It Just Seems Cruel! A member named James had me laughing over this e-mail, which I'm sure is quite sincere: "Your focus on male sexual performance as we age is misguided. As a 50 year old male I'm delighted that everyone seems to be concerned about my ability to perform sexually well into my 70's. It has been my and every other male I have ever spoken to's opinion is their wives sexual desire is never anywhere near theirs. I have yet to encounter a male saying 'I just can't keep up with her. She's killing me!!' So let's put some focus on where every male I know would agree the focus should be, namely female desire. To encourage me to ingest supplements so I can be sexually frustrated well into my 70's seems cruel!" And a member named Del agrees (at least in part) with James: "Enough already! All I read about is enhancement and desire for men. How about senior women…we need help too." The secret to stimulating the female libido is not really a secret - it just doesn't get the same attention as those products designed for men. But today we'll turn the tables with some tips that might help both Del and James. When women reach menopause, their testosterone levels may drop by as much as 50 percent. And anyone who's surprised that testosterone plays a role in female sexuality may be doubly surprised to find that testosterone is the hormone primarily responsible for prompting an active libido in women. Testosterone therapy has become a fairly common treatment for men who have lost some of their youthful drive. But according to a Newsweek article, about 20 percent of all testosterone prescriptions are written for women who want to boost their libido. The downside: Testosterone is a hormone. So what we're talking about is a form of - all together now - hormone replacement therapy (HRT). And what happened when millions of women took that other HRT for years and years? They increased their risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. The FDA has declined approval of a testosterone patch designed for women. The product was found to be only slightly more effective than a placebo patch, while the side effects included liver dysfunction, acne and unwanted hair growth. So whether they're aware if it or not, all of those women who are trying out other testosterone products are participating in a risky experiment. So if low testosterone is the problem and testosterone therapy presents potential dangers, what's a girl to do? Fortunately, there are a number of botanicals that have been shown to enhance sexual drive and enjoyment by helping to maintain balanced hormone levels, including testosterone. For instance, saw palmetto (commonly used to promote prostate health) has been prescribed for centuries as a sexual stimulant for both women and men. The ancient Mayans used an herb called damiana to energize sexual vitality. Siberian ginseng has long had a reputation for arousing sexuality and enhancing stamina in women. And the herb Nettle has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries. For women who aren't experiencing the hormonal imbalance of menopause, but still need some oomph in their sex drive, a botanical from the Amazon might provide a jumpstart. In previous e-Alerts I've told you about clavo huasca, a vine that grows wild in the Amazon rainforest and is traditionally used as a treatment for frigidity. Leslie Taylor, an HSI Panelist and board-certified naturopath who has spent years investigating herbal medications with shamans throughout Peru, used the vine bark to formulate a highly concentrated extract, which she named, naturally enough, Clavo Huasca. When Ms. Taylor provided HSI with a supply of Clavo Huasca, we conducted an informal trial with 38 volunteers, all over 50 years of age, who had no known hormonal imbalance. (Clavo has been shown to have little effect on women with low libido due to hormonal imbalance.) Each of the subjects used Clavo Huasca for one month, while keeping a journal and submitting weekly reports. The final responses were split right down the middle: 19 women experienced no changes, while 19 reported benefits. In the latter group, six said the benefits were slight, while 13 felt the formula significantly improved their sexual relations. Aside from the sexual benefits, a number of women reported that even when they didn't experience a change in libido, they slept better, had a better attitude, and felt more energetic. And among all 38 women, none reported any adverse side effects. For more information about Clavo Huasca, you can visit the web site for Raintree Nutrition, Inc., at rain-tree.com. Source:
"Help for Low Libidos" Barbara Kantrowitz and Pat Wingert, Newsweek, 9/30/05, msnbc.msn.com | 
