The sun is rising to its highest point and everything and everyone is bursting with life and possibility. Your body warms and your skin begins to glow making you want to dance naked in open fields and dash off to late night skinny dip adventures- are you with me?! No?
Summer is fire, summer is passion- summer is the brightest light coming to life inside of you. Your body was created to be in sync with the changing seasons and reflect nature’s rhythms. Unfortunately so many of us are disconnected and distracted from the natural world. I see this often reflected in one’s lack of drive to create- with another human being- in a blaze of beauty and passion (aka low libido).
LOW LIBIDO?
In my opinion a strong libido is one of the top signs of vitality. There are many reasons our drive drops and thus I always suggest seeking a little insight. Of course stress plays the biggest role so addressing where you can manage your stress better is always the first step to healing an imbalance. Other contributors to low libido…
- Poor Diet
- Lack of exercise
- Hormone imbalance
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Medications
- You sit all day on your precious creative organs
- You don’t use your “libido” enough
- Trauma
Summer time will illuminate your lack luster libido more than any other time of year as your body will crave to turn over the love crank. So, tuning into your body’s deep intuitive response to be in sync with this season can greatly assist you in igniting your spark. Use the energy that the summer sun provides to begin to heal. Get outside and feel the sun on your face and bare a little of that skin that has been suffocating under clothes for the last 9 months. Sun gazing and sun mediation will draw in the light and help you begin to feel your body, sense its blockages and awaken your desires.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause low estrogen in women, which means low sex drive. It also causes low testosterone in men. So if you tend to feel more frisky during the summer than the winter, there’s a very good reason for it – increased vitamin D causes your hormones, and your libido, to peak during summer months. -Sara Gottfried MD
Summer is also the growing time so the foods that the season provides will be bursting with that expansive bright energy keeping the body light and energized- berries, berries and more juicy berries. Poor diet and bad digestion will bind up your libido as your sex hormones will most likely be awry. Our digestion naturally desires quick burning foods in the heat so eating accordingly can help ease digestive sluggishness opening up our hormone communication pathways.
Attuning yourself to the season is a powerful first step but most likely won’t be enough to really fuel your fire if you’re a soggy log. There are many practices, foods and herbs that can help- here are a few that I know work, I have used and are easy to incorporate.
Maca: Maca is a powerful and nourishing adaptogen that grows in arid ground in the Peruvian highlands. It has been termed “Peruvian Ginseng” and is very well known for increasing sexual stamina in men and women. What recent research has found is that the adaptogenic properties seem to act directly on the hypothalamus and pituitary helping support proper hormone balance which is where the basis for increased libido comes from. It is stimulating and, although considered a food and quite safe, I always take maca in the morning and monitor my energy. You can adjust the dosage to your body and decide which form (powder, tincture, pill) works best for you.
One small study looked at the effect of 4 months of treatment with maca tablets on semen quality in nine adult men. Treatment with maca resulted in increased semen volume, sperm count, and sperm motility. Serum levels of testosterone and estradiol were not affected.
Damiana: This plant has been used as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years throughout Latin America, specifically Mexico, for increasing libido and overall sexual health. Its properties help to stimulate oxygen supply to the pelvic and abdominal organs. I love the potent aroma of damiana tea especially with a bit of honey.
Ginseng: Hands down one of the best herbs for building long term stamina and vitality. Although all ginsengs have highly beneficial adoptogenic properties it seems that American ginseng works best with the feminine constitution and Asian ginseng with the male.
Rose: If you want to open your heart- and you do. You can eat, drink, bathe in it and roll around in it. It will infuse your life with love.
Oatstraw: Susan Weed says to drink 3 quarts of oatstraw infusion per week for your libido- enough said.
Have more sex: If you don’t use it you will lose it.
Exercise: How great do you feel in your body when you are physically active, moving your bones and sweating it out?! Exercise is a must. You don’t have to pound the pavement or hit the gym for an hour. But do move your body in way that gets your heart going and spills a trickle of sweat down your back. Best choices- dance and anything outside.
Abdominal/ Pelvic Massage: Accessing the areas directly responsible for your libido can bring you back into relationship with your sexual energy. By releasing any congestion, adhesions, tightness and stored emotions you can begin to bring in nourishment and open up space for blood flow, proper nerve function, chi, oxygen and lymph to move. If you feel any blockage and disconnect at all from your pelvic bowl this treatment is a must. And- I even know a wonderful practitioner who can help guide you.
Drink more water: Ok so more water doesn’t directly affect your libido but it’s hot. And you are about to get a bit hotter so you will need it because I know you don’t drink enough and it is very good for you.
As always, be tuned into your body when you begin to incorporate new practices, foods, herbs and supplements. You have to feel it to heal it. And believe me- you want to feel it. Let your inner sun shine!
Questions? I would love to help….
