Great Sex, Naturally (23 page)

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Ba Zhen Wan.
Chinese medicine holds that chronic anemia leads to a chi deficiency, and many herbal formulas can help you recover from anemia and restore your chi. One of the best, called Ba Zhen Wan, or “Women’s Precious Pills,” is available through Chinese herbalists and online. (For supplier information, see
Appendix C
.) The formula is made by many companies; take the recommended dose on the product label, and continue taking it for at least six months to rebuild your chi.

To reinforce the effects of Women’s Precious Pills, you can do acupressure for anemia and chi deficiency. Press the following points for one to three minutes each day: Ren 6, Ren 12, Spleen 6, Liver 8, Stomach 36, and Large Intestine 11. (To locate these points, see
Appendix A
.)

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Additional supplement support.
If your heavy menstrual flow results in anemia due to iron deficiency, in addition to taking 40 mg of iron daily, you may benefit from taking the amino acid tyrosine. Although tyrosine doesn’t address anemia itself, as a precursor to dopamine it assists with your dopamine level and supports your ability to experience pleasure. (Note: To properly convert tyrosine into dopamine, you need to have adequate iron and oxygen in your body.) The recommended daily dose is 1,000 mg taken in the morning. Some women feel revved up when they begin taking tyrosine, so it’s best to start with a low dose and increase it gradually. If you’re already taking tyrosine as outlined above for symptoms of depression with PMS or for heavy menstrual bleeding associated with low thyroid hormone, you won’t need to take more.

Addressing Adrenal Challenges: The Sexual Benefits

Your adrenal glands are essential for your health and libido; they give you energy you need for everything in your life, including sex. In addition, they improve your tolerance for stress, especially during challenging phases of your life, and help sustain you through the hormonal transitions of midlife.

If your sex life is waning as a result of long-term unrelenting stress, you may suffer from
adrenal fatigue
—a condition in which your adrenal glands become exhausted and unable to function properly. This is often due to a prolonged experience of excessive work without sufficient time to rest and recuperate, and not enough time spent simply enjoying life. If you have this condition, you may feel completely “spent,” devoid of sexual energy, and as if you simply have nothing left to give. Because adrenal fatigue can have so many undesirable effects on desire, solving it can vastly improve your potential for pleasure.

As we’ve elaborated on in this chapter, your adrenal glands produce cortisol, a key player in your hormonal dance and a vital factor for your libido. One of the most important aspects of maintaining your sexual energy is supporting your adrenal glands in their day-to-day cortisol production. Steady, balanced cortisol provides many benefits for your health and allows you to fully enjoy your sexuality, but too much or too little can drain your libido and leave you feeling burned-out. Chronically high cortisol production can eventually cause your adrenal glands to become fatigued because they simply can’t sustain that level of stress-hormone output; this can ultimately lead to adrenal-gland exhaustion and, paradoxically,
low
cortisol production, resulting in chronic fatigue and lack of energy. This is why continuously elevated cortisol production is linked with many other health issues, including suppressed immunity, irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, anxiety, and low sexual response.

If you have adrenal fatigue, you may need adrenal support to balance your cortisol, restore your energy, and stimulate your libido. It can be especially beneficial if your life is demanding, you’re under a high level of stress, and you need that extra “push,” day after day. You can support your adrenal health on a short-term basis—it can help you weather the storm of finals week, or a period of stressful travel—but in order to increase your sex drive, adrenal support should be undertaken long-term. By nurturing your adrenal health over time, you can gradually replenish your depleted sexual energy.

You can begin supporting your adrenal glands by making the right lifestyle choices. First and foremost, manage stress wisely. Some is unavoidable, but you can choose how you respond to it and whether to take on new stressful projects in your life. Create a lifestyle that gives you plenty of time to relax and rejuvenate. Remember to stop and smell the roses, and incorporate gentle, yin exercises into your daily routines. You can accomplish your goals, but not without adequate downtime. Pushing yourself every day eventually becomes counterproductive by triggering the high cortisol production that can result in adrenal fatigue, chronic exhaustion, low sexual energy, insomnia, and other symptoms.

