A person’s sex drive commonly referred as libido, does not stay the same at all times. As he ages, his libido tends to come down. In case of women, libido tends to reduce during and after menopause. Although, medicines that promise to enhance libido are quite famous a lot of us do not know about natural foods that can enhance libido. Yes, it is possible to increase libido through your everyday diet.

The level of testosterone in men and testosterone, estrogen and progesterone in women determines a person’s sex drive. By including natural food that can increase the production of these hormones, libido can be enhanced. Also, some of these supplements increases the blood circulation to the genitals and thereby enhance libido.

Natural Sources to Increase Libido

Any substance that increases libido is known as aphrodisiacs. Here is a list of natural aphrodisiacs that you can include in your diet to enhance your sex drive:

1. Fruits such as banana, strawberry, peach, avocado and mango help in inducing libido. Strawberries dipped in chocolate are considered to be very effective.
2. Add vegetable such as carrot, ginger, garlic and other green vegetable in your diet.
3. Dry fruits such as almond, peanuts and pine nuts have sex inducing properties.
4. The ingredients in dark chocolate and the smell of vanilla can increase the sex drive in women.
5. Herbs such as Basil, Ginko biloba, Horny Goat weed, Ginseng, Tongkat Ali and Kudzu Root help in improving a person’s sexual response. If you are unable to find these herbs in your neighborhood, you could shop online for natural supplement that contains these herbs.
6. Soya beans, oatmeal, oysters, celery, egg and cheese are natural libido enhancers.
7. Omega 3 fatty acids play a vital role in stimulating libido. Fishes such as tuna and salmon are good source of Omega 3. Flaxseed oil is a vegetarian source of the fatty acid.

While aphrodisiacs can help to increase sexual drive in a person, you need to remember that it will work only if he has a desire for sex. In addition to natural foods that can enhance libido, love for your partner is another key factor in enhancing libido and maintaining a happy relationship.

With the changing times, life is becoming more challenging and strenuous for women. In a race to maintain balance between house and work, the personal health and fitness has begun to take a backseat. However, it is quite important to do some simple exercises regularly to keep the mind and body fit. Among the other exercises, kegel exercises for women are extremely popular. So, what are kegel exercises for women and why is it important?

Kegel exercises are popular because of the incredible benefits it offers especially related to the sexual health of women. If these exercises are done properly, they can prove to be quite beneficial in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, thereby increasing the orgasmic and sexual responses.

Benefits of Kegel Exercises

It is a medically proven fact that kegel exercises helps in bringing about some major life changing benefits. These exercises are usually recommended to women during pregnancy, after child birth or to those who are aging or obese. Apart from helping in sexual health, they also help in prevention of prolapse of the pelvic organs. Kegel also helps in making the childbirth process easier. They assist in overcoming incontinence that usually starts during pregnancy and continues after childbirth.

Exercise the right way

Once you have decided to go kegel exercises, it is important that you do it the right way. Hence, it is advisable to go through the human anatomy as this will provide you with the complete knowledge of the structure of the pelvic muscles. This will assist you to exercise better.

In order to recognize the pelvic floor muscles, you have to start and stop the urinating process in midstream. During the process, keep focusing on the muscles that controls the process. Once the muscles have been recognized, the next step is to exercise those muscles. Also, once the muscles have been recognized, avoid doing kegel when you are full bladder or urinating.

Basic Kegel

To do kegel, first contract your pelvic muscles. Hold it for a few seconds, say 3-5 seconds. Then, relax the muscles for the same amount of time that you had contracted it. You could repeat the exercise several times a day and even gradually increase the period of contraction and relaxation.

Don’t Strain your Muscles Too Much

While doing kegel do not overstrain your muscles. Also, empty your bladder before you do the exercises. Depending upon the response of the muscles to everyday exercises, gradually increase the timings. Keep in mind Rome was not built in a day. In your effort to treat one problem, you should not end up with another. So, maintain caution.

So, have you learned about basic kegel exercises for women and why is it important? Next, you might be interested to know about advanced kegel exercise programs that can be done with assisted devices such as kegel exerciser. They help in further enhancing your sexual responsiveness. However, make sure you learn it right before trying it on your own. There are various programs and books available online that can train you in advanced kegel exercises. So, what are you waiting for? Start today and enjoy an extremely satisfying sex life!

