Herbs, diabetes and sex

January 9, 2011

Herbs, Sex, and Diabetes

Spero, RN and Aisha Kassahoun

Jan 6, 2011

Talk about a win-win situation! It seems that many aphrodisiacs--herbs that

boost sexual energy and function--can also bring down blood sugar

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> , cholesterol

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/lipid-problems/

> , and/or blood pressure. At least four herbs have shown these double

benefits in scientific studies.

People have been trying to boost their sex lives with herbs for thousands of

years. On every continent, healers have found herbs that seem to improve

sexual desire and ability. Most aphrodisiacs (named after Aphrodite, the

Greek goddess of love) have only mild effects, and some of the stronger ones

have unwanted side effects. But here are four herbs that have shown

positive results for both sex and diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/>

in both men and women, and a few others that may be helpful.

Damiana

According to herb expert Ellen Kamhi PhD, " the Natural Nurse, " damiana

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ntz=1 & usg=AFQjCNGy94_MNDNFsXP-Kt5Jsi76o0bINg> has a long history of use as

an herbal medicine in Mexico. In Jamaican folk medicine, it is called " Ram

Goat Dash Along " because when male goats eat it, their libido appears to

increase dramatically.

According to the tropical plant database raintree

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=D & sntz=1 & usg=AFQjCNFDoOZTddFZwqlFC8d5hfJNOx1qDA> .

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=D & sntz=1 & usg=AFQjCNFDoOZTddFZwqlFC8d5hfJNOx1qDA> , damiana is a small shrub

that grows throughout Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. In

addition to sexual healing, it is used as an anti-depressant, tonic, and

diuretic, among other things. It has lowered blood sugars in several

studies. In fact, both Sloan

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Kettering

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Institute

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and WebMD

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ts%2Fingredientmono-703-DAMIANA.aspx%3FactiveIngredientId%3D703%26activeIngr

edientName%3DDAMIANA & sa=D & sntz=1 & usg=AFQjCNGP4Flf-tJ22_6trtUFc91iUlfLHQ>

advise caution because damiana may take blood sugars too low.

Most of the studies have been in rodents, but all have been positive. In an

Italian study, sluggish male rats became more sexually active when given

damiana. Mexican studies have found that damiana lowered blood sugars in

diabetic <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> mice and hyperglycemic rats.

The usual dose of a liquid tincture/extract is 10 to 20 drops three times

per day, or 300 to 500 mg capsules two to three times per day. Few cautions

have been noted for this herb, mainly an occasional laxative effect,

insomnia, and mild headaches.

Ginseng

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax

ginseng) are both used as sexual stimulants and general body tonics. Both

types have shown glucose

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lS6PjCcvg-A> lowering

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Ginseng's sexual benefits have been seen primarily in men. According to the

University

<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.umm.edu%2Faltmed%2Farticles%2F