Your dietary choices can also bolster your sex drive by supporting your adrenal function. Make sure you eat three meals and at least two snacks a day to keep your blood sugar even; if you skip meals, your cortisol may rise to an unhealthy level to compensate for a lack of sugar to “feed” your brain. As you discovered in
Chapter 2
, it’s best to eat foods with a low glycemic index. High-glycemic foods like sugary doughnuts cause your body to release excessive insulin, resulting in a subsequent drop in blood sugar that leaves you feeling hungry, tired, and craving more sugar. Your body then releases more cortisol, in a vicious cycle that keeps you in a perpetual state of adrenal fatigue.

You can further enhance your adrenal function by avoiding foods that cause allergic reactions. When you consume a food allergen, the effects can be similar to those of eating high-glycemic sugary foods: an insulin surge results in low blood sugar, then a spike in your cortisol level, and you may wind up feeling fatigued, shaky, and craving sweets.

Herbs, supplements, and natural bioidentical hormones can also help to buoy your adrenal glands and support your libido. Let’s look at the most effective options, beginning with two adrenal-supportive herbs. In the next chapter, you’ll discover more herbal remedies (including Chinese “sexual tonics”) that have the ability to further boost your adrenal function.

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Siberian ginseng.
For centuries, this herb has been used to strengthen the body, boost health, and increase longevity. Modern science has confirmed its benefits: Siberian ginseng contains compounds that can help you overcome stress by supporting your adrenal glands’ hormone production, as well as stimulate your immune system to help fight off infections. (One study found it effective in reducing herpes outbreaks.) Siberian ginseng may also increase your mental alertness, energy, sense of well-being, and sex drive.

For supporting your adrenal glands to enhance your libido, the recommended dose is 100 to 200 mg, containing a standardized extract of 0.5 percent eleutheroside, taken two to three times daily. Siberian ginseng has very few unfavorable side effects and is safe for lactating women. Some people experience slight diarrhea if they take an excessive amount or insomnia if they take it near bedtime. Those who have uncontrolled high blood pressure or are taking barbiturates or the drug digoxin shouldn’t use it.

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Rhodiola rosea
.
This potent herb has long been used in folk medicine to foster fertility, physical endurance, energy, and longevity, and to alleviate maladies of the nervous system. A large body of scientific research has validated its health-enhancing effects; for example, it can improve your capacity for mental and physical exertion, and reduce your recovery time after intense exercise. Rhodiola is known as an
adaptogen
because it assists you in adapting to stress—which is why it’s so beneficial in fighting adrenal fatigue and diminished libido. It helps you beat stress by affecting levels of hormones and neurotransmitters your body releases in response to stressful situations. It can also inhibit the breakdown of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine—all of which can enhance your sex drive.

Studies suggest that rhodiola can have other beneficial effects on your hormonal system as well—for instance, by supporting your thyroid-gland function (which in turn further protects your adrenal glands from being overburdened), and enhancing your immunity through its actions on your thymus gland. Research also indicates that rhodiola may boost fertility by improving egg maturation and increasing the number of follicles (vesicles that contain developing eggs) growing in the ovaries.

Many people who take rhodiola find that it elevates their energy, moods, mental clarity, and sexuality. For adrenal and libido support, the recommended daily dose is 100 to 170 mg in a standardized form containing 2.6 percent rosavin. Rhodiola is considered a very safe herb, but its rare side effects include insomnia and anxiety. It shouldn’t be used by anyone taking antidepressants or stimulants, or those with bipolar disorders.

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Vitamin C.
When you go through acute or chronic stress, you can lose a lot of vitamin C through your urine; if you experience stress-induced adrenal fatigue, be sure you’re getting an adequate amount of this vital supplement. In addition, vitamin C is important in your body’s production of adrenal hormones. If you’re under stress and have low adrenal function, take a minimum of 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice daily to support your adrenal health.