Do you have blisters and painful sores in your mouth? Well, the most common reasons for mouth sores could either be oral herpes or canker sores. Does it make you wonder if it’s contagious? And, is your partner worried, if it could spread through kiss or sex? The answer could be yes and no. It depends upon the type of the mouth sore that you have.

Oral herpes also referred to as cold sores is the most common type of herpes. It is caused by herpex simplex virus 1 or HSV1 and it is extremely contagious. When you kiss a person with cold sores, you can end up with oral herpes. Now, I have seen a lot of people wonder if you can get genital herpes from a mouth sore. Yes, if you indulge in oral sex with a person with oral herpes. The infection occurs when the virus from the oral blisters come in contact with the genital region during oral sex.

Statistics show that women are at a higher risk of acquiring genital herpes than men. If one of the partners is suffering from herpes, the couple needs to abstain from having oral sex. Alternatively, the risk of herpes infection can also be reduced considerably through the use of condoms. In addition to condoms, you could also take antiviral medication to further decrease the possibility of genital herpes.

Herbal treatment for herpes is both effective and cheap. Click here to read more.

However, even with all these precautions, a person can still get infected with herpes. Apart from genitals, the infection could also spread to other areas such as the thighs or buttocks.  So, if you are keen on avoiding the infection, it is advisable to avoid oral sex until the cold sore is healed.

Canker sores are commonly occurring painful, blisters in the mouth. They aren’t contagious and do not spread through kiss or sex. So, if either you or your partner has blisters in your mouth, check for the symptoms. If the blisters are white with a reddish border, it is most likely a canker sore. On the other hand, if the blisters are red, it could be oral herpes.

If you are interested to know more about the symptoms of herpes, click here.

Herpes does not have a permanent cure and once you contract the simplex virus, it remains in your body forever. So, it is also advisable to confirm the nature of the mouth sore. And, if it happens to be the contagious herpes take necessary precautions so that you do not get Genital Herpes from a Mouth Sore.

Can Pap smear detect STDs? There are millions of women who want to know the answer to this question. If you are one among them, the first step in this direction will be to inform yourself on the basic facts pertaining to Pap smear test.

Pap smear test has been one of the most common methods of diagnosis for cervical cancer in women. It involves collection of the cervical cells and its subsequent testing to detect any conditions that may lead to cancer. It is recommended that women who are sexually active should undergo Pap smear test at least once in every 3 years. However, this doesn’t mean that all sexually transmitted diseases can be detected through a Pap smear test. This brings up another question to the fore.

What are the sexually transmitted diseases that can be diagnosed by Pap smear test?

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that affects about 4 million women annually. It can be considered similar to Gonorrhea considering the symptoms and nature of the bacterial multiplication. When left untreated, this can lead to contraction of infections like HPV and HIV. Although Pap smear tests cannot detect the presence of the bacteria, the changes occurring in the cervix due to Chlamydia can be determined. This is quite helpful, as in most cases, Chlamydia is asymptomatic.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is one of the most common yet curable sexually transmitted disease. Pap smear test is known to show about 60% accuracy in the diagnosis of this condition. When the cervical cells are tested by means of Pap smear test, a transparent corona, which surrounds the exterior cell nucleus, indicates Trichomoniasis. Inflammation and presence of red sores in the cervix are also considered signs of Trichomoniasis.

The complication of this condition involves increased susceptibility to herpes infection and HIV. Diseases related to pelvic inflammation, cervical neoplasia and tubal infertility are also linked to Trichomoniasis.

Herpes Infection:

In rare occasions, cells injured due to herpes infection are detected by a Pap smear test. During physical examination, evident sores due to herpes outbreak can be recognized easily.

If you want to know more about the symptoms of herpes, click here.

A Word of Caution

If you are still pondering over the question ‘Can Pap smear detect STDs?’, then the answer is a clear No. Pap smears cannot be considered a reliable method of detecting all sexually transmitted diseases. The fact that it indicates the presence of a few sexually transmitted infections does not make it a reliable option.  It is always recommended that you consult a health care expert to know more about the appropriate methods of testing STDs.

Once infected with herpes, the herpes simplex virus resides in your body forever. However, the virus is not active at all times. There might be times when the virus remains latent and you do not have any symptoms of infection. There are medications that could have the virus remain latent for longer periods of time. However, most of these medications can cause side effects like diarrhea. Also, they might not be effective on people with a weak immune system. Hence, it is advisable to resort to herbal treatment for herpes because it is both effective and devoid of any side effects.

