Clearly, the world loves listening about sexual healing, then why are we so scared to talk about it?

Traditional treatments focus on just one system of the body, increased circulation.

In reality, libido is a delicate interplay of four key systems in the body. 

This four-fold chart represents our interconnected systems of libido, desire and sexual energy.

When you look at this chart, you can see why many of us don’t talk about it.

Female libido is complex, multi-layered and always evolving.

So, what affects libido in women?

This flow chart helps explain this complexity:

Hormonal system

“Women produce three to four times as much testosterone than oestrogen before the menopause.”

What effect do our hormones have on our libido?

Oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all affect sexual desire and arousal.

Below is a study that explains how women need a specific balance between oestrogen and testosterone, which is unique to each individual.

Increasing women’s sexual desire: The comparative effectiveness of oestrogens and androgens.

Do women need testosterone?

While testosterone is more commonly associated with men, women need testosterone too.  In fact, women produce 3 times more testosterone than the female sex hormone oestrogen before menopause.

Testosterone is produced by ovaries, adrenal glands and the brain, but levels decline around the time of the perimenopause and menopause and stay low thereafter. This fall in testosterone can lead to a lack of energy, brain fog, reduced libido and a lack of purpose and confidence.

Many other factors can also influence testosterone levels regardless of age such as obesity, diabetes, and lifestyle factors.

What could we be doing naturally to promote or improve this balance between our hormones?

For many people, small and simple lifestyle changes can help support healthy hormone levels in the body and ensure that all our body systems are working at their optimal level. A well-balanced diet and healthy habits may improve your hormonal health and allow you to feel your best.

Here are 10 tips to naturally support your hormone balance:

1. Consume enough protein, aim for around 30-35 grams.

Proteins provide amino acids that your body cannot make on its own and are needed to produce peptide hormones. These hormones play a crucial role in regulating several physiological processes, including growth, energy metabolism, appetite, stress, and more. Current research is emerging showing that most of us are not consuming enough daily protein and should aim for around 30-35 grams per meal to maintain muscle strength, bone health, and other functions.

2. Exercise regularly and focus on strength building.

Physical activity and building muscle strength not only influences your hormonal health, but also is a healthy ageing strategy.

3. Maintain a healthy weight.

Weight gain is directly associated with hormonal imbalances. Obesity relates to a lack of ovulation in women. Do explore our Metabolic Gold supplement if you are concerned about insulin resistance, over health and weight gain.

4. Watch your gut health. 

The gut produces numerous metabolites that affect hormone health and processes of the vagus nerve. A healthy gut biome can support emotional health, hormonal health and all your body's systems. Do explore Gut Love our award winning supplement to support your gut with organic slippery elm, prebiotics and probiotics.

5.  Conscious intake of processed sugar.

Processed sugar (this also includes wine) promotes insulin resistance, and fructose intake is linked to disruptions in the gut microbiome, ultimately leading to hormonal imbalances. Minimising this intake can improve energy, skin and sleep.

6. Reduce stress in imaginative ways.

Stress can significantly harm the body’s hormones. Finding techniques that can help to decrease stress can really help your quality of life and relationships, be creative it could be painting by numbers, walking, breathing, rocking out to music whatever you can fit into your daily life, just schedule it in and prioritise it. You may find that Saffrosun Calm helps alleviate nervousness, maintain emotional balance and support good sleep as it addresses your cortisol levels. 

7. Get enough sleep. 

A good sleep routine is a really important habit one of the most important factors not just in hormonal imbalance, but also your quality of life.  It is worth exploring what works for you it maybe blackout blinds, or eye masks, magnesium or a hot bath and some lavender tea.

8. Eat healthy fats.

Healthy fat intake can work to maintain balanced hormones that are involved with appetite, metabolism, and feeling full and is so important for healthy body and brain function. We don't need to demonise all fats, because they are critical for our health, and low fat products are typically full of processed ingredients.

9 Eat plenty of fibre at least 30g a day *

Fibre plays a huge role in gut health, helping regulate hormones like insulin and keeping you full for longer. Eating plenty of fibre is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.

