A healthy sex life requires a healthy body – there’s no way around that! And when it comes to staying healthy, it’s very important to reduce physical, mental and emotional stress.
That’s where the Ashwagandha root comes in. As a staple of Indian medicine for generations, Ashwagandha can treat stress and help your body achieve balance. Not only can it help with stress-related issues, but research has also shown that it helps balance blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation.
Great sex is more than just physical
Looks can only go so far. Someone might have an amazing body that looks on the beach, but if they have a negative personality it will dominate your experience when the lights go out.
That’s why sex is more than just a physical act. It’s a union of mind, body and spirit. With that said, it’s essential to have a deeper connection beyond the physical plane to reach a common place where the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions meet.
To have great sex, focus on holistic health
In the tantric tradition of ancient India, sex was considered to be a vehicle for transcending consciousness and moving into higher realms. Some people might think that’s “woo,” but the reality for most is that they can get lost in the act and forget time and space, which is an act of “transcendence”.
In order to do that, however, one needs to be in optimum physical, mental, and emotional health. That means it’s crucial to eat well, exercise, take rest, and manage stress with mind-body practices and supplements to support your body.
Stress management is the key to better health
Stress cannot be eliminated entirely, but we can learn to manage it better. The key is to understand that stress goes far beyond an uncomfortable emotional response to unpleasant events. Other sources of stress include:
- Work-related stress
- Poor nutrition
- Chlorinated water
- Air pollution
- Wifi and other sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs)
- Emotional responses to violent television (including the news)
- Street drugs and pharmaceuticals
- Relationship issues
- Death of family members and friends
Consequences of sex on sexual health
Stress negatively affects the hormonal system that governs our sex organs.
When our sex organs are unhealthy, our desire for sex diminishes and our capacity for orgasm is reduced. This can lead to problems such as:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Diminished sperm count
- Fibroid tumours in women
- Endometriosis in women
- Reduced lubrication
- Lowered sex drive
And that’s just a short list! The reality is that everyone is dealing with one or more severe problems at a time. Rather than get depressed about it, it might help to look at it as an evolutionary way to get stronger over time. The key is to learn how to manage stress so it makes you stronger.
How stress affects your sex life
Whatever the source of stress, it creates cortisol that causes a cascade of effects that damage the body on multiple levels. It helps to look at this through the action of the nervous system and its two main subsystems: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Known as the “flight or fight” system, the parasympathetic system turns on when we are confronting something that is causing physical, mental or emotional stress. This part of the nervous system stays “on” so long as stressful events are occurring.
The parasympathetic system – also known as the “rest and digest” system, will only activate when the sympathetic system is turned off. Because our body repairs and relaxes when this nervous system component is activated, it’s essential to manage stress appropriately. Failure to do so means that you won’t fully relax – and relaxation is required to have an enjoyable sexual experience!
Tips to reduce stress for a better sex life
As you have learned so far, stress management is the key to a healthy body – and a healthy body is vital for a great sex life. Here are some tips on cultivating a healthy mind and body:
1. Love yourself first
Maybe you weren’t expecting this one, but the reality is that genuine self-love (and not narcissism!) is a vibration that acts like a magnet that draws the right people into your life.
2. Eat healthy foods and drink clean water
To have great sex, you need to have a healthy body – and that doesn’t mean a pumped-up “gym body” or double-zero model figure.
A healthy body is height-weight proportionate, full of energy, and resilient to disease. It should also be said that a healthy body is an attractive body.
Being healthy also gives you confidence. And who doesn’t love a confident person?
3. Move your body, but don’t overdo it
You don’t need to work out two hours a day to be healthy. Instead, do some physical activity in the morning to set your day and take breaks throughout to breathe, stretch, lift weights and get your blood pumping. That way, you’ll release endorphins – “feel-good” hormones – that will elevate your mood, put a spark in your eyes, and spring in your step.
4. Use supplements wisely to fill gaps in your diet
No diet is perfect. Supplements help us cover areas where critical nutrients are missing. Try taking some vitamins and minerals to support your body’s processes for better health overall.
5. Learn to manage stress
Make stress management a part of your routine with habits that include:
- Doing yoga several times a week
- Taking breaks to meditate throughout the day
- Learning breathing exercises to calm your nervous system
- Taking magnesium for muscle and nervous system relaxation
- Writing in a journal
- Taking Ashwagandha to reduce physical stress in the body
What science says about Ashwagandha benefits
Along with reducing stress, research into Ashwagandha has shown that it can offer the following benefits:
- Neuroprotective properties
- Improved sleep
- Reduced inflammation
- Lower blood sugar
- Improved insulin resistance
Research also suggests that the Ashwagandha root also increases fertility in men, which is an important marker for superior sexual health.
Ashwagandha FAQ
Does Ashwagandha boost libido?
Research suggests that Ashwagandha reduces stress, and that can contribute to an increased libido.
Can Ashwagandha give me better erections?
Ashwagandha root was shown to increase fertility in men, which can lead to better erections.
Learn more about Ashwagandha and how it affects your whole body.