Natural Sexual Health Supplements

Within the natural sexual health category, there are generally separate offerings for men and women, many of which feature similar ingredients with added targeted compounds. This is important, added Cheryl Myers, vice president of health sciences, Enzymatic Therapy, as there are differences between the sexes and what they’re looking for in this category. “Men are typically more focused on physical performance, while women are typically more focused on mood and psychological factors,” she said. “A product that helps a woman to feel more relaxed with the energy or desire for sex is generally what is sought after, as opposed to some physical performance characteristic.”

There are several nutritional ingredients that have been studied for their impact on sexual function. Some of these include:

• Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a South American tuber, which grows in the high elevations of the Andes. Native Peruvians have used maca root to promote energy and sexual virility. Animal studies suggest maca treatment can increase ejaculation latency and post-ejaculatory interval, through both acute and chronic consumption.^1,2 It may also help treat male infertility linked to lead exposure,³ and was shown in one small animal study to increase litter size and uterine weight.⁴
• Tribulus terrestris has been used in the traditional medicine of China and India, and it contains steroidal saponins that may increase the body’s levels of certain hormones. Chinese researchers recently reported administering tribulus extract to animals (7.5 mg/kg) increased levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, suggesting its possible usefulness in mild to moderate cases of ED.⁵ In addition, it may enhance release of nitric oxide (NO), which can enhance ED.⁶
• Epimedium, the botanical name for horny goat weed, has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years to promote sexual function. The leafy plant contains a variety of flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols and alkaloids. A recent Russian study reported epimedium could improve ED in aged rats.⁷
• The amino acid L-arginine is used to make NO, a compound in the body that helps regulate vascular dilation. By mediating NO-dependent vasodilation, it may help address ED in men with decreased NO production.⁸ Studies also suggest providing arginine together with Pycnogenol® (from Natural Health Science) can improve sexual function in men with ED without side effects.⁹
• Panax (Asian) ginseng, an adaptogenic herb, was used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote yang energy, improve blood strength and stimulate the body. Studies suggest it may directly impact libido and copulatory performance, inducing vasodilation and modifying NO release.¹⁰ Further, South Korean scientists found 900 mg of Panax ginseng given three times daily to patients with clinical ED significantly improved ED scores.¹¹
• Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia), also known as longjack, is a small evergreen plant that is native to Indonesia and Malaysia, and was traditionally used in Southeast Asia for its antimicrobial and aphrodisiac qualities. More recent research suggests it may increase sexual arousal and performance in aged animals,¹² and has aphrodisiac qualities in younger animals as well.¹³

Formulators within the natural products industry have sought to combine efficacious nutritional ingredients to develop proprietary products with benefits for men and/or women. For example, Life Span Labs worked with AIBMR, a contract research organization and consulting firm, to develop its product, 112 Degrees. Rod Tallman, CEO, Life Span Labs, noted, “112 Degrees is backed by a proprietary science program; extensive safety, purity and efficacy studies were performed before the product was released.”

Sprunk-Jansen tapped into the Greek-Arabic medicinal tradition to develop its products, Feminine™ and Masculine™ tablets. The primary ingredient in the products is the botanical asafoetida (Ferula assafoetida), which has been widely used in the Greek-Arabic herbal traditions to treat tiredness and increase libido. Sprunk-Jansen has supported clinical studies on its products. Masculine, which is a concentrated extract of asafoetida, improved the libido and erectile function significantly in approximately 80 percent of men (n=85) recruited from fertility clinics who had significantly reduced sperm counts or ED and impotence, according to Randi Kindem Sprunk-Jansen, vice president. She added the company’s Feminine product combines asafoetida with caper buds. “Modern scientific methods indicate that the principal effect of the herbs is to increase blood supply to the genital area while relaxing the muscles,” she said. “We carried out a clinical study in 60 women who had problems with their sexual activity or infertility, but were otherwise healthy. After taking one tablet of Feminine per day for only one month, 80 percent of participants noticed an improvement in libido.”

The product ArginMax, available in male and female formulations from Daily Wellness Co., has also been studied for its impact on male and female sexual function. The basic ingredients in the formulas include arginine, ginseng and ginkgo. In one trial out of Hawaii, researchers randomized women who reported a lack of sexual desire (n=108) to receive ArginMax for Women or placebo.¹⁴ After one month, there were improvements reported in level of sexual desire and satisfaction with overall sex life, with no estrogen activity. Similar results were reported in an earlier open trial by the same research team.¹⁵ The men’s formula has shown similarly positive research results, as men with mild to moderate ED had significant improvements in ability to maintain erection (88 percent of men) and improved satisfaction with their overall sex life (75 percent of men).¹⁶

Denny Kwock, general manager of Daily Wellness Co., noted the products are designed to be taken on a regular basis to improve the underlying physiology associated with sexual health. “The added benefits are that it also improves physical stamina, overall energy level and the person is always ready for sexual activity,” he said. “It does not need to be taken a set length of time before sexual activity, so there is no timing issue.”

Daily support was also the basis of formulation for Enzymatic Therapy’s offerings, Hot Plants for Him and Hot Plants for Her, which were developed in conjunction with herbal expert Chris Kilham. Myers noted: “These products are not episode-specific; rather, they support those areas of health that play a role in healthy libido: energy, stamina, mood and microcirculation. The product is used daily, so this health support occurs on an ongoing basis. Consequently, there are health benefits from these products that go beyond sexual function.”

Editor's Note: References start on next page.

Related Article: Growth of the Natural Sexual Health Market