10. Hydration 6-8 glasses a day

Drink enough water so your urine is a pale yellow colour is the aim, however vegetables, fruit and soups etc also contribute to this target.  Fluids will support skin health, bone health and will help flush out toxins and producing healthy easy stools.

Ingredient focus for Ashwadisiac for Women:

Our potent supplement has been crafted to energise and restore the four vital systems of the body, promoting balance, vitality and overall well-being.

The four ingredients of our supplement are Fenugreek for hormonal health, Gingko Biloba for circulatory health, Ashwagandha for the nervous system and Saffron for emotional health.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum greacum) has been used in traditional medicine and many of us are familiar with using this Indian spice in cooking.

However, Fenugreek extract has many health benefits the seed powder is rich in the bioactive saponin glycosides and ours is at the high strength of 60%.

Clinical trials have shown Fenugreek extract helps balance hormone levels, such as oestrogen and testosterone improving symptoms of low libido as well as enhancing energy levels and exercise endurance.

Fenugreek is also particularly beneficial for managing hormonal symptoms such as hot flushes, low mood, night sweats, and poor sleep.

Below is a study highlighting how fenugreek can help with sexual desire in women.

It specifically highlights the health benefits of fenugreek including the regulation of sex hormones.

Properties of Fenugreek: A Review (openbiologyjournal.com)

Circulatory System

What effect does our circulation have on our libido?

Women may suffer from low sex drive, because of reduced blood flow which may prevent sexual arousal and cause vaginal dryness discomfort.

Growing older, being under severe or chronic stress, or having certain medical conditions such as diabetes and atherosclerosis might also contribute to inhibited blood flow.

To address this problem, urologists may recommend topical applications to dilate the blood vessels, increase blood flow, and improve sensitivity and arousal, or prescribe HRT or vaginal pessaries.

What could we be doing naturally to promote or improve our circulation, with regards to libido?

Exercising can help improve blood flow as it also helps to increase testosterone and muscle strength is critical to overall health and quality of life as we get older.

Medications can affect libido, in particular antidepressants. According to the *American Journal of Psychiatry "70% of women taking antidepressants** (especially SSRIs) report experiencing sexual side effects, including low libido"
   

Ingredient focus for circulatory system: Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba, also known as the maidenhair tree, is an ancient tree native to China estimated to have existed for over 270 million years.

The leaves of the Ginkgo Biloba tree have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and have become a focus of research in recent years for their active compounds, terpene lactones and flavone glycosides.

Ginkgo Biloba contains powerful antioxidants that promote blood flow, circulation, cognitive function, reduce stress, and anxiety, help focus and improve sex drive and desire.

Ginkgo Biloba contains bioactives that improve levels of nitric oxide, a compound responsible for dilating blood vessels. This in turn improves circulation making Ginkgo an effective ingredient for symptoms of sexual dysfunction caused by poor circulation.

The study below explains that when combined with sex therapy, long-term Gingko Biloba treatment significantly increased sexual desire and contentment beyond placebo.

Short- and long-term effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on sexual dysfunction in women

Nervous System

What role does our nervous system play in our libido?

Much of the hormone regulation in our bodies is regulated by the nervous system. Even hormones like oxytocin, aka “the love hormone” are under the whim of the nervous system, and its ability to function effectively.

Given that the nervous system controls so much of how our bodies work, it makes sense that it also has a huge impact on sexual desire, energy levels and connection.

The limbic system helps regulate parts of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating autonomic bodily responses like breathing, blood pressure, and pulse. Thought of as the “primitive” area of the brain, the limbic system, also plays a role in physical drives and emotional processing – and is activated during intimacy.

Sometimes our nervous system becomes dysregulated. Whether that be through trauma, physical or mental stress, injury, medication or hormonal fluctuations.

When the nervous system isn’t working optimally, it can affect how and when we become aroused, our sexual responses, our comfort levels in intimacy with others, and so much more. 

Adrenaline, the stress hormone, actually inhibits oxytocin. Given that oxytocin helps facilitate trust, sexual activity, and orgasm, high amounts of stress hormones from a dysregulated nervous system, can make it difficult to feel connected.

What could we be doing naturally to promote or improve our circulation, with regards to libido?

The ability to relax into the moment, allows us to experience more pleasure throughout life .

