BY HARRY CHRISSAKIS Herbalist, Natural Medicine
I think I will probably get a boost in publicity from this article although that is not the intention. The intention is to get things to work better in a particular area – SEX. Aphrodisiacs, as understood by many, are basically irritants to male and female genitalia. Spanish Fly, Cocaine and Yohimbe would fall into this category. Not the way to go. This stuff will just burn you out. My kind of Afrodisiac feeds the sexual organs. These kinds of Aphrodisiacs works through balancing and enhancing horrmones, increased vascular circulation to the periphery, improved production and use of neurotransmitters and a general overall strengthening and improved coordination of all systems through the use of Adaptogenic herbs. The 4 things that define Adaptogens are Non-toxic, Non addictive, Normalizing and that they raise Non- Specific Resistance to all forms of stress.
I have written and spoken about this category of herbs multiple times. Serious scientific research into Adaptogens did not begin until the 1940’s in Russia (Russian Scientists coined the term Adaptogen). The U.S. did not even begin looking until sometime in the1970’s. There is also a lot of historical data collected over the last 1500 yrs as well. This empirical data (actually practiced on humans) is not considered acceptable by the U.S. scientific community (definitely a weakness in our information model)
What the Russians realized early on through their study of panax ginseng was that it did many of the things that the old Asian herbal texts said it would . Adaptogens. increased endurance and general stamina (physical and mental) under all stressful conditions ( heat, cold, hunger, long hours of study, fatigue in general) , increased fertility rates among farm animals, increased sperm counts in men (raising testosterone levels ), improved learning and memory ect. (the list is long). In order for anything to do this, it has to reach deep into our system, deep into both the central hormonal axis ( Pineal, Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal, Thyroidal Axis) and the Central Nervous System, both of which are the hard frame controlling systems in our body and both of which constantly communicate information to each other. If you can reach that deep you can affect very distal problems because both of these systems affect everything in our body. The adaptogens have the capacity to re-right the messenger molecules in order to give the right messages to the cells and increase the coordination and stress adaptation of all systems. They increase overall energy and reduce fatigue and enhance the building of lean muscle mass. This is a big, big deal. The ability to adapt to stress is how are bodies are made to function. As we age and take on more ware and tear, that capability is reduced for multiple reasons. Adaptogens balances the stress response and give the body more reserve energy for longer endurance. Adaptogens balance and enhance the Neuro-Endocrine system. This class of herbs are key in both healing a problem or increasing the general capacity of a healthy person (great for athletics) I use this class of herbs widely in general and mucho in the area of sexual enhancement and or infertility. Adaptogens are foundational to the protocols I setup for patients. They increase desire and response by balancing and feeding our systems. Presently there are about 15-20 known Adaptogens. Some are expensive, but many of the lesser known ones, which are also excellent, are much cheaper. A short list would be as follows Shizandra, Aswaganda, Shatavari, Asian, American and Siberian Ginseng , Rhodiola, Holy Basil. From a practitioners standpoint, the different kinds of Adaptogens have different personalities. Adaptogens may have more of an affinity for a particular system and/or organ. An example would be Asian ginsengs. There are multiple types of ginsengs. Asian ginsengs run hot and affect Kidney energy. In general they are too pushy for Americans. We are already too frantic. American ginseng or Siberian ginseng are far better choices. More toward Lungs and Spleen. More gentile, but still potent. All adaptogens enhance immune function. Some much more than others such as Reishi Mushroom or Astragalus root, both of which increase the production and coordination of immune cells and the coordination and balancing the Immune,Nervous and Neuro-Endocrine systems.
The adaptogens can also have a more yin or yang push to them. Asparagus root (Shatavari in Ayuvedic medicine) would fall more on the Yin side as Red Korean Ginseng would be very yang. Many adaptogens are antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory in action as well.
There are a second class of herbs which are more directional and are not considered adaptogenic, but are considered tonics. These are used supportively along with the Adaptogens. Once again there is a long history of use of these herbs in terms of sexual enhancement. There affects are not as broad, but in the area’s that they are known historically,they are solid. These are herbs like Tribulus, Eucommia, Epimedium on the yang side. These herbs are much more direct and quite strong.. Dong Oui and Rehmannia would be more on the yin side. Herbal combining is definitely an art form, because the formulas and amounts in formulas changes from person to person. Tonics tend to be warm to hot in terms of overall thermogenic effect on our body and can be quite racy. Combined properly, they will not produce that effect. A big problem with herbs and supplements is quality. When buying a product you need to see some king of potency markers on the label, i.e. Ginseng should have the ginsenoside content labeled.
On a physiologic basis, often problems in libido are a combination of a couple of things. First is poor circulation, second is low energy, third is dull hormone receptors fourth is low sex steroid production and fifth is low production of neuro-transmitters. In TCM ( Traditional Chinese Medicine) it is often a combination of low kidney chi and kidney yang and poor functioning livers (liver chi congestion).
In dealing with libido problems the approach would be the same as any other disorder. Herbal medicine, diet, supplementation and nutritional agents, combined properly to get a global effect in the body, can do a great deal for a person with low libido. Good luck
Harry Chrissakis, Herbalist, Natural Medicine
Herbalist and Herbs.com
13376 Rue Montaigne Oregon House Ca
chrissakis@digitalpath.net
530-933-8244