• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Seeking Joyful Simplicity

Your best life after 40 - living with purpose and vibrant health. Empowering you with a holistic approach: nourishing foods, herbal remedies, and self-care to reduce overwhelm, manage your weight, and enjoy vibrant health in your 40's, 50's, and beyond.

Recipes

Categories

Categories

By Category

By Date

Search

  • Shop
  • About
  • Simple Food
  • Healing Herbs
  • Health and Wellness
  • Living with Purpose

Sensual Pleasures – Herbal Aphrodisiacs and Recipes to Spice Up Your Love Life

7:24 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity Leave a Comment

Sensual Pleasures – Herbal Aphrodisiacs and Recipes to Spice Up Your Love Life

 

Herbal Aphrodisiacs

“Love is something that arises from the gentleness of true intimacy, the comfort of deep support, the nourishment of open and honest communication. Love and sexual arousal begins on the unseen level of both emotional and spiritual connection. Simply sitting down, gazing into your beloved’s eyes, and ACKNOWLEDGING them is sometimes the sexiest kind of foreplay” ~ Herbalist and Healer, Asia Suler

Love, passion, and sexual expression are a healthy part of life. And yet, many women struggle with this aspect of themselves. There are so many possible reasons for this, including:

  • Constant stress, physical and mental exhaustion
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Past trauma
  • Poor body image
  • Our role as mother and caregiver conflicts with feeling free to express ourselves sexually
  • Health problems
  • Medication side-effects
  • Hormonal changes
  • Lack of true intimacy with our partner
  • Lack of self-care and not making our health a priority

A truly holistic approach to health addresses our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We must first love ourselves and addressing our physical need for love, affection, and passion is a natural part of taking care of ourselves.

Using Herbal Aphrodisiacs

Herbs have a long history of use in addressing sexuality and fertility. But what, exactly, is an aphrodisiac?

Aphrodisiacs are any plant material (flower, seed, root, or leaf) that excites, nourishes, sustains, or elevates sexual or sensual desire.

The word itself – “Aphrodisiac” comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

Many of the herbs traditionally used as aphrodisiacs have research supporting their benefits, although libido and sexual performance are naturally difficult to quantify.

Why would you want to try an herbal aphrodisiac? Herbs are deeply supportive, sometimes in unpredictable ways. Unlike pharmaceuticals, the plants have evolved and are an important part of our history and culture. Plant medicines are still very much a part of cultures throughout the world, and they offer us a chance to connect with deeper aspects of ourselves.

How do you choose the right aphrodisiac? Consider your deeper needs.

  • Is your sex life lack-luster because of stress, exhaustion and overwork? Try some of the nervine herbs like Ashwagandha – they calm our nervous systems and provide a sense of deep well-being so we can relax.
  • Perhaps your hormones are out of whack – balancing herbs like Maca and Shatavari can bring you into a more balanced place, opening you up to greater sensuality.
  • If you are looking for more excitement and energy, try some of the stimulating herbs like the South American Lepidium meyenii.
  • Maybe your heart simply isn’t in it. Try a heart healing herb like rose.

Most importantly, feel free to explore and experiment. Have fun, enjoy the herbs and the recipes. Perhaps plan a “love potion” party for you and your friends and enjoy sensual foods as you create your herbal recipes.

Remember, everyone responds differently to foods and herbs, and not all herbs work for all women. The best advice I can give you is do your research, and pay attention to the signals your body sends. You know your body better than anyone, and only you can decide if something is right for you.

Please Note: the information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective for you to consider as you make good choices for you and your family’s health. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and maintaining health. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to diagnose any disease, nor is it intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
This post may contain affiliate links – if you purchase through these links I receive a small commission at no cost to you – thank you for supporting Seeking Joyful Simplicity.

Love, passion, and sexual expression are a healthy part of life. Using herbal aphrodisiacs and herbal aphrodisiac recipes to support sensual pleasures for women.

7 Herbal Aphrodisiacs to Explore

Damiana (Turnera diffusa)

Damiana is a great herb to start with. A sexy, stimulating herb said to increase desire and excitement. Damiana belongs to the nervine class of herbs, acting chemically on the nervous system to reduce the stress hormones (like cortisol), relieve anxiety, and release tension.

Damiana is a great aphrodisiac herb to start with. Try it as a tonic – drink a cup of tea ½ hour before “bedtime” and continue this practice for a few weeks. See if you notice any changes when you use daily.

Maca(Lepidium meyenii)

Maca is a South American herb with many hormone-balancing benefits. Andean shepherds noticed improved fertility when their animals consumed Lepidium species, and studies show improved stamina and libido for both men and women who take supplemental Maca. It’s also great for helping balance hormones in women going through menopause (you can read about more herbs for menopause in 10 Herbs for Menopause – How to Stay Sane When Your Hormones are Making You Crazy.)