Knowing what puts you in a state of stress, and what brings you ease, helps you to relax and be comfortable with your self and this in turn makes you wish to perhaps find the opportunities to connect with others in both a social setting and then perhaps a romantic one.

Ingredient focus for hormonal balance: Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a popular herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.

Ashwagandha has adaptogenic properties meaning it uses its natural intelligence to allow the body to absorb or excrete just the right amount of herb on any given day.  

It supports the nervous system to cope with stress, by reducing our body’s natural cortisol levels (the stress hormone). It also has aphrodisiac qualities that can enhance libido and overall sexual wellness.

Ashwagandha influences the balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which are crucial for mood, relaxation, ability to experience pleasure and cognitive function.

It also reduces levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which help to protect the nervous system from inflammation-related damage.

Below is a study highlighting that after 8 weeks of continuous use of Ashwagandha produced a statistically significant improvement in patients as compared to placebo.

Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract for Improvement of Sexual Health in Healthy Women: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Ingredient focus for sensory and nervous system: Saffron

Saffron is a spice from the Crocus Sativus flower and is derived from the stigma - called threads - within the flower itself.

The harvesting process is very labour intensive, each crocus sativus flower contains 3-4 stigmas which are hand-picked and dried under controlled conditions.

There are three key bioactives associated with saffron. Crocin, a water-soluble carotenoid, picrocrocin and thirdly, safranal which is formed as a result of the drying process of picrocrocin.

Most saffron supplements on the market contain only one bioactive safranal.

However, we have incorporated the powerhouse of all three bioactives (crocin, picrocrocin and safranal) at a much higher concentration than in our other saffron products.

Untreated anxiety or depression can contribute to sexual dysfunction, as can long-term stress. Our saffron extract supports emotional balance and the formula is targetted to reduce stress-related sexual health problems.

Saffron harnesses adaptogenic properties, supporting our bodies to better cope with stress and regulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.

Saffron has been shown to have particularly aphrodisiac properties for people taking antidepressant medication.

In addition, Saffron helps reduce the reactivity of the nervous system to stress, because it helps the body to cope better and react better to nervousness and mood imbalance.

Below is a study that included thirty-eight women with major depression who were stabilised on fluoxetine 40mg/day for a minimum of 6 weeks and had experienced subjective feelings of sexual dysfunction entered the study. The patients were randomly assigned to saffron or placebo for 4 weeks.

Results showed that the patients receiving saffron experienced statistically significant improvements in sexual problems.

Saffron for treatment of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

There is no quick fix, but we can help

Ashwadisiac for Women is our product to help improve low libido, hormone balance and energy.

100% natural it contains the most potent mix of ingredients at a strength and formulation that you can trust, always tested to make sure there are no nasties just strong naturally powerful content.

The bioactives contained in the ingredients for Ashwadisiac for Women ensure that consistent intake will support the four key systems in the body that will have the greatest impact.

Our Ashwagandha Root & Leaf Extract contains 35% of the bioactives, Withanolides (this is 7 times stronger than any standard ashwagandha supplement).

The Fenugreek contained in our Ashwadisac for women contains 60% of the bioactives, saponins and is a unique, standardised fenugreek supplement on the market.

The Saffron used in our Ashwadisiac for Women contains the highest concentration of the three bioactives mentioned above at 10.5%.

Finally, our Gingko Biloba contains 24% glycosides and 6 % terpene lactones and again like our fenugreek contains a unique, standardised dose.

Women deserve more!

Women deserve to feel more confident, feel more energy,  more passion, and more desire.

Speak to our expert pharmacists today

Our registered pharmacists are available for free expert advice and to answer all your questions about your health and your current medications, so that you can feel fully supported on your health journey.

Our pharmacists are on hand Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm. Book your free consultation today! Book Now!

An increase in fat around the waistline during our 40's is common even if there has been no change in your diet or lifestyle and can lead you to feeling frustrated that your previously successful weight-loss tactics are no longer effective.

However the good news is that our bodies undergo changes in hormone levels, muscle mass, etc. that require us to rethink our relationship with our diet, lifestyle, exercise and levels of stress.

Why does this happen in women? 

