Disclaimer: Our Integrative Medical Advisory team has developed or collected these protocols from practitioners and supplier partners to help health care practitioners make decisions when building treatment plans. By following this protocol, you understand and accept that the recommendations in the protocol are for initial guidance and need to seek medical professional advice. Contact us for more information.
Sexual Health - Women
The endocrine system is responsible for producing, storing, and secreting hormones, the major chemical messengers of the body. Your hormones play a role in a variety of body processes ranging from metabolism to fertility. You can improve your hormonal health naturally by exercising regularly, consuming adequate dietary protein and fat, and managing stress. Additionally, the dietary supplement ingredients listed below may help support hormonal and sexual health.
Panax ginseng
Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is commonly used in Traditional Asian medicine for its therapeutic effects. Known as an adaptogen, this herb may increase the body’s resistance to stress. In addition to its adaptogenic properties, Panax ginseng has been shown to exert effects on both male and female hormonal health. For example, research has found that Korean ginseng supplementation has been effective in addressing erectile dysfunction in men and improving symptoms of menopause in women, such as hot flashes and insomnia.
2000 mg, total per day, minimum 8 weeks (6)(10)(13)
- International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score improved accounting for improvement in erectile function (ED) and overall satisfaction among patients after 8 weeks of supplementation with 1000 mg twice per day of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng extract when compared to placebo (13)
- 66.6% of patients with mild or moderate ED reported improved erection specifically rigidity, penetration, and maintenance as shown by an improvement in IIEF-5 score when given 1000 mg of Korean red ginseng 3 times per day compared to placebo (6)
- Improved IIEF scores for penetration and maintenance and improved penile tip rigidity as shown by RigiScan; 60% of patients noted that treatment helped with global efficacy (10)
- Meta-analysis of six RCTs showed benefits of Korean red ginseng for ED response rate (RR 2.40) and psychogenic ED response rate (RR 2.05) compared to placebo (11)
- Significant improvement in total and all IIEF domain scores in individuals with mild-to-moderate ED given 1400 mg ginseng berry extract daily for eight weeks (4)
Tribulus terrestris
Tribulus, an annual shrub that is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine, exerts various health effects, such as anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, and immunomodulatory effects. The active components of tribulus, known as steroidal saponins, have been shown to influence fertility and sexual function. Clinical research has demonstrated that tribulus supplementation may improve erectile function score in men and enhance libido in post-menopausal women.
750 mg, total per day, minimum 3 months (8)(12)
- Standardized active extract of Tribulus terrestris improved IIEF scores for intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, and sexual desire, and global efficacy (12)
- An increase in total testosterone and Arabic index of erectile function score from 2.2 at baseline to 2.7, IIEF from 10.7 at baseline to 16.1 were observed in aging males with partial androgen deficiency, ED and lower urinary tract symptoms when supplemented with Tribulus terrestris (8)
- 78% improvement in patients with Kshina Shukra (oligozoospermia) occurred when supplemented with Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris. Linn) for 60 days versus a 70% improvement for placebo (22)
Maca (Lepidium meyenii)
Native to the Andes mountains of Peru, maca is a plant belonging to the Brassica (mustard) family. The root of the maca plant provides several nutrients, including amino acids, iodine, iron, and magnesium. In men with mild erectile dysfunction, maca supplementation has been shown to improve libido (sexual desire), increase sperm count, and improve the perception of sexual well-being. Similarly, maca supplementation may improve sexual function in women, as it has been shown to improve libido in menopausal women.
1500-2400 mg, total per day, minimum 8 weeks (9)(24)
- Psychological performance-related satisfaction profile (SAT-P) score increased with a particular improvement in physical and social performance aspects of the score in patients with ED supplemented with 2400 mg of dry maca extract per day for 12 weeks (24)
- Maca supplementation at both 1500 mg and 3000 mg doses improved sexual desire at week 8 and week 12 when compared to placebo (9)
- Endurance athletes improved self-rated sexual desire with maca extract supplementation compared to baseline and placebo; athletic performance in cycling time for 40 km improved as well when compared to baseline (23)
Chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus castus)
Chaste tree berry, also referred to as chasteberry or vitex, is a medicinal herb that has been used in traditional medicine systems of Egypt, Greece, and Rome for millennia. Contemporary clinical research suggests that chasteberry supplementation may reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women, including anger, breast pain or tenderness, headache, and irritability. The health effects of chasteberry may be a result of its modulating activity on various hormones, including prolactin and progesterone.
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