking might soon become a prescription for overall sexual and reproductive health.
Your libido (sex drive) is regulated by the hormone testosterone. Although classified as a male hormone, testosterone is produced by both men and women. As you grow older, your body produces less testosterone. Thus results significantly diminished interest in sex.
The renowned herbalist Ron Teeguarden reports that in Chinese studies, goji was shown to markedly increase testosterone levels in the blood, increasing libido in test subjects.
Testosterone is not the only hormone that influences your desire for sex and sexual pleasure. As women approach menopause, you may experience a drop in levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. This causes vaginal tissues to become thinner, drier, and less flexible, which makes sexual activity unpleasant or even painful. Longer foreplay and the use of water-based lubricants can help, and having intercourse regularly actually helps maintain lubrication and elasticity. You may find yourself feeling too exhausted or ill to enjoy sex. Changing hormone levels can also cause you to have problems sleeping, and can result in heavy, irregular, or lengthy menstrual periods.
Your desire for sex is also influenced by emotional factors. According to the Association of Reproductive Professionals, at least 50 percent of troubles with sexual desire have to do with relationships. For example, partners may have problems communicating with one another about their feelings in general, or their sexual needs. They may have monotonous sexual routines, or may no longer feel sexually attracted to each other. Feeling drained or stressed about your life situation — your job, finances, children — and other factors can also cause you to lose interest in sex.
If you feel that things like gray hair or wrinkles make you less attractive or desirable to your sexual partner, then you may find yourself looking to avoid sex. Thus, your body image is also important.
As men age, it might take you longer to achieve an erection. Your erections may be less firm and may not last as long. After climax, it may take longer before an erection is again possible. Some men may find they need more foreplay. As men get older, erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes more widespread. Also referred to as impotence, ED is the loss of capacity to have and maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.
By age 65, about 15 to 25 percent of men have this problem at least one out of every four times they are having sex as reported by the National Institute on Aging. This may happen in men with heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes – either because of the disease or the medicines used to treat it.
For enhanced male arousal and sexual performance, one should have freedom from stress and distraction. If you are overly stressed with worries about how you will perform, it can trigger impotence. More than enough reserves of stamina and endurance are also necessary for a stress-free sexual experience.
Goji berries have been traditionally considered in Asia as a longevity, strength-building, and sexual potency food of the highest order. In several study groups with elderly people, the berry was given once a day for three weeks. The results showed that spirit and optimism increased significantly in all patients.
Consequently, nearly all patients reported improved appetite and better quality of sleep. More than 35 percent of the patients saw a marked recovery of sexual function.
The goji berry is also legendary for helping to spark the passions. In fact, an old Chinese proverb cautions men who are traveling far from their wives and families: “He who travels one thousand kilometers from home should not eat goji!”
Horny Goat Weed also known as Epimedium, Yin Yang Huo, Inyokaku, Xian ling pi, Barrenwort, a medicinal plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, increases blood flow, dilates blood vessels, and fights against infections too. These effects can be useful for those who are suffering from heart problems or bronchitis but the plant helps sexual functions too, according to its properties. Although we can hear more and more about epimediums contribution on increased testosterone level and muscular volume, there are no scientific researches yet to prove this.
The title horny goat weed is a collective noun for the herbal plants from epidemium species, originated from the forests of China and Korea. This annual plant it’s extremely colorful with flowers from yellow to red and gradually darkening leaves during the summer.
An ancient Chinese legend says that the plant got his name from a goat herdsman who was an eye-witness of a goat’s horny rampage after consuming epimedium. For medical purposes in China, the leaves are collected then dried and treated with lambs fat, before used as an aphrodisiac. During centuries men confirmed that horny goat weed improves their sexual performance.
In our days epimedium is advertised as a natural alternative for viagra (for both men and women) or as a muscular increasing formula. It’s sold in many forms: crude, as a tea, extract, capsules but mostly as a component of complex formulas.
Why is used horny goat weed by sportsmen?
When testosterone level is low there are obvious signs of decreased sexual functions, libido and physical performance. Active sports men or ageing people are experiencing negative changes in performance, in sport or in bedroom caused by low testosterone level and to raise this some of them takes horny goat weed.
While there are proves that horny goat weed improves sexual performance boosting libido, the plant’s effect on increased testosterone level and muscular volume wasn’t documented.
Medical properties
According to researches the epimedium can be used in the following cases:
Low libido
Erection problems
Sterility
Premature ejaculation
Micturation
Bronchitis
Paining periods
Coronary artery problems
High blood pressure
High blood pressure after climax
Horny goat weed primarily used as an aphrodisiac it’s capable to bring you in a state of excitement and keep you there several hours. According to Chinese descriptions horny goat weed has a positive effect on yin, which is the essence of life or more exactly the sperm itself. Contains many biochemical substances, it’s hard to find out which is the most active, but most of the scientists vote the icariin. Chinese studies claims that the heart and the vascular system can benefit too from the use of the epimedium because the plant reduces the high blood pressure and provides optimal blood circulation by preventing the formation of gouts, thanks to the icariin and flavonoid compounds.