Oestrogen and Insulin

Introducing our new formula containing pharmaceutical strength bergamot and artichoke extracts. Metabolic Gold has been over two years in research and developement.

Bergamot may sound familiar as the peel of this unique citrus fruit is used for teas, perfumes and essential oils.

However, we only utilise the fruit sourced from trees found in the coastal areas of Calabria, Southern Italy as it's unique combination of five polyphenol bioactives reduce the levels of unhealthy fats in a similar manner to statin medications, without the side effects.

Bergamot fruit polyphenols have been scientifically proven to improve levels of good cholesterol, reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel elasticity.

Bergamot fruit extract

Artichoke leaf extract

Artichoke leaf is one of the world's oldest natural remedies to improve digestion and blood sugar balance.

It boosts your liver’s production of bile. Bile is a natural compound that digests and uses fats so they don’t accumulate in your liver or in your body.

 

At pharmaceutical strength, the bioactives in Artichoke inhibit alpha-glucosidase which in turn reduces sugar levels and insulin resistance.  

How do you take Metabolic Gold? 

Each capsule contains 500mg bergamot and 100mg artichoke leaf extract, in a tapioca capsule.

 

Take ONE capsule twice a day, ideally with your largest daily meals.

A randomized placebo-controlled study with 60 overweight adults showed that supplementing with 600mg bergamot and 100mg artichoke leaf resulted in a reduction in LDL cholesterol, significant reduction in waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue in 2 months – even in participants who did not follow a low-calorie diet.

Concerned about side effects?

Metabolic Gold has no harsh side effects and does not block co Q10 production.

 

Statins can block coenzyme Q10 – a nutrient that’s needed for our cells to make energy.

 

If you have taken statins, you may be familiar with their side effects such as fatigue and muscle weakness…..that’s because they can block healthy bile flow which is needed by your liver to digest fats and fat soluble vitamins A, D and E.

The natural formulation of Metabolic Gold means that you can take it alongside most medications, however we recommend that you take a few minutes to call us, or write to us and get some friendly pharmacist advice if you have any questions about your current regime.

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"Metabolic Gold is effective because of the botanical sources, strength of the bioactives, scientific research and pharmaceutical quality of the formulation. The unique combination of the artichoke plus bergamot extracts will help so many people who have a sluggish metabolism, and fatty liver alongside problems of sugar and cholesterol balance."

Kevin Leivers,
Founder of The Naked Pharmacy
Chief Pharmacist and Formulator

It turns out that we really are ‘the sum total of our experiences.’ Had I known then the impact of many of my decisions, I may have made changes earlier, but it turns out that we must live life to truly understand it.  

I was definitely living life. Perceived invincibility provided me with the tunnel vision which enabled me to dash from one task to another, ticking off one more achievement, adventure and accolade.

Of course you can’t sustain this symphonic level of intensity without topping up the tank with quick access fuel, mine came in the form of sugar- packets of delicious sweets and finely baked biscuits.

I also gradually began to neglect my regular exercise regimen in exchange for a membership in the weekend warrior club. Gut irritation and a little extra weight accumulated, but, as far as I was concerned, I felt normal for a 40-something professional.

‘That’ evening, the one that irreversibly shook up my life, Thursday 3 December, I found myself staring eternity squarely in the face. I had returned home from work with my two girls. It had been a stressful day capped by a suitably heated, hard-hitting quarrel that left me trembling. 

 I did not generally consider my life stressful, and yet I knew that I ran at a pretty high-octane pace. But that was OK, because, despite warnings from others, I was, or believed I was, bulletproof.  

I wore my intensity like a shiny badge of honour. On that evening, however, the engine said ‘no more’; you can’t drive even the most brilliantly engineered sports cars at 5000 RPM indefinitely. 

 It took my mum, who spotted me bent over, clutching my chest, rubbing my arms on FaceTime and my daughter's subsequent fear-filled plea to get help for me to make the medical call. Reluctantly, in a haze of pain, I did make the call. In minutes an ambulance was there. 

Pride masking the danger, I couldn’t help, but feel that all this commotion was quite unnecessary. The seasoned paramedics quickly assessed my traumatised frame, blood pressure surging through my veins like a blocked firehose. They looked me straight in the eyes, piercing my vanity, and said, “We are taking you to hospital. Now.” 

