A naturopaths guide to boosting your libido


Written by our registered naturopath, Lucy Fitzgibbons.

Low libido is probably one of the most common complaints I hear from clients.

For most, it isn’t the number one reason why they have come to see me, usually, there is a myriad of health goals they would like to achieve and increasing their sex drive is often amongst them.

There is a reason why low libido doesn’t just present as the only symptom in a healthy person. That is because low libido has a root cause. Your libido levels are connected to your physical, mental and emotional health. A healthy person will have a healthy libido.

PHYSICAL

  • Hormonal imbalance – male and female

  • Testosterone & oestrogen levels

  • Post childbirth or menopause

  • Thyroid problems

  • Overweight

  • Poor sleep

  • Chronic health conditions

  • Medications – hormonal contraceptives, anti-depressants, cholesterol & blood pressure medication

  • Nutrient deficiency

  • Fatigue

  • Lifestyle factors – alcohol, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, overexercise

MENTAL

  • Stress

  • Conflict

  • Low mood & depression

  • Anxiety

  • History of trauma

EMOTIONAL

  • Self-esteem

  • Relationship with your partner

  • Body image

So, what can you do to boost your libido?

First, try to put together a timeline of when you first started to notice your sex drive dwindling.

Second, identify what may be causing your low libido, consider your timeline – were there any changes that coincide – did stress ramp up? Did you stop exercising regularly? Did you start on a new medication? Did you change your diet?

Third, address the root cause. This might mean that you need to alter your diet and lifestyle to be more supportive of health and sex. I also highly recommend seeking the help of a practitioner who can guide you on this journey, and work with you to address the root cause. Professionals that can help include:

Naturopath
Nutritionist
Sexologist
Psychologist / counsellor
GP

Fourth, nail the basics! As humans we need to meet our basic needs for optimal health, and

therefore a thriving libido. These are known as the Flirty Five:

  1. 8 hours of sleep

  2. 20 minutes of sunshine exposure

  3. 30 minutes of exercise

  4. Healthy foods are libido-boosting foods – 2 pieces of fruit and 5 handfuls of veggies per day

  5. 2-3L of water

Feel sexy with shrooms

Herbal medicine can be fantastic for raising libido. A few natural aphrodisiacs include:

  • Shatavari

  • Damiana

  • Cordyceps - a bit of an all-rounder, touting a broad range of health benefits, but is commonly touted for its boosting effect on our energy levels, muscle recovery, kidney and liver function and most importantly sexual libido.

Ps. If you’re looking for makers of amazing natural mushroom powders, we highly recommend our foxy friends at Mother Made Mushrooms. Try it out using the code ‘Mushlove15’ for a cheeky discount code.

If you are unsure if herbal medicine is right for you, make sure to seek guidance from your health practitioner.

Meet Lucy.

Our natural health and wellness expert.

Lucy is a certified and registered naturopath based in NSW, Australia.

She’s passionate about helping ladies and gents with libido and fertility issues through safe, effective and holistic treatments.

Find out more about Lucy here.

Daisy Hylton