4 Best Supplements for Low Libido: Boost Your Sex Drive & Mental Wellness

It's February- so thoughts of love and intimacy are probably on your mind! Perhaps you've been struggling with self-love, low sex drive or feeling lonely and disconnected from others, and have tried researching ways to boost libido or pleasure.

It's nothing to be ashamed of! It's estimated that 52% of men struggle with some form of erectile dysfunction. It's also been estimated that one in three women will struggle with low sex drive at some point in their lives.

You've probably come across many different supplements claiming to enhance libido or sexual performance. But can you really boost libido with supplements? Most supplements on the market that claim to enhance sexual desire and performance are formulated with herbs that have little evidence to back their claims.

A review of supplements marketed for women's sexuality, in a paper published in the 2020 Journal of Ethnopharmacology, found that there are no high-quality studies proving their effectiveness for women's libido.

Even more importantly, many of these popular supplements can cause serious side effects for some. For example, an herb called Yohimbe has traditionally been used to enhance sexuality in men. However, a number of serious risks have been associated with yohimbe, according to the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, including:

• Heart attacks and seizures
• Anxiety
• Rapid heart rate
• Increased blood pressure

So how can you support your libido and sexual health in a truly safe and effective way? What supplements are actually backed by scientific research to support the root of low libido? Read on to find out!

The brain is your most powerful sex organ

First, it's important we understand what actually causes low libido. Many think that if they're having problems down there, it must be something down there that's the problem!

In fact, human sexual responses such as arousal, fantasies, lubrication, erection and orgasm are all directed by parts of the central nervous system. As the body’s hormone control center, the hypothalamus governs desire, lubrication and erection.

But how do all these parts of the body communicate with each other? How does the CNS operate effectively? This is where neurotransmitters come in.

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the body that transmit instructions from cell to cell, to regulate bodily functions ranging from heart rate to appetite to yes...sexual responses.

Serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin...oh MY 😏 The role neurotransmitters play in libido and sexual health

Dopamine

Dopamine is known as the "pleasure and reward" neurotransmitter. It is responsible for creating feelings of anticipation, motivation, and reward, which are all important components of sexual desire.

When you feel sexually aroused, your brain releases a surge of dopamine in response to the stimulus. This influx of dopamine triggers a cascade of events that result in increased blood flow to the genitals, heightened sensitivity to touch and other sensations, and an overall sense of pleasure and excitement. It’s this rush of dopamine that drives sexual desire and makes sex feel so good.

Serotonin

In terms of sexual behavior, serotonin is critical to our ability to experience pleasure, as it helps to promote the release of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and oxytocin.

In addition to promoting pleasurable feelings, serotonin also helps to modulate sexual desire. This is because serotonin is involved in regulating the levels of other important hormones in our bodies, including testosterone and estrogen. When serotonin levels are low, our bodies may produce less of these hormones, which can lead to a reduction in sexual desire or libido.

This is often seen in individuals who struggle with depression or other mood disorders, where low levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters can contribute to a diminished sex drive and other sexual difficulties.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain. It helps promote feelings of love, bonding, empathy, trust, which are important for arousal, and even self-love!

Oxytocin is also a powerful vasodilator and plays a role in delivering blood to the vagina and sexual organs and creates a warm sensation in the body. It acts directly on the part of the brain where orgasm is believed to be experienced.

What causes neurotransmitter imbalance?

So, if we need optimal levels of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin to experience sexual desire, arousal and pleasure, what causes these neurotransmitters to become imbalanced?

The two main ways are nutritional deficiency, and stress.

Our neurotransmitters are produced from the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in our food. 

In today's world, most people are not getting adequate nutrients from their diet in order for the body to produce neurotransmitters. For example, 52% of the US population do not meet daily requirements of magnesium.

Any nutrients we do get are often depleted by chronic stress.

So, addressing neurotransmitter health involves ensuring adequate nutrient intake along with stress management. 

Supplements for optimal neurotransmitter health & libido

Instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall and taking random herbs that claim to enhance sexual function, why not get right to the root of the problem and support your body to produce the neurotransmitters it needs for sexual function? These are the best supplements to support sexual health:

Methylated B Vitamins

B vitamins, specifically B6 are crucial for the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan into our “feel-good hormones” like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine.

B6 can also help to reduce feelings of stress, allowing you to feel more relaxed and in control. B6 also helps to promote feelings of trust, as well as sleep, which is so important for mental wellbeing and sexual health. 

Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral that is crucial for numerous bodily functions, including the metabolism of neurotransmitters like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine. 

Magnesium helps in the production of testosterone and estrogen that affect your libido. 

One study showed that men who take a daily dose of 600 mg of magnesium citrate for 6 months experience increased testosterone levels by about 30%.

Magnesium also has calming properties that can help you relax, which can aid in having an orgasm.

GABA

GABA is short for gamma-aminobutyric acid, and is both an amino acid and the body’s primary calming neurotransmitter. GABA is known for producing a calming effect. It's thought to play a major role in controlling nerve cell hyperactivity associated with anxiety, stress and fear.

As we discussed, stress is a huge factor in reducing sexual desire, arousal, and pleasure. GABA has been shown to reduce stress and improve sleep.

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea, and another great support for stress. 

Research shows that L-theanine supplements can elevate your levels of GABA, dopamine, and serotonin, which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety levels.

A randomized trial from 2019 found that healthy adults who took L-theanine over the course of four weeks had a decrease in stress-related symptoms. 

Oxytocin Boost Bundle for Sexual Wellness

We created the Oxytocin Boost Bundle specifically to support your body in lowering stress, and boosting neurotransmitter health. 

Get "in the mood" with Mood B Complete methylated B vitamins, Mood Magnesium, and Mood Chews which contain GABA and L-Theanine!