‘That’ evening marked the beginning of a myriad of changes.  Naturally, and most significantly was that of my health, but also, running neatly alongside, compelling me, almost without choice, was my desire to capture the goodness in life around me. 

Being in hospital forced me to slow down and rest, my senses sharpened and my eyes opened to the subtleties in the world around me, to things I had not previously noticed before. 

I became acutely aware of nuances in conversation, of the sacrifices of those around me and of the delicacy of relationships. I was also painfully cognizant, in increasing measure, of the compounding effects of the bad choices I had made for my body- sugar addiction, stress, exercise withdrawal and sleep deprivation.

Buckminster Fuller once said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” So, that is what I did (and am doing), engineering a new, more tantalising model for life. 

My diet, for instance, has been transformed. The once glutinous intake has been replaced with cleaner foods, nutrition straight from the earth and, perhaps more importantly, I expunged sweets. 

Implored by the immediacy of the situation, I also instilled radical changes to my work routine and introduced regular, gentler exercises in the great outdoors. The list goes on, but I feel that, if indeed we are ‘the sum total of our experiences,’ I have been gifted a lifeline with which to significantly alter the outcome of my time here on earth. And, I must say, my heart feels good, very good indeed.

NOTE FROM THE NAKED PHARMACY

Jeff Schmidt is the Author/illustrator of the bestselling book: 

 HEART ATTACK- Finding hope, joy and inspiration through adversity. 

The number of vegans has been growing rapidly over recent years and the concept of vegetarianism is not new dating back as early as 500 BC, first mentioned by Pythagoras.

In Great Britain, the number of vegans is estimated to have quadrupled between 2014 and 2019. 

Famous vegans

Novak Djokovic, Venus and Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Mike Tyson, Martina Navratilova, David Haye are great examples that veganism offers one the potential to not only be healthy, but also for elite athletes to thrive.

Some key nutrients vegans should be aware of

Although there are health benefits to a vegan lifestyle, it is also important to recognise that, as with any diet, if not appropriately planned then it is easy to become nutritionally deficient as there are certain nutrients that are not available from plants.

Below are some of the 2 key nutrients that vegans need to be aware of to avoid deficiencies or imbalances.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, which does not originate in plants, but from bacteria. 

In fact, B12 supplements are (for the most part) also given to farm animals, meaning even those on non-vegan diets are supplementing, but indirectly.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency may include:

• A pale yellow tinge to your skin
• A sore and red tongue (glossitis)
• Mouth ulcers
• Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
• Disturbed vision
• Irritability
• Unexplained sadness 
• A decline in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgement 

Due to B12 not being readily present in a vegan diet it’s recommended to supplement this, especially for strict vegans. 

Two tablets daily of our Saffrosun Calm offers 100% of the Nutritional Reference Value (NRV).

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is the “sunshine vitamin”, and although it is possible to obtain this through certain plant foods such as mushrooms, in general it is not broadly consumed on a vegan diet.

In fact, the NHS advises that "everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter” [Source [9]].

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency may include:

• Fatigue
• Not sleeping well
• Bone pain or achiness
• Feelings of sadness
• Hair loss
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Getting sick more easily

Again, it is good practice to use a supplement to ensure you are getting the recommend intake of Vitamin D, particularly in colder seasons with having less sun exposure. One capsule of our Vitamin D3 contains 100% NRV.

Probiotics

Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria, and studies suggest that taking probiotics are linked to a range of health benefits. These include benefits for gut function, immune function, respiratory tract infections, and duration of illness. 

Although vegans generally consume a diet rich in fibre, which is a key gut nutrient and it is possible to acquire probiotics from plant-based sources such as fermented foods (e.g. sourdough bread and tempeh), vegans don’t consume the most common probiotic rich foods such as yogurt and kefir.

Our Gut Love supplement contains 21 probiotics and prebiotics, and 19 billion good bacteria to support overall gut health including one probiotic which originates from soil. 

The Naked Pharmacy Supplements

All of The Naked Pharmacy’s own brand of supplements are entirely vegan and contain natural ingredients, meaning higher absorption and bioavailability than synthetic supplements.