Published June 9, 2023 We all know that stress is a major libido killer. You can brush it off as a crazy work day, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find that stress impairs vital organ function, including that of the liver. So if you’re among the 43% of women or 31% of men who suffer from sexual dysfunction (SD) nowadays, listen up — because your liver might be to blame. Your Liver & Libido Low libido as a result of liver disease or cirrhosis-related SD is often underestimated, ignored, and overlooked. And if you think you’re out of the woods because you don’t drink, think again, because chronic stress in and of itself is enough to interfere with your body’s hormone levels and restrict blood flow. In fact, according to a study of women with non-alcoholic liver disease, 33% felt reduced sexual desire, 18% felt reduced arousal, 25% couldn’t achieve an orgasm, and 21% experienced dyspareunia (i.e. genital pain) due to lack of genital lubrication. Let’s put it in layman’s terms. The liver plays a key role in regulating the balance of sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. So if it’s also having to manage stress, sleep deprivation, poor diet, or pathogenic activity, you can imagine that regulating hormones or processing toxins would be an added struggle. So how do we combat this? In a perfect world, you would try your best to live a stress-free life. But we surely don’t live in a perfect world and stress is an inevitable part of life. Simple stress management techniques like restorative exercise, breathwork, and meditation are a great place to start. Lifestyle & Herbal Support Key supplementation with herbs for libido support is also very helpful. Adaptogens are a class of herbs that work to calm stress and help the body become more resilient to the inevitable stressors that come with being a human. Another class of herbs we like to turn to are warming and circulatory herbs. In order to feel aroused and climax, you need to have healthy circulation, specifically circulation to your genitals. Lastly, we turn to hepatic herbs which is the main focus of this article. Hepatic herbs support liver function and we rely on the liver to metabolize hormones. Liver Juice: With Oregon Grape Root, Burdock Root, Bupleurum, Milk Thistle, and Dandelion, this blend of herbs supports the elimination of waste products through the body’s detoxification pathways and supports the body in its natural processes (which can make all the difference for your libido). Spice it Up Love Bitters: This is a deeply warming and invigorating blend of digestive bitters that also contain aphrodisiac properties. Not only does this formula awaken your digestive fire, but also your sensuality. Herbs like Damiana and Cardamon work together to increase circulation and get the energy flowing. You’ll also find Rose in this formula which is the ultimate love flower that acts as an aphrodisiac as well. Adrenal Recovery: This balanced blend of adaptogens is designed to help strengthen and balance. This formula features herbs like Ashwagandha and Schisandra, which help counteract the effects of occasional physical and mental stress which impact libido. Be sure to be patient and gentle with yourself as you embark on the journey to reigniting your fire. Change surely doesn’t happen overnight, but targeted lifestyle adjustments and supplementation can make a big difference.
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