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Pantothenic acid.
Also known as vitamin B
₅
, pantothenic acid plays a key role in your body’s production of adrenal hormones. If you have adrenal fatigue due to stress, the recommended dose is 250 mg twice daily.

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Phosphatidylserine.
This supplement derived from soy can improve your body’s ability to handle the symptoms of anxiety or insomnia often linked with excessive stress, a high cortisol level, and adrenal fatigue. If your cortisol level is too high during the day, you may be subject to anxiety; if it’s too high at night, you may be prone to insomnia. You can reduce anxiety associated with stress-induced high cortisol by taking phosphatidylserine during the day. To prevent insomnia associated with stress-induced high cortisol, take it before bedtime. The recommended dose is 90 to 180 mg daily. Phosphatidylserine is well tolerated by most people, and should be taken along with a high-protein snack.

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Progesterone.
If you experience the libido-restricting effects of adrenal fatigue due to stress, you may benefit appreciably from taking natural bioidentical progesterone. As you saw in the “hormone cascade” diagram, progesterone acts as a precursor to cortisol. Because of this, it supports your adrenal glands in their daily cortisol production, enhancing your health and sexual energy.

Taking natural bioidentical progesterone can also increase progesterone’s other benefits in your body. For example, it can help in midlife when your ovaries significantly reduce their hormone production and start looking for a new “career.” At this point, as we’ve touched on previously, your adrenal glands suddenly find themselves promoted to the job of taking over where your ovaries left off—one more reason why you’ll gain from having strong adrenal health.

The amount of progesterone you need, and how long you should take it, depends on your individual requirements and situation. Natural progesterone creams are found at health-food stores, but for best results, see a licensed naturopathic doctor or other qualified holistic practitioner for guidance; taking natural progesterone without first getting an assessment of your entire hormonal system can create more imbalance. It’s most effective when used as a transdermal (applied to your skin) oil or cream each night before you go to bed. You should take natural progesterone only if you need it and begin with a low dose, then slowly build up to the dose that works best for you. Recommended daily doses for adrenal and libido support typically range from 25 to 100 mg. (Later in this chapter, you’ll find guidelines for using transdermal progesterone, and additional information in
Appendix F
.)

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DHEA.
You can also use natural bioidentical DHEA to address the effects of stress-induced adrenal fatigue and low sexual energy. The “hormone cascade” diagram earlier in this chapter shows how DHEA, like progesterone, is a precursor to cortisol, which means that it, too, supports your adrenal glands in producing cortisol and enhancing your health and libido. In addition, taking natural DHEA can promote the other benefits of DHEA that we explored earlier—whether you’re in midlife, or at any other time. To take DHEA for adrenal support, apply 4 to 8 mg daily to your skin (preferably to your labia) as a transdermal oil or cream. Start with a low dose and increase the amount only if needed; too much DHEA in your body can have undesirable effects. You can purchase DHEA at health-food stores, but for best results, seek the guidance of a licensed naturopathic doctor or other appropriate practitioner.

Liberating Your Libido from Thyroid Imbalances

As you’ve discovered, your thyroid gland is a powerhouse for your libido; your thyroid hormone helps generate the energy you need for everything you do, sexually and otherwise. But although the benefits of a balanced thyroid-hormone level are multifaceted, if you have too much or too little, it can throw off your capacity for sexual pleasure and pervade your health with a wide range of adverse repercussions.

Identifying and correcting low thyroid hormone can be crucial not only to your sexuality and overall quality of life, but also for keeping the rest of your hormonal system in balance and working well. If you experience many of the symptoms that show check marks for low thyroid hormone on the “hormone symptom chart” that appeared earlier in this chapter, it’s a good idea to begin your own therapy by supporting your thyroid health with nutritional supplements. You can take the following supplements to help rectify a low thyroid level and revitalize your sex life:

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Tyrosine.
This amino acid gives your thyroid gland the nutrition it needs to manufacture your thyroid hormones T4 and T3. The recommended daily dose is 1,000 mg taken in the morning. Tyrosine can have a stimulating effect when you first begin taking it, so you should start with a lower amount and gradually work up to this dose.