Herbal Treatment Methods

There are various herbal remedies that can help prevent the outbreak of the herpes simplex virus. Here are a few simple and effective herbal methods that you can opt for.

1. Tea Tree Oil – This essential oil is effective in fighting cold sores and blisters caused by herpes. Apart from this, the oil is also an effective antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic agent. Just apply a drop of the oil on the affected area to get rid of the infection.
2. Samento Extract – This herbal extract helps to treat herpes by boosting the immune system. This is an extract from a Peruvian plant called the cat claw. Samento extract can either be purchased in pill or liquid form.
3. Nutritional Supplements – Increasing the intake of Vitamin C, Magnesium and Zinc helps boost the immune system. This in turn helps prevent the outbreak of herpes virus. Also, include food that are rich in Vitamin B and nutritional yeast. Garlic also helps to fight viral infections to the same effect.
4. Herbs –There are a variety of herbs that help treat herpes. Licorice root has proved to  be extremely effective in fighting the virus. However, if you have high blood pressure, you might want to get professional advice before using this herb.Aloe vera gel can also be applied to on the infected area. You could also use formulas that contain Echinacea and goldenseal herbs. Lemon balm has been clinically proved to be effective in fighting herpes when applied on the infected site. You could also mix 1 oz of dry chaparral leaves, 4 tbsp of baking soda and a few drops of tea tree oil to your bath. This will help relieve the pain and fight the virus.
5. Diet – Herpes can be controlled by making slight modifications to your diet and lifestyle. Include yoghurt, flax seed, nuts, whole grain food, garlic and fishes such as salmon and tuna that are rich in omega fatty acids. Avoid alcohol, nicotine, food containing high sugar, chocolates and caffeinated drinks.

Stress level also plays a vital role in herpes.  Indulge in sports such as tennis or squash,  yoga and exercises to avoid stress.

You have to remember that the herbal treatment for herpes cannot provide a complete cure for herpes. Just like any other medication, they help avoid the outbreak of the virus. Follow the herbal treatment carefully and prevent the outbreak of the virus!

Herpes is an infection caused by herpes simplex virus. When the infection affects mouth and face, it is referred as oral herpes. When the infection is restricted to the genital area, it is referred as genital herpes. Although, there are other types of infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, oral herpes and genital herpes are the most common herpes infections.  So, before treating them, it is necessary to confirm that the infection is caused by herpes and that it is not a bacterial or a yeast infection. So, how do you know if you have herpes?

Signs and Symptoms of Herpes

Here are the common signs and symptoms of oral herpes:

1. In oral herpes, even before the infection becomes visible, you might experience pain or itching.
2. Then the infection becomes visible in the form blisters and redness of the skin.
3. You might notice blisters opening up into tiny ulcers against the reddened skin.
4. As the blisters break opens, the fluid inside them ooze out. The area around the infection might start to itch.
5. Other symptoms include fever, headache and muscle pain in rare cases.

Signs and Symptoms of Genital Herpes

The signs and symptoms might be hard to notice at the beginning. It might even take up to a week or two after the infection, for the symptoms to show up.

1. Blisters could appear on the genitalia, anus, inner thighs, urinary tract and cervix.
2. Itching or burning sensation in the vagina, genitalia, anus and penis.
3. The infection could also be identified by vaginal discharge.
4. You might experience pain during urination.
5. Abdominal pain or pressure can also indicate genital herpes.
6. Apart from this, low fever, leg pain or body pain could also occur as a result of genital herpes.

If you wish confirm if you have herpes through medical examination, you might be asked to take blood culture test. Alternatively, a swab test containing the sample from the sores could also be used to test for herpes.

Once, you get herpes, there is no cure for it. The virus remains in your body forever. However, it results in health related problems only when there is an outbreak of the virus. And, the good news is that this outbreak is treatable. The natural methods of treating herpes are highly effective and simple.  If you are interested in herbal treatment for herpes, click here.

So, as soon as you begin to get blisters or itching, just refer to the symptoms given in this article, ‘How do you know if you Have Herpes?’ If your symptoms match with the ones listed here, consult your doctor or opt for home remedies to avoid an outbreak of the virus.

