Unveiling Ashwagandha’s Incredible Sexual Benefits

It’s hard to admit when you feel you’ve lost your sexual stamina or desire. However, problems with sexual health and desire are actually very common. 

In one cross-national randomized, population-based survey, 43% of men and 49% of women had experienced at least one sexual difficulty within the last 12 months.REF#4155 Many of these issues are symptoms of underlying issues, like stress and fatigue. 

Together, we’ll talk about what causes issues with intimacy and how Ashwagandha can help support sexual and reproductive health.

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, winter cherry, and Indian ginseng, is a perennial shrub that is native to parts of the Middle East, China, and Africa. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for millennia as a total body tonifying herb, and now, we’ve got the science to back the claims. 

Common Uses of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens help meet our bodies where they are and “adapt” to our needs. Adaptogens can help support our body’s natural stress response and help us conserve energy. They can help enhance focus and mental clarity and even help the body undergo physical activity without using as much oxygen.REF#4148

Some of the main benefits that make Ashwagandha so popular can also help support sexual and reproductive wellness. 

How Can Ashwagandha Support Sexual Health?

The use of ashwagandha in Ayurvedic medicine is well documented. We have texts that show it was in use as early as 600 A.D. The ancients knew the secrets of this highly medicinal herb, but they didn’t simply rely on it for those properties. They also used it as a powerful aphrodisiac! 

The use of Ashwagandha as a libido-enhancing herb is found in the Kama Sutra, an Indian text on sexuality, which references the plant as one that helps bolster sex drive and increase desire. 

There’s no need to rely on anecdotal evidence from the ancients. We’ve got research that backs up the claims. Here, we’ll cover how Ashwagandha’s benefits can help support sexual health.

1. Ashwagandha Supports Blood Flow

We probably don’t have to tell you how important blood circulation is in terms of sexual performance and ability. When blood flow becomes an issue, Ashwagandha can help encourage circulation and oxygenate tissues. 

In athletes, it can help support performance and endurance by encouraging blood flow and helping tissues to absorb nutrients and oxygen. REF#4153

2. Ashwagandha Supports Hormonal Balance

With age, hormones like estrogen and testosterone naturally decline, which can leave you feeling less interested in sex than you used to. Unfortunately, chronic stress can also deplete these hormones, as it’s made from the same basic ingredients. When your body feels like there’s an emergency, it prioritizes fight-or-flight hormones over sex hormones.

Ashwagandha, as an adaptogen, can help support balanced cortisol (the stress hormone) so that it does not suppress sex hormones.REF#4154

3. Ashwagandha Helps With Feelings of Stress

Possibly the biggest benefit of taking Ashwagandha if you struggle with sexual dysfunction is its ability to help you manage feelings of stress. The adrenal glands control the release of stress hormones, which can interfere with your sexual desire and performance. 

Ashwagandha can help nourish and tonify the adrenals, helping to balance your stress response.REF#4148 By fixing the underlying stress response issue, you may find you have renewed desire in the bedroom and are at greater ease when intimate moments arise. 

4. Ashwagandha Helps With Sleep

When you miss sleep, your entire body feels it, not to mention your mind. You may feel foggy-headed, scatterbrained, and unfocused. You may also lack the energy to do the things you once enjoyed, including being intimate with your partner.

There are many things that can cause us to sleep poorly, but resetting our bodies’ circadian rhythms can help us adjust. You can use Ashwagandha as a tool to help support the circadian rhythm. The adaptogenic effects of Ashwagandha on the body have helped many people regain their ability to sleep.REF#4150

With a good night’s sleep, you may feel well-rested and prepared for sexual activity. 

5. Ashwagandha Has Antioxidant Properties

You may have heard of free radicals and been a bit confused about what they are and what they do. Free radicals are unbalanced molecules released by the body in response to external stressors like UV rays, pollution, and even cigarette smoke. 

These molecules can damage healthy cells, cause stress in the body, and ultimately lead to disease and dysfunction. Protecting against these molecules requires antioxidants, and Ashwagandha is generally a good source of antioxidants that can help support and protect your cells.REF#4149

While you might not think free radical damage could affect your sexual health, this damage, also known as oxidative stress, is directly linked with certain age-related diseases that cause side effects like less interest in sex and poor sexual performance. 

6. Supports a Balanced Mood

Looking for a natural mood enhancer? Try Ashwagandha! Ashwagandha can help support and balance mood, which can give you a natural lift and help you feel more prepared for sexual activity.REF#4149

Ashwagandha also helps support healthy cognitive function, which can help you stay engaged and focused during important moments. REF#4149

7. Supports Reproductive Health

For people trying to become pregnant, taking Ashwagandha could help encourage those efforts. In one study, Ashwagandha was shown to support the quality of semen and sperm motility.REF#4152

What Causes Sexual Problems?

The most common problem reported to sex therapists by women is decreased libido. For men, it’s issues with their sexual performance. Both of these problems are usually symptomatic of an underlying issue. Here are the most common.

Relationship Issues

If you’re unhappy in your relationship, feel neglected, or emotionally detached, it will translate into issues in the bedroom.REF#4151 Start by exploring your overall satisfaction with your relationship. Talk to your partner and learn whether or not seeking help is a viable option. 

Stress and Worry

The most common problem that can affect sexual health (without an underlying medical condition) is feeling stressed, worried, or sad. REF#4151 The body’s natural stress response releases hormones that can suppress libido. 

The stress response is important because it keeps us safe when impending danger is present. But when there’s no threat, and we still feel chronically stressed, it can indicate the body’s stress response has become unbalanced.REF#4151

Fatigue

Sleep is critical to our total health and wellness. When we miss sleep, we create a sleep debt that can only be paid off with more sleep. 

Consistently missing sleep each night or not getting quality sleep can create a cycle of exhaustion and fatigue that can make it feel impossible to focus on sex. It can also interfere with a person’s ability to perform sexually.REF#4151

Age

As we get older, our sexual desire may naturally decline. Sex hormones in both men and women begin to decline with age, which can affect sexual desire and performance.REF#4151 While it may seem like a losing battle, it is entirely possible to have a thriving, healthy sex life as you age, as long as you know how to support your body. 

Medications

Certain medications can affect sexual performance and desire. Talk with your healthcare provider about the medications you currently take and ask them if these may be common side effects. There may be other options available with less side effects.REF#4151

Heat Things Up With Ashwagandha

Experiencing issues with your sexual health can be frustrating, but you can get support with traditional herbs. With benefits for everything from sleep to stress, ashwagandha can help keep your body and mind balanced so you’re ready for those unexpected (but entirely welcome) moments.