Low Libido
What is Low Libido?
In a world free of conflict and struggle, each member of a romantic couple would experience an equal drive to have sex and enjoy a balanced level of as much or as little sexual interplay as both partners desired. But unfortunately, this type of harmony doesn’t happen often – at least, in a sustainable way over the course of the couple’s relationship. What often happens is that one member of the couple will experience a greater interest in sex than the other. Sometimes, especially in relationships that last many years, each member takes turns in having a higher sexual drive than the other. What is also common is a level of distress experienced by the couple in response to this discrepancy.
If someone of either gender feels a considerable level of distress in response to what they believe to be a low libido, when they consult a Western medical they will likely need to report an extensive amount of information about their situation so as to help the practitioner to determine the cause of the low sexual drive. Many Western medical practitioners will suggest that there is a wide variety of causes for this condition. For men, this includes a poor diet, either too much or too little exercise, consumption of substances like tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, excessive amounts of stress, depression, anxiety, and surgical procedures. Women may suffer from a low sex drive for similar reasons, and also as a result of hormonal changes like what happens during menopause, a disturbed relationship to past sexual traumas, and other incidents that have the potential to diminish her sense of safety and wholeness. Suggested treatment may include lifestyle changes, therapy, surgery, hormonal replacement therapy, and, in some cases, pharmaceutical intervention.
How Does Ayurveda View Low Libido?
When discussed in the context of Ayurveda, it is common for certain maladies to be placed in certain doshic categories: blood disorders are often associated with aggravated Pitta dosha, nervous disorders are often associated with aggravated Vata dosha, and respiratory disorders are often associated with Kapha dosha. But the nature of a low libido – and the varied array of possible factors that contribute to its incidence – suggests that the doshic imbalances associated with the problem could be highly individual to any given person.
They may suffer from a Vata imbalance and therefore feel a great deal of fear that inhibits their sexual vitality. They may suffer from a Pitta imbalance and their sex drive is disrupted by excessive amounts of frustration. Or, they may suffer from a Kapha imbalance and therefore feel a general sense of sluggishness for not just sex but other activities in general.
All of this is to say that any one person who suffers from a low libido will likely benefit from treatment that is just as individual as they are.
How Does Ayurveda Treat Low Libido?
Using Ayurvedic treatment to restore balance to one who suffers from a low libido will likely be based on restoring balance to their body as it is associated with their particular doshic imbalances. However, certain herbs, foods, and other remedies are typically associated with aphrodisiacal qualities and therefore are often used in the act of stimulating one’s sexual drive in a more general way.
If someone’s low libido is accompanied by constipation, dry skin, anxiety, insomnia, and/or nervousness, it may be determined that resolving a Vata-related imbalance will help them to overcome this issue.
If someone’s low libido is accompanied by burning sensations, nose bleeds, inflammation, red eyes, anger, and/or irritability, it may be determined that resolving a Pitta-related imbalance will help them to overcome this issue.
If someone’s low libido is accompanied by dull sensations, the buildup of white phlegm, respiratory problems like a cold or flu, a sense of heaviness and fatigue, and/or nausea and vomiting, it may be determined that resolving a Kapha-related imbalance will help them to overcome this issue.
Lifestyle Changes for Low Libido
When we neglect to establish the root cause of one illness, it can turn into another, stronger illness in the future. The first step in resolving a specific ailment or disease in the body is to assess the nature of our lifestyle and make general modifications. Living our day-to-day life with a deliberate intention to improve our health will help us to both resolve the disease we are suffering from and prevent further incidence of it and other diseases in the future. The general goal of changing one’s lifestyle to increase a low libido is to restore balance through any of the three associated doshas. But some general guidelines can be helpful as well.
- Practice a daily breathing routine, as outlined below. This will help to create calm and work toward resolving any mind-related factors contributing to the issue.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and other chemical stimulants.
- Craft a regular sleeping routine, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.
- Discuss the potential side effects of any medications you might be taking with your doctor.
- Favor ghee as a source of oil and fat to help lubricate the colon and ensure regular movement of bowels.
- Create a regular sleep routine that follows the same bedtime and wake-up time every day.
- Favor an early bedtime (10pm) and wake-up time (6am).
- Avoid eating at least three or four hours before going to bed, as the body’s struggle to digest food during sleep will possibly lead to disrupted sleep.
- Avoid suppressing natural urges like urination, defecation, coughing, and sneezing. This can aggravate the Vata energy.
- Avoid vigorous exercise, too much running about, and overwork, which deplete the body’s vigor and stamina.
- Avoid over–talking, which scatters thoughts in many different directions. Be more of an observer and listener, and less of a talker.
- Avoid overeating and habits that lead to weight gain and obesity.
Better Foods For Low Libido
Ayurveda teaches us that disease and sickness is derived from poor digestion and inappropriate food choices, so we make deliberate and conscious choices as to what foods we do and do not put in our body. When we suffer from a specific ailment, we then have an opportunity to make even more specific food choices to increase the chance of resolving the body’s imbalance. Food needs to be in season, in moderate combinations of one or two food groups, not too hot or cold, in a modest enough quantity to allow for room left over in the stomach, consumed without too much liquid which hinders digestive power, and fresh and not left over from more than a few hours before. The following foods are listed to be a dosha-balancing diet for each of the three respective doshic imbalances, as any given person could have a low libido in association with that particular issue.