Rose (Rosa species)

Rose is a beloved medicine for the heart. Exquisite, graceful, alluring, the rose is associated with sophisticated beauty and love. But the rose is much more than an ornamental flower adored for its heady aroma. The healing medicine of the rose is extraordinary and under-appreciated, and is a wonderful addition to any love potion, for yourself, or for others. (Read more about using roses as food and medicine, and rose recipes.)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is a tonic herb well researched for its healing benefits, especially for effects of chronic stress. In India, ashwagandha has a long history of use for improving libido and sexual function, in both men and women.

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)

In Ayurveda, Shatavari is considered the most important herb for women and has been used for over 5,000 years. Shatavari helps to balance hormones, increase vitality, and the translation of shatavari is “having 1 hundred husbands.”

Even if you have only 1 husband, give shatavari a try and see what happens. : )

Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)

Traditionally used in Western Africa to boost general health, athletic performance, and as an aphrodisiac. Yohimbine hydrochloride is available and approved by the FDA as a prescription treatment for impotence. However, the Yohimbe bark extract is available over the counter, and is used to treat low sex drive in women and the unwanted decrease in libido associated with many antidepressant medications.

Herbal Aphrodisiac Recipes

Click here to save or print the recipes – Herbal Aphrodisiac Recipes

Libido Tea

Ingredients:

  • 2 parts damiana leaf
  • 1 part rose petals
  • 1 part shatavari root powder
  • 1 1/2 parts cinnamon chips

Directions:

  1. Combine all herbs in a jar to create your tea blend
  2. To use: 1 tablespoon blend for 8-ounces of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes and sweeten with honey.

Chocolate Love Cordial

Ingredients:

  • 1 ounce dried damiana leaf
  • 2 cups brandy
  • 1 1/2 cups filtered water
  • 1 cup raw honey
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons rose water (optional)
  • The best chocolate sauce you can get

Directions:

  1. Soak damiana leaves in alcohol for 1 week. Strain and reserve liquid in a clean glass bottle.
  2. Soak the alcohol-drenched leaves in filtered water for 2 days. Strain and reserve liquid.
  3. Gently warm the water extract (over very low heat) and stir in honey. Remove from heat and add the alcohol extract. Pour into clean glass jar, add the vanilla and rose water, and allow to mellow for 2-4 weeks. The flavor improves with age.
  4. For every 1 cup of damiana liquer that you have, add a 1/2 cup of chocolate sauce. Adjust the vanilla and rose water to your liking.

For more Herbal Aphrodisiac Recipes, I recommend the delightful book by Dianna De Luca – Botanica Erotica: Arousing Body, Mind, and Spirit

Filed Under: Healing Herbs, Health and Wellness

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hello and welcome! Seeking Joyful Simplicity is about creating space in your life for the things that matter most - abundant health, joy, and contentment. With a holistic approach focused on self-reflection, simple foods, and herbal support, I offer a practical approach to living with purpose and vibrant health. Want to learn more? Start here…

Featured Posts

Power balls, or Zoom balls as herbalist Rosemary Gladstar calls them, are a delightful way to treat your mind and body with medicinal herbs. They are a combination of nut butter, natural sweetener, and powdered herbs. Adaptogen herbs are perfect for helping us ignite our inner woman of power and offer the following benefits: • Increase our energy • Build our resistance to stress • Support the heart • Increase endurance and stamina • Improve memory • Stimulate the immune system

Women of Power Balls – Herbal Health Treats

Blackberries are a sweet summer berry and endlessly versatile. Learning to enjoy seasonal foods, we have found freezing fresh blackberries to be a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of summer to enjoy all year long. Let me share five easy and delicious blackberry recipes including a gluten-free blackberry oat bar, wild berry buckle (coffe-cake like), vanilla lavender blackberry jam, blackberry mead, and blackberry cobbler.

Blackberry Season and Five Easy Recipes

How your diet impacts your hair

How Your Diet Impacts Your Hair

The benefits of motherwort include both physical and emotional support. The physical benefits of motherwort include effects on the circulatory, digestive, and nervous systems. Motherwort herb also provides emotional support, both subtle and strong, depending on your needs.

Calm the Heck Down – Motherwort Herb Benefits

Starting a garden, or creating new garden space, especially on lawn, can be a challenge. The decision to till, or use a no-till gardening method such as lasagna gardening, depends on personal circumstances. For my first garden on our new homestead, I experimented with sheet composting using a layer of cardboard covered with straw. In this article, I address some of the advantages and disadvantages to both tilling and no-tilling methods of starting your garden.