Anything that influences the circulatory system has effects also on the sexual functions. By dilating blood vessels and improving circulation horny goat weed increases sensitivity and functionality of sexual organs. It’s well known that when blood circulation is obstructed by obesity or high blood pressure it’s very difficult to maintain an erection.
An unpublished double-blind experiment shows that a herbal formula containing horny goat weed increased with 60% the sexual pleasure on healthy men, and with 40% on viagra users.
Nowadays if a woman with low libido goes to the doctor, her testosterone level will be checked for sure; this notorious male hormone is responsible for the sexual desire even in case of women.
So increasing testosterone level, horny goat weed not only helps managing low libido for both men and women, but can also be an aid for erection problems.
The plant can be effective in treating barrenness too. In china a study on humans, demonstrated that epimedium raised the sperm count and density. Others have demonstrated, that those who have been using this plant experienced positive changes in their sexual, but also in their everyday life.
According to chemist You-Ping Zhu, co-writer of The Chinese Materia Medica 5 % of horny goat weed users has been cured from bronchitis, and more spectacular than the other patients with usual treatment. The positive effects are caused by polysaccharides, the antiviral and antimicrobial compounds of horny goat weed.
More researches are needed to discover all of the secrets of epimedium plant. There are no solid proves that horny goat weed increases testosterone level or muscular volume, but for sure helped men to fight their impotence problems. Scientists are still looking for effects on lungs diseases and circulatory problems.
Horny goat weed decreases blood pressure, so those who have low blood pressure may not use it.
Epimedium grandiflorum – the Japanese epimedium caused respiratory problems in big doses, but for treating impotence are used the plants from epimedium saggitatum and epimedium brevicornum species.
Horny goat weed rarely may dry the mouth or cause nausea. There are no other known side effects.
Horny goat weed pills must be taken with meal 1-2 hours before sexual intercourse.
Could watermelon help you make whoopee? Along with tomatoes and pink grapefruit, watermelon is loaded with lycopene -; a powerful antioxidant widely recognized to protect against prostate cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that lycopene might also enhance male fertility.
Improvements in sperm concentration and motility were observed after 30 infertile study participants took part in a 30-day trial of lycopene supplementation. While the amount of watermelon needed to elicit similar effects has not been determined, whole fruit generally contains a variety of synergistic compounds that help to support delivery mechanisms.
Speaking of delivery mechanisms…it appears that another watermelon compound – the amino acid citrulline – may function as a natural alternative to Viagra. Both citrulline and Viagra help increase blood flow to the pelvic area, the former by increasing the body’s release of nitric oxide, the latter by destroying those enzymes that inhibit nitric oxide’s effects.
While lycopene is found in the red flesh of the watermelon, citrulline is most highly concentrated in the rind. With one compound combating free radicals and the other fighting erectile dysfunction, the two found within the same fruit may work synergistically to promote overall male reproductive health.
Promotion of sexual health goes hand in hand with prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. But while most sexual health campaigns focus on modifying sexual activity per se, very little is said about the role of diet in reducing the frequency and severity of STD outbreaks. When you consider that lowered resistance can trigger attacks of certain STDs, like genital herpes, it makes sense that immune-boosting foods might also help protect against viral eruptions.
New research suggests that eating veggies like broccoli might halt herpes flare-ups. A study done at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine found that indole-3-carbinol – a compound found in cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage – kept the herpes virus in hibernation during lab experiments (clinical studies would be needed to confirm the in vivo benefit for humans).
Lysine is another compound that may inhibit herpes viral activity. Soybeans, cooked and raw, are a super source of lysine. Lima beans also are loaded.
While more than a million people acquire herpes annually, five times that number will
become infected with human papilloma virus. Once again, prevention is the key to putting a cap on such stats, but given that HPV is considered the most common STD in the United States, it’s worth noting that for those already exposed to the virus, diet can make a difference.
Women who eat the most veggies are 50 percent less likely to have persistent HPV infections – thus reducing their risk of cervical cancer and infertility. While vegetables are more protective than fruits and juices, lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes and watermelon have the highest benefit.
As long as we’ve broached the subject of diet and reproductive health, keep in mind that low-carb diets also could reduce a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. Animal studies conducted at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine found that even a “moderately” high protein diet could prevent an embryo from attaching to the wall of the womb or hinder its early development.
Though further research will be needed to show that the same effect may be responsible for fertility impedance among humans, the findings suggest that women’s protein intake should be less than 20 percent of overall calorie consumption during efforts to conceive. Moreover, given the role of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects, Mother Earth’s bounty of folate-rich fruits and veggies should be first on the menu of all mothers-to-be.
Keywords: aphrodisiac foods, goji, health, natural health, health cures, natural remedies, natural therapies, natural cures, natural health cures