Other foods generally associated with aphrodisiac properties:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Unripe raspberries
- Jerusalem artichoke
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Eggs
Berries
Mangoes
Carrots
Beets
Rice (white basmati)
Oats (cooked)
Ghee
Cow’s milk (in moderation)
Avoid dry foods, legumes, and cold foods
Avoid dehydrated, packaged foods
Apples
Pears
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Rice (white basmati)
Barley
Ghee
Cow’s milk
Avoid spicy foods, sour foods, and lentils
Avoid too many nuts
Avoid meat
Cherries
Pomegranates
Asparagus
Cherries
Pomegranates
Asparagus
Brussels sprouts
Millet
Oats (dry)
Ghee
Avoid nuts, seeds, and dairy products
Avoid meat
Foods To AVOID In Response To Low Libido
While some foods can help to balance an aggravated dosha, other foods can cause further imbalance. Dry and cold foods as well as pungent, bitter and astringent tastes will dry out the body and aggravate the Vata dosha; sour, salty and pungent tastes as well as spicy foods will add more heat to the body and aggravate the Pitta dosha; sweet, sour and salty tasting foods will add heaviness to the body and aggravate the Kapha dosha. Avoiding foods as indicated in the previous section will help any given specific doshic imbalance. Avoiding the following foods can help reduce the lethargy associated with a low libido in general.
Raw and cold foods
Meats
Leftovers
Processed foods
Refined sugars
Beverages For Low Libido
Generally, Ayurveda discourages the consumption of too many cold beverages, as doing so hinders the strength of the body’s digestive fire. Instead, favor room temperature or hot beverages to encourage the strength of the digestive fire.
- Hot water, especially during meals and first thing in the morning.
- Herbal tea of ashwagandha and shatavari
- Avoid cold and frozen drinks
- Avoid sugary or fizzy drinks that blend with the digestive juice and make it weak.
- Avoid alcohol, black tea, and coffee.
Herbs For Low Libido
Herbs are used in the Ayurvedic system much like Western medicine utilizes medicines and vitamins and can be taken like a tea 2 to 3 times a day. Herbs aid in the digestion of food, the breakdown and elimination of toxins, and strengthen the cellular structure of our system for greater vitality. Herbs become more potent once mixed with other herbs of similar properties. Mix 2 to 4 different herbs from the below list together by adding a quarter to a half teaspoon full of each, for a total of 1 teaspoon of herbs total. Drink these in a half a cup of hot water.
Garlic
Ashwagandha
Bala
Shatavari
Shilajit
Salam mishri
Yoga Postures For Low Libido
When applied therapeutically to specific ailments, yoga postures provide an opportunity to strengthen the body, rid it of toxic matter, and restore balance. The postures included in this section can be practiced as part of a more general sequence or can be focused on in short sessions. When first exploring yoga postures, it is best to only practice them for twenty minutes or so per day and buildup from there once the body becomes more flexible.
Plough
Shoulder stand
Bridge
Pigeon
Wide-legged straddle
Aromatherapy For Low Libido
Aromatherapy utilizes the fragrances of essential oils when applied to the skin. Essential oils can burn the skin and therefore must be diluted with a base oil such as sesame, coconut, sunflower, canola, or mustard oil. Mix 1 fluid ounce of base oil with about 12 drops of essential oil before applying to skin. You can also just mix 5 drops of base oil to one drop of essential oil if using on one spot.
Low libido can be used in coordination with oils that have a rejuvenating effect such as lotus, jasmine, patchouli, and sage.
- Use a sesame oil base.
- Apply oil on the forehead for Vata imbalances, the chest center for Pitta imbalances, and between the navel and pubic bone for Kapha imbalances.
Mantra Therapy For Low Libido
Ayurvedic tradition suggests that repeating certain words or sounds can help a person suffering from an ailment restore subtle balance to nerve tissue and enhance one’s mental clarity. Different sounds are prescribed to either repeat mentally or chant outwardly. These sounds are also used and repeated in the mind for the purpose of spiritual growth.
Repeat the syllable “Vam” or “Shum” for several minutes a few times a day and build more practice over time.
- It is helpful to outwardly chant this syllable to increase vitality.
Breathing Practices For Low Libido
Controlling the breath is a central practice toward developing peace and stillness in the mind and body. When the breath is under our control, we are no longer at the mercy of the senses that are stimulated by everything and lead to greater fluctuations of the mind. When applied to the context of resolving specific ailments, the breath is used as a tool for developing lung capacity, heating and cooling the body and resolving mental afflictions like anxiety and stress. Like with the yoga postures above, breathing exercises are likely to be of significant benefit to those who suffer from considerable amounts of stress.
The Full Breath
Alternate Nostril Breathing