Four Methods for Transforming Lawn Into Garden

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Herbal Academy Courses

Learn Herbal Medicine

The Craft of Herbal Fermentation Course by Herbal Academy

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Contributor at the Homestead Bloggers Network

Archives

Simple Food

How to stop comfort and stress eating

How to Stop Stress Eating Breaking the Pattern

Not just for pesto and pasta, let’s talk about how to use fresh basil to make lime basil fizz, basil herb butter, basil vinegar, and more.

7 Things to Do With Basil Beyond Pesto

Sweet, delicious honey. Herbal infused honey is a delightful way to enjoy the many health benefits of herbs and raw honey, and is a wonderful way to give herbal medicine to our children. Let me show you how to make herbal infused honey and some of my favorite herbal infused honey combinations for both health and flavor.

How to Make Herbal Infused Honey – Flavorful, Medicinal

The humble garlic offers powerful health benefits including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties to combat colds and flu, and much more. Fermenting garlic adds healthy probiotics and offers even greater protective benefits. Making fermented garlic is really simple and here are five easy and delicious recipes for using your homemade, probiotic-rich garlic..

Easy Fermented Garlic and 5 Recipes

See More

Simple Herbs

Insect bites, bee stings, sunburn relief. Only four ingredients and using easy-to-find herbs like plantain and dandelion, you can make your own highly effective, all-natural DIY skin salve

DIY Summer Skin Salve – All Natural Relief for Summer Skin

Warm breezes and sunny days, summer is the time for outdoor activities. But along with the summer fun comes summer skin irritations like sunburn, blisters, insect bites, and the dreaded poison ivy. You can buy over-the-counter products to treat all of these, but you will also be getting the added chemicals and preservatives. Why not take a little time to make your own […]

Roses excel at cooling and soothing hot inflamed skin, and a homemade rose and aloe cooling lotion is a wonderful way to treat skin irritations like acne, rashes, eczema, sunburn, and insect bites.

Make Your Own Rose and Aloe Cooling Lotion and Spray

  All-Natural Rose and Aloe Cooling Lotion and Spray Roses are alluring and beautiful, and despite their delicate appearance, they offer some pretty amazing health benefits. Combining the anti-inflammatory and cooling property of rose petals with soothing aloe, we can create a simple, all-natural rose and aloe cooling lotion. This post contains affiliate links. If you […]

Homemade herbal gifts are a delightful way to share our love for everything herbal. Instead of joining the holiday shopping rush, we can take the time to slow down and enjoy the creative process of making simple gifts for those we love. Homemade herbal gifts for friends and family are a great way to spread love and good health. Enjoy this list of 20 inspiring ideas for the holidays.

Homemade Herbal Gifts – 25 Inspiring Ideas for the Holidays

Homemade herbal gifts are a delightful way to share our love for everything herbal. Instead of joining the holiday shopping rush, we can take the time to slow down and enjoy the creative process of making simple gifts for those we love. Homemade herbal gifts for friends and family are a great way to spread love […]

Sweet, delicious honey. Herbal infused honey is a delightful way to enjoy the many health benefits of herbs and raw honey, and is a wonderful way to give herbal medicine to our children. Let me show you how to make herbal infused honey and some of my favorite herbal infused honey combinations for both health and flavor.

How to Make Herbal Infused Honey – Flavorful, Medicinal

  Sweet, delicious honey. Herbal infused honey is a delightful way to enjoy the many health benefits of herbs and raw honey. Let me show you how easy it is to make herbal infused honey and some of my favorite herbal infused honey combinations for both health and flavor.   The content on this site may contain […]

See More

Before Footer

WELCOME

Seeking Joyful Simplicity is about living your best life after 40. I write about using a holistic approach combining herbal remedies, nourishing foods, and self-care to reduce overwhelm, manage our weight, and enjoy more vibrant health in our 40's, 50's, and beyond. Read More…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Footer

Disclaimer and Disclosure

The information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective for you to consider as you make good choices for you and your family’s health. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and maintaining health. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to diagnose any disease, nor is it intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Seek the support and care of a physician and/or complementary care practitioner you trust, and above all, listen to and trust in yourself. Be well!

Seeking Joyful Simplicity is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases through their links supports us at no additional cost to you.

For more information – visit our privacy and disclosure page

Disclaimer

Please Note: the information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective for you to consider as you make good choices for you and your family's health. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and maintaining health. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to diagnose any disease, nor is it intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Seek the support and care of a physician and/or complementary care practitioner you trust, and above all, listen to and trust in yourself. Be well!

Affiliate Notification

The content on this site may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. SeekingJoyfulSimplicity.com is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thank you for you for supporting Seeking Joyful Simplicity. ~ Michelle
  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • About

Copyright © 2022 · Wellness Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in