Libido refers to sexual desire and it is a natural behavior among all animal species.  The  libido in men is always stronger than in women. At times, owing to physical or psychological factors, people might have reduced or no libido at all. However, if the reason behind libido is correctly identified and addressed, the sexual desire in a person can be restored. In addition, there are also various medications and natural supplements that can help increase the libido. But, first and foremost among them is honey. The benefits of honey to libido are immense and hence it finds a special place in most of the medications that promise to restore libido.

Benefits of Honey to Libido

Do you that the word ‘honeymoon’ originated because of the association of honey to libido?  As a matter of fact, the sexual inducing quality of honey has been known to mankind for a very long time.  Across religions and culture, honey forms an integral part of the feast in marriage ceremonies around the world.

Honey contains various compounds that render it the seduction power. Among various vitamins and minerals, honey is rich in vitamin B6 and anti-oxidants. Vitamin B6 helps in testosterone production which is a male sex hormone. Also, vitamin B is said to help in inducing neurotransmitters in the body that leads to sexual desire and arousal.

When honey is mixed with oatmeal, the sex drive is said to increase even higher. Some even recommend mixing honey with figs to increase libido.

Honey also helps in increasing blood flow in the body leading to arousal and strong erection. Apart from this, the fructose present in the honey provides necessary energy and stamina that aids libido.

Various studies are also being carried out to scientifically establish the link between honey and libido.

Other Natural Supplements

Apart from honey, there are also various natural supplements that can increase libido. Pomegranate juice, citrus fruit, strawberries, blueberries, banana, pine nuts and spinach are some of the libido-inducing natural foods. And, the best thing about these supplements is that they do not have any side effects.

Apart from the benefits of honey to libido, it can also add nutritious value to your food. So, if issues related to reduced or lack of libido troubling you, stop worrying! Make honey a part of your diet and enjoy a healthy sexual life.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. This bacterial infection often shows no symptoms but, left untreated, it can cause side effects as severe as infertility in women.

If it is caught, it can be treated with a short regimen of antibacterial medications.

Symptoms that can appear in a woman suffering from this condition include vaginal discharge that is abnormal; burning during urination, back pain, fever, irregular menstruation or pain during intercourse. There can also be soreness around the vaginal area, related vaginal soreness, inflammation and/or rash. A handy fix is tea tree oil for chlamydia which we’ll discuss below.

Tea tree oil is an essential oil derived from the leaves of a tree that is native to Australia. It is a known antifungal and antiseptic agent. It is used in a wide range of cosmetic and medicinal products. It has shown to have positive results in clearing up vaginal conditions such as yeast infections or thrush. Treatments using tea tree oil for chlamydia will not clear up the disease. But the topical application of the oil to the vaginal area can alleviate some of the soreness, inflammation or rash if any of these presents as a symptom. Vitamin E cream can also be used topically on the vagina to treat these symptoms.

Again, it is important to realize that it is not a curing treatment to use tea tree oil for chlamydia. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection occurring within your body. If you suspect you may have this disease- which can be spread through vaginal, anal or oral intercourse, you should consult with a doctor. If you test positive, you will be prescribed an antibiotic such as azithromycin, doxycycline, or erythromycin. One course of antibiotics will clear up the infection and prevent you from spreading it to your sexual partners. Until you’ve taken the medication’s full dosage, you could still spread the infection. Continue to use protective devices such as condoms and dental dams until you are certain you are healthy (or even longer if you’re not in a monogamous relationship).

Tea tree oil for chlamyida is not a cure but it is still useful to have the essential oil on hand for other uses. It can be used on cuts, burns and scratches to disinfect the area and promote healing. It can be used as a facial toner or mixed in with regular shampoo to create an anti-dandruff version. Tea tree oil can also be used on acne, bug bites, sunburn, boils and even flea control for animals. Before using tea tree oil for the first time for any purpose, do an allergy test by putting a small dab of the oil on a patch of your skin. If there isn’t a negative reaction, you know you’re safe to use the product. Don’t skip the allergy test if there’s even a chance you could be allergic. You don’t need to give yourself more rash and swelling in the vaginal area just because you used an oil you shouldn’t have.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that three out of every four women will experience a vaginal yeast infection sometime in their life. Symptoms of a yeast infection can include vaginal dryness, itch and unpleasant discharge along with a host of physical manifestations ranging from joint pain to grogginess. The prime culprit behind such infections is a fungus called Candida albicans, which exists in the vagina (and also the intestines and mouth).

