Holistic healing

How to boost your libido naturally

Lacking a little in the libido department? Try these quick tips and see your passion levels soar

Lacking a little in the libido department? Try these quick tips and see your passion levels soar, says Liz Alvis.
Loss of sexual desire is something that strikes many of us at one time or another. When you’re exhausted from working long hours or looking after small children, often the last thing on your mind is a night of passion with your partner. We spoke to the natural health experts to find some tips on how to put the sizzle back in the bedroom!

Get squeezing!

“A great way to improve your libido is to start with your pelvic floor muscles,” says Jessica Lewis from Beautcamp Pilates (beautcamppilates.co.uk). “If in good shape, your pelvic floor can add pressure to the G-spot and help with the female orgasm. Pulse your pelvic muscles and do squeezing exercises (such as holding in your lower abdominal muscles). Lie on your back and lift your bottom whilst clenching your cheeks.”

Alternatively, you could try a pelvic floor exerciser such as the Cleo Q Discreet. This electronically stimulates the pelvic floor muscles, making them stronger and tightening the vaginal walls. Priced at £199.99 it is available from club-cleo.com.

Strike a pose

Stress and anxiety can play a big part in loss of libido, which is why a regular yoga practice can do wonders for boosting a flagging sex drive.

Kyrin Hall, a yoga expert with Lifesmart (lifesmart.co.uk), recommends practising Baddha Konasana, or bound angle pose. She explains: “In a seated position, bend the knees and bring the soles of the feet together. Let the knees relax to the floor and the muscles around the hips soften. With the exhalation, relax the upper body over the legs and breathe into the sexual organs. This opens the pelvic region and encourages nutritive circulation to the sexual organs. It also taps into the sexual energy channels and organs.”

Bring back balance

“Overwork, illness and excesses can push the

body to a point where libido is affected. Using herbs will help bring the system back into balance,” says herbalist Jill Davies of Herbs Hands Healing and an independent Nutri Centre expert (nutricentre.com).

Jill recommends the herb Siberian Ginseng which enables rapid recovery from stress and provides adrenal and hormonal restoration, while shatavari increases vitality and fertility. Both are available from herbs-handshealing.co.uk.

Eat right

Try the following libido-boosting foods, suggested by nutritionist Alison Duker (eatbetternow.wordpress.com)

Stock up on
Almonds and walnuts These contain magnesium, which is a key mineral for stress support, as well as zinc and essential fats for healthy hormone production.
Garlic This contains allicin which helps to increase circulation and blood flow to the sexual organs.
Dark chocolate contains phenylethylamine; an amino acid that has been identified as the ‘love chemical’ which promotes the release of endorphins.
Beetroot, peppers and carrots contain beta-carotenes which are required for the synthesis of sex hormones.
Oysters The best known aphrodisiacs, these contain high levels of zinc which is essential for good sperm production.

Cut down on

White carbs such as white rice, bread and pasta. These raise blood-sugar levels upon digestion creating an adverse effect on energy and stress levels.
Excess red meat and dairy A diet high in saturated fat can interrupt hormone production and cell function causing a reduction in nutrients essential for increasing sexual appetite.
Alcohol Excessive drinking increases the level of sugar in the blood stream. It can also increase the detoxification capacity of the liver and affect hormone production and breakdown.

Get physical!

Exercise is key to boosting a flagging libido says personal trainer and fitness expert Dax Moy (londonpersonaltrainingstudio.com). “Exercise increases self esteem – feeling good about yourself and confident about how your body looks and feels is a prerequisite to good sex,” he advises. “It also boosts testosterone, which is an important hormone for sex. Any fast-tempo, resistance or bodyweight circuit style training helps boost testosterone.”

Get thinking

Sexual desire varies depending on our mental and emotional state. Try these tips to boost your sexual desire using the power of your mind says Murielle Maupoint of Live It Ventures (liveit.com)

1. It can be very easy to talk your libido into a coma: phrases such as “I’m too tired”, “I’ve got to get up early” and so on are a dampener to any sex drive. By changing your inner voice to something more positive like: “I’m feeling really horny” and doing so with the appropriate voice tonality you can literally talk yourself into the mood.

2. Your mind and body can’t tell the difference between something that really happens and something you imagine with intensity. Hence we can experience intense emotions and physical responses whilst dreaming. Use this aspect of your psychology to imagine yourself experiencing intense sexual desire. Get into the physical feeling created by your imagination and use whatever fantasies you have to assist you.

3. The texture of life exists in the detail. When engaging in any intimate activity really tune into the details of the experience to heighten your mood and experience of it. Tune into the smell of your partner, the warmth of their breath against you, the feel of their skin against yours. By turning the experience into a multi-sensory feast you are sure to increase your libido!

Use your touch

“Tapping into the senses of touch and smell can be a powerful and enjoyable way of reawakening libido,” says massage therapist and aromatherapist Katie Whitehouse of Vital Touch (vitaltouch.com).

“Set the scene by using essential oils in a burner or vaporiser. Try one drop of ylang ylang (a traditional aphrodisiac) and two drops of bergamot.

For a sensual massage blend, combine two drops of sandalwood, one drop of ylang ylang and a few drops of jojoba oil with 10ml base oil (such as sweet almond or sunflower oil). Make sure your partner is comfortable before using really relaxed hands to stroke up either side of the spine, over the shoulders and back down again before repeating. Use the whole hand, allowing your palms and fingers to mould to the shape of their back and shoulders. When the whole back feels warm, and they have begun to relax, use alternate hands to stroke slowly and sensually down from the nape of the neck down to the base of the spine. Before the first hand has ended this journey, the other hand should be starting, so you are creating a continuous, sensual flow.”