Low libido or sexual desire (lack of sex drive): causes and natural remedies

Both men and women can feel low desire for having sexual relations. It seems to happen more in women than in men, although men can also feel unavailable for sexual closeness with their partner.
Sexual relations and intimacy
Feeling attracted to sexual relations is an important factor for a large majority of couples in intimacy and closeness, making a low sex drive or sexual attraction capable of creating unpleasant reactions from the partner. While in reality there is no obligation or “duty” to be open to sex, nor is it a factor related to affection or love for the partner in many cases, increasing libido could helps the couple enjoy more closeness and have more pleasant intimacy. This could also help avoid unpleasant feelings or tensions both within the individual and within the partner. Having a sexual appetite in many cases depends on considering the cause of this appetite and taking certain measures, a lot of which are simple and produce effective results.
A few causes of low sexual desire are:
- Accumulated anger, stress, or depression.
- Low self-esteem, timidity, etc.
- Performance anxiety, whereby a person feels strong pressure for providing good sexual activity, fearing not being sufficiently “good” during sex.
- Demanding feelings from the partner (when the partner expects a lot from his/her spouse, which could inhibit a sexual couple).
- Lack of attraction.
- Unhealthy lifestyle, poor eating, tension from work or family problems, lack of exercise, etc.
- Illnesses, as these reduce energy and strength.
- Beliefs that sex is bad, dirty, etc.
- Not feeling at home or secure with your body, like being very thin, having a belly, being overweight, etc.
- Some medications cause low sexual desire.
What to do to increase libido
Generally, behind every lack of sexual desire is bad nutrition, stress or anxiety. One of the easiest ways of increasing sexual desire is to start and maintain the healthiest lifestyle possible, like:
- Exercising: which will help the body stay well nourished and to feel strong and healthy.
- Diet: is a fundamental factor because it is proven that people that follow a healthy diet and lifestyle have a much higher libido than those that have an insufficient diet. You should include fresh vegetable juices in your diet, fish, vegetable oils and fresh fruits, as well as ginger and nutritional supplements that help maintain sexual vigor.
- Maca or ginseng is one of the best natural stimulants for increasing libido. Ginseng regulates hormonal balance and increases testosterone levels. It is a very good aphrodisiac, helping fight erectile dysfunctions and impotence. It is a very effective sexual revitalizer in both sexes.
- Huanarpo Macho and Hembra is a fruit that has been used by ancient Peruvians as a sexual stimulant or revitalizer for long marches.
- Include sufficient antioxidants in your diet that improve energy increase. Citrus fruits, avocado, plums, blueberries, almonds, garlic, onion, nuts, etc., are a few of the foods with the greatest amount of antioxidants.
Other tips…
- Learn to enjoy your body. Accept it as it is and try to keep it strong and healthy by exercising.
- If you believe that sex is dirty or bad, self-help books can help you learn how to begin understanding sex from another perspective.
- If your partner is the one that doesn’t feel sexually attracted to you, try not to demand too much or to take it personal (don’t get offended or feel attacked), because this only creates more distance. Try to start a conversation and find ways that you can be together without feeling pressured to have sexual relations (because this demonstrates love). If you feel your partner is distant sexually, but not distant emotionally, then this is just a question of being patient and considering the aforementioned recommendations.