Herbal Aphrodisiacs For Valentine's Day

As usual, we have been provided with many natural substances to enhance our health and improve our body’s ability to have a full life. Certainly sex is a part of that and a powerful sexual response enhances a relationship. In ancient cultures, where the birth of children was a celebration and future prosperity, enhancement of sexuality was often religious, and attributed to the gods and goddesses of fertility, with a little assistance from the herbal healers.

An aphrodisiac is any plant or food substance that enhances pleasure, desire, or performance of sex. The word comes from Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love.

The herbal world provides a variety of choices for both males and females. Some of these herbs were probably discovered when humans noticed how animals responded to plants in the wild. It isn’t surprising that the attributes of plants that made animals frisky were explored by the human observers.

For example, a common male sexual enhancer is Horny Goat Weed. Saw Palmetto helps with male reproductive organs and is often used for prostate health. Panax Ginseng has long been associated with longevity, as well as male reproduction and stamina. Panax means “all healing” in Greek. Tribulus increases testosterone in men and estrogen in women, so it is a general herbal hormone tonic.

For women, Saffron has a history of enhancing female sexual desire. Damiana is another female libido enhancer. Organic Oats milky seed extract improves arousal in women.

Maca, often used as an energy-enhancing herb, also improves sexual arousal in both men and women.

Gaia Professional Formulas has created herbal combinations for both men and women. For women, there is Arousal Restore Formula and for men, Male Libido.

Balancing male and female hormones would be an important component, and there are herbs that enhance testosterone or estrogen/progesterone production.

For men, issues of sexual stamina or arousal may be related to circulation, so improving and strengthening the vascular system may be considered.

Beyond the herbal world there are other natural ways to enhance romance. Don’t forget back rubs with coconut oil, or other raw oils scented with your favorite essential oil scent.

And then there is the time-tested and plant-based reliable; Chocolate. The scent and flavor may be enough for many women!

Happy Valentine’s Day and may you have all the romance you desire.

Dampen The Flames of Inflammation

There are classic signs of inflammation; swelling, congestion, headaches, and pain. This is a sign that there is too much “stuff” in an area, and not enough room for the stuff to fit, so it presses on nerves and causes pain. It’s a dashboard light signaling that something should be done.

Taking pain-killers, without getting to the root cause, is very short-sighted, and may cause more problems in the long run since livers and kidneys have to detoxify from the chemical medication.

Sometimes inflammation is hidden, but it reveals itself on blood tests as elevated CRP or Homocysteine. Then the real detective work has to happen to find out where the inflammation is occurring to the extent that is shows up in the blood.

Allergies are another form of inflammation, whether they are seasonal allergies from the environment, food allergies or sensitivities, or digestive symptoms causing bloating and cramping.

The pharmaceutical answer to high levels of inflammation is steroid drugs that work on the adrenal glands. There are long-term side-effects and this never gets to the real reason for the inflammation. It is sometimes needed temporarily.

Chronic inflammation can be affected by food sensitivities or by any type of protein or particle that passes through the lungs or lining of the digestive tract that the body needs to get rid off. If normal pathways (breathing out through the lungs or normal digestion) don’t work, the body may collect fluids and put out body-chemicals like histamine in the area.

Pathogens can also cause inflammation. Sometimes there is a low-grade viral, parasitical, fungal, or bacterial infection that is keeping you inflamed, but not causing obvious symptoms of illness. These tax the immune system, and can flare up when you are extra-stressed, or exposed to new pathogens.

Inflammation is a pretty natural response for the body and it is not a problem if the body can resolve the situation quickly. It is not always comfortable for us, though. Symptoms may range from uncomfortable to unbearable.

The right way to handle inflammation is always to find out the source of the problem. It is the immune system that is responding to the stimulus, and that keeps the immune system fired up. The immune system should be in a relaxed but vigilant mode, not cranked up on high. Inflammation may be at the root of autoimmune situations that develop, also.

So, if you experience symptoms, or your blood work shows high levels of inflammation, let’s figure out the cause. That will give you a smarter immune system that is not so stressed, relieve your symptoms, and enhance your longevity.

The First Gifts of Christmas Were Natural Medicines!

There is a lot that we can learn from the legend of the Three Wise Men who are said to have visited the Baby Jesus after he was born.

First of all, it is evidence that the message and meaning of Christmas is universal. Who were those three men who traveled from the East, following a star that led them to seek an event or person they considered extraordinary enough to make the journey? The scientists of that time from the Eastern regions were already advanced in mathematics, medicine and astronomy. It took the West a long time to catch up.

The gifts they brought were indications of their wisdom. Gold is always understood. But few understand the significance of Frankincense and Myrrh. Frankincense is derived as a resin from the Boswellia tree in India. It is a potent anti-inflammatory medicine, prized today for joints and pain-reduction.

Myrrh comes from a tree as a resin, also. It has been used as a medicine for centuries in the Middle East. Also anti-inflammatory, Myrrh is anti-viral, as well, and enjoyed a revival for the immune system in recent years.

Both of these precious medicines were very costly two thousand years ago. They were truly gifts in keeping with the gold that was the third gift. So the Wise Men were wise enough to know that natural medicine is a precious commodity and the gift of health as important as wealth.

These Wise Men weren't Christian or Jewish. Judaism dates back to the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BC.) The Islamic religion was started in the 7th Century. Pre-Islamic Arabia practiced polytheism and Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic religion from Persia that featured a benevolent God fighting an evil spirit. Followers of the prophet Zoroaster were encouraged to think good thoughts, do good deeds, and resist evil.

So, many religious traditions came together around the birth of Christianity. The Christmas message of hope, renewal, redemption, peace and spirituality is universal. 

The Wise Men did not let religious differences stop them from following a star that might lead to greater understanding of their world. 

And they knew that gold without good health won't buy the happiness and bright future that we hope for. 

So, with all the usual wishes for a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas, I wish you lasting Health for this year and beyond.