Holistic healing

Emma Cannon: Who Stole Our Sex Lives?

Our columnist explores how to improve your libido

Our sex lives can come under pressure for any number of reasons; medical, physical, mental/emotional or environmental. I have spent many years supporting couples and individuals on their fertility journey where the pressures of ‘trying for a baby’ can impact both female and male fertility. But even outside of fertility it appears our sex lives might be suffering. My approach has always been to take a 360 degree look at our lives, health and relationships and to take a holistic approach to treatment.

Some of the main offenders are lack of time, work pressures, financial pressures, young children, infertility, illness (known or unknown), medication, hormone imbalances, mental health issues, emotional and relationship issues and historic trauma.

Chinese Medicine

For centuries the Chinese have associated vibrant health and longevity with both abundant kidney Qi and strong libido. In Chinese medicine your kidney Qi and essence direct your sexual development and keep your libido healthy; improving the health of your kidneys often means increasing the health of your libido. Some of the most expensive and sought-after kidney-supportive Chinese herbal formulas have become known as aphrodisiacs; they can enhance our sex drive and performance because they build kidney yin, kidney yang, and kidney essence.

Acupuncture used to improve Kidney Qi and libido; typically, I would use points that move stagnant qi in cases of depression, kidney points where the essence and kidney energy is weak and local points that bring qi to the area of the genitals.

Blue Lotus Flower

One of my personal favourites and a remedy also favoured by the ancient Egyptians for creating a sense of euphoria and arousing sexual desire. You can drink it as a tea or an essential oil which can be blended with a base oil and massaged onto yours, or you partner’s, lower abdomen and lower back. This wonderful plant is loved for its ability to help you attain heightened states of consciousness and enhancing tactile senses.

Other natural remedies

Ashwagandha root, nutmeg, damiana, fenegreek, saffron, jasmine, maca, bergamot, catuaba, to name but a few. Techniques such as hypnotherapy, counselling, meditation, CBT, compassionate inquiry (Gabor Mate) etc. may also be helpful to overcome stress, anxiety, relationship or trauma related issues.

My advice is to identify the cause or causes and work with a mainstream medical practitioner (where needed), and a holistic practitioner. Or where funds are limited identify the problem and research some of these solutions to see which one most addresses the problem.

The causes and solutions for addressing libido issues are complex and nuanced and, in my experience, often multi-factorial. Often lack of libido is a warning sign that other factors in our life our out of kilter, like the canary in the coal mine alerting miners that the oxygen is slow. Lack of libido often has origins in something else in our lives; some tension requiring our attention. Listen – the body never lies.

Emma Cannon is an integrated women’s health expert, registered acupuncturist and author. Check out more of Emma’s fantastic work at emmacannon.co.uk

Article by

Emma Cannon

Integrated women's health expert, registered acupuncturist and author

Emma Cannon is an integrated women’s health expert, registered acupuncturist and author. Check out more of Emma’s fantastic work at emmacannon.co.uk

Discover more

Article by

Emma Cannon

Integrated women's health expert, registered acupuncturist and author

Emma Cannon is an integrated women’s health expert, registered acupuncturist and author. Check out more of Emma’s fantastic work at emmacannon.co.uk

Discover more