3 Herbs for Better Sex

A low sex drive affects both men and women for a variety of reasons. But you can recharge your libido with these botanicals.

- By Mark Stengler, NMD

Low libido, or reduced sexual desire, is estimated to affect about one-third of women between the ages of 40 and 64, while some research shows that it affects 75 percent of menopausal women. Low libido is also common in middle-aged and older men, where it’s associated with low testosterone levels, which affect about 40 percent of men over age 45.

Low libido can be caused by several factors, including hormone imbalances, the side effects of pharmaceuticals (e.g., high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, antihistamines), relationship problems, alcohol and drug abuse, mood disorders, and insomnia. While any effective treatment for low libido should address the root cause(s), the following three libido-enhancing herbs can provide benefit for both women and men.