Normally, the body keeps the fungus in check due to the acidic vaginal envronment caused by the bacteria Lactobacilius acidophilus and the body’s immune system. But sometimes these elements can become unbalanced enough for the fungus to cause an infection. But never fear- treatments are near. A very common treatment question is “should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast?”

The simple answer is yes. But not all vitamins are created equal. Vitamin C, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin B are all effective treatments.

Vitamin C works because it makes the white blood cells stronger, keeping the candida fungus contained to the area where it causes the infection and preventing the spread of it to other areas. It also helps restore some of the acidity to the vagina that is obviously missing or the fungus wouldn’t have taken hold. At what dosage should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast? Taking 1,000 mg, twice a day for a month will be adequate to see results.

Zinc is another vitamin to consider for candida yeast treatment. Zinc produces immune system cells called T lymphocytes that tidy up the cells infected by the fungus. A little bit of zinc goes a long way. At what dosage should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast? No more than 15 mg twice a day for a month.

Vitamins A and E act as a tag team to boost the immune system. Vitamin A can be taken orally or as a vaginal suppository to get a faster action. Vitamin E works on the immunity but also balances out hormone levels and eases dryness in the vagina. If you’d like to add on some extra dryness prevention and hormone balancing power, take some vitamin B. At what dosage should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast? 400 IU’s a day of vitamin E will be effective. For vitamins A and B, consult with your doctor or pharmacist regarding dosage because taking too much (especially of vitamin A) can have problems of its own.

Be sure to ask your doctor “should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast?” They will inform you of the actions listed above but can also counsel you better regarding dosages and any potential interactions the supplements may have with your health conditions or medications. It is advised that you see a doctor but if you decide not to, visit your local pharmacist to ask him or her about possible interactions or problems. They will be able to look at your list of medications and give you dosage recommendations, usually free of charge.

A decrease in a woman’s sexual appetite or ability to experience pleasure could be the result of a hormone imbalance. Sexuality is largely controlled by the sex hormones that would ideally exist in certain proportions Nature sometimes has its own ideas on where to take those levels but there are ways to bring things back into proportion. For example, there are natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones.

In order to understand how the vitamins work, it is first important to understand how the sex hormones work in the body. A woman’s sex hormones are created in either the ovaries or in the adrenal glands in the kidneys. There are three categories of sex hormones: androgens, estrogens and progestagens. Every human has all of these hormone types within their body but the levels determine, among other things, our gender.

Androgens are typically associated with the male gender because it includes testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and androstenedione. Estrogens and Progestagens are more commonly associated with the female gender. The estrogens are estradiol and estrone. The only naturally occurring progestagen is progesterone. Progesterone and estrogen are the hormones behind the menstrual cycle and an imbalance of these can cause a host of health problems. If you suspect an imbalance, you may want to invest in one of the natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones.

Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid) targets those sex hormones produced in the adrenal glands. The andogens (especially testosterone) are produced in the adrenal glands It may not seem like testosterone is important for a woman to have in the proper proportion in their body but lowered levels of testosterone can cause as many health problems as deficiencies in the “female” hormones. While it is rare for people to have a Vitamin B5 deficiency, it wouldn’t hurt to take these natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones in a low dose of 5 to 6 mg a day.

Vitamin B3 (also known as Niacin) is needed for the manufacturing of testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. It primarily stimulates those hormones in the adrenal glands. Vitamin B3 provides a flushed feeling in the body that is so distinctive it is actually called “Niacin flush”. It can create a feeling of warmth and increased sensitivity due to the increased blood circulation provided by these natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones. The recommended daily dosage for women is between 14 and 18 mg a day.

FYI: Un unbeknown to most people, the FDA has recently made Vitamin B6 a drug. This means it will only be available through prescription. So get your supplies now!

Vitamin A helps the ovaries produce hormones and can increase the stimulation capabilities of a woman. It can also help with conception and a healthy pregnancy. The recommended daily dosage for adult women is 4,000 I.U. (international units).

Vitamin E actually contains properties that are similar to progesterone, androgen and estrogen. It can help the ovaries in hormone production and is often touted as a sterility vitamin. The recommended dosage of these natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones is 100 to 200 I.U. per day. While it is safe to take more than that, Vitamin E isn’t more effective at those higher dosages.