When it comes to increasing a man’s libido there are a lot of factors in play. Some men may want to increase their sex drive, some may want to boost erection strength and others may want to make both rise (pun intended).
No matter which category you fall under, at the end of the day you just want to please her, and I’ve got you covered in this article.
If you don’t see a particular supplement you were looking for in this list, it’s because the scientific evidence isn’t strong enough to support it being mentioned or it simply isn’t as powerful as the other supplements on this list.
Supplements like “Velvet Antler” have been shown in a human case study to have no effect on libido or sexual function (study); and “fenugreek” showed promise in one study but has also been shown to decrease DHT which is a huge factor in a man’s sex drive (this is why drugs like propecia can cause impotence in a healthy man) so I would like to see more studies on long term effects before recommending it.
This article is also about giving you the “best supplements for a man’s libido” not just some huge list which includes a lot of mediocre or even good one’s.
Foods and supplements like garlic and dark chocolate can actually do a lot for sex drive and blood flow over the course of a couple of weeks but the supplements in this list are the most powerful natural aphrodisiacs and blood flow boosters you can get to make an impact within a few days and in some cases, within 30 minutes.
Everybody has unique biology so the various supplements in the following list may work better for some than others but they have all been proven in at least one scientific backed, human case study to have a positive benefit.
Here are the best 9 supplements you can take to increase your libido:
Ginseng is an amazing supplement and about as sure fire as it gets to “put more lead in your pencil.”
It is probably the most studied supplement in this list and has been shown over and over again to have an extremely wide range of health benefits, especially when it comes to sex.
Panax Ginseng has been shown to:
It is important to note that these benefits have been attributed to “panax ginseng” also known as “Korean” and “red” ginseng which is a different species than “American” and “Siberian” ginseng.
Learn more about panax ginseng.
Maca root is commonly called “Peruvian Ginseng” for it’s libido boosting properties even though it has no relation to actual ginseng at all.
Maca was so highly prized among the ancient Peruvians for it’s health benefits they actually gifted it to the Spanish as a gesture of goodwill when they first landed upon their shores.
This root which only grows high in the Andes at altitudes above 7,000 feet, has been documented showing strong androgenic effects. (10)
As well as positive effects on the endocrine system which includes the pituitary, thyroid and testicles, all of which are responsible for hormone secretion and sexual function.
Most importantly to you, it has been shown in multiple human case studies to increase erection strength, well-being, and libido. (11, 12, 13)
Learn more about maca root.
Scientifically known as Eurycoma Longifolia, Longjack, is another ancient herb from Asia which has been gaining a lot of popularity from men in the last decade.
Longjack has been shown to increase testosterone in men with “Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome” by up to 46% and increase testosterone levels in men with moderates amount of stress by 37%. (14, 15)
This is a pretty important finding because stress is one of the biggest testosterone killers and being in my 40’s myself, I don’t know any responsible man who does not have a moderate amount of stress in his life.
Of course testosterone has a huge effect on a man’s libido and sex drive so we can make a logical conclusion it may directly help those areas but it’s always great to see scientific proof.
We have it because in another 12 week study on 109 men age 30 – 55, longjack was shown to directly increase libido, erection strength and semen volume. (16)
Learn more about longjack.
Ashwagandha is one of my favorite herbs because one of it’s main benefits and probably the most well documented is helping the mind and body cope with stress. (17, 18, 19)
As I’ve already mentioned, stress can terrorize your testosterone levels but it can also tank your sex drive.
In a human case study, ashwagandha supplementation was shown to increase sperm count by 167% and semen volume by 53% and it has also been shown to increase testosterone and fat loss in healthy men. (20, 21)
Fat locks up our hormones and keeps them from being productive within our body. Dropping just a few pounds of excess fat can raise your “free testosterone” levels and stimulate our sex hormones.
Oddly, there have not been any scientific case studies I could find on whether or not it directly helps improve a man’s libido but there is one showing it can boost a females libido so perhaps you want to share this one with your girlfriend or wife! (22)
Perhaps part of the reason for the lack of case studies on male libido is because there is so much evidence on it’s testosterone boosting abilities as well as a mountain of anecdotal evidence it works.
Personally, I like it and believe it helps and see enough scientific backing to confidently say it’s worth giving it a try for yourself.
Learn more about ashwagandha.
Scientifically known as Epimedium, horny goat weed literally got its nickname from Chinese goat herders who noticed when their goats ate this weed, they got it on more frequently.
Horny goat weed is well known to help improve erection strength and libido in men and may even improve sex drive for women too.
As for it’s abilities to help men, horny goat weed may work in a very similar fashion to Viagra in terms of how it interacts with the body (Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition) to increase blood flow to the penis resulting in firmer and longer lasting erections. (23)
There are multiple components to HGW which are believed to be beneficial but one unique compound in particular known as “icariin” which is a type of flavonoid, is believed to provide the biggest benefit.
Unfortunately, most of the scientific case studies to date have been done on rats or in vitro (petri dish) so most websites showing you multiple case studies are not giving you the full story or they are taking extreme liberties in linking what may be logical conclusions but not directly proven correlations.
Some people may also experience an increase in heart rate and/or dizziness when supplementing with horny goat weed although all natural supplements have at least a small chance of side effects.
I will tell you in my personal experience horny goat weed is extremely effective and there is a reason it’s been a top selling libido booster for more than 2 decades now.
Perhaps the biggest issue is getting an actual high quality HGW supplement.
Without getting too into the science of it in this article, there is a lot of low quality junk on the market.
You’ll want to look for a product that standardizes it’s “icariin” and provides around 50 – 150 mg of it.
As an example a 500 mg HGW supplement standardized to 10% icariin would be providing 50 mg icariin. Or a 300 mg HGW standardized to 40% icariin would provide 120 mg.
Important Note: “icariins” with an “s” is not the same thing as “icariin”.
It’s out of the scope of this article but trust me when I say you do not care about the amount of standardized “icariins” which is what most companies sell. Don’t waste your money on their products.
You have probably heard that oysters and pumpkin seeds are a very powerful aphrodisiacs but you may not know these two completely different foods work, at least in part, so well for the same reason; they are packed full of zinc!
Zinc cannot be stored in our bodies so we have to consume an ample amount each and every day. Unfortunately, in today’s world of highly processed foods and extreme soil degradation, that can be hard to do.
As we have already discussed, testosterone levels play a major role in sexual health and zinc has been shown in multiple human case studies to play a major role in testosterone production. (24, 25, 26)
Oral zinc supplementation has also been shown to improve sexual satisfaction, libido and frequency of intercourse in men who were low on the nutrient. (27)
Learn more about zinc.
This is one of my favorite nitric oxide (blood flow) boosting supplements be it for pre-workout, increasing endurance or pushing additional blood flow to extracurricular extremities.
Multiple human case studies have now confirmed that L-Citrulline can greatly increase nitric oxide and blood flow but the one that is most important to this article is a 2011 study which showed that “oral L-citrulline supplementation improves erection hardness in men with mild erectile dysfunction.” (28)
There just isn’t anything else left to say about it other than it is highly effective and it works within 45 – 60 minutes of ingestion so it’s got a great turnaround time.
As with all supplements which increase blood flow, it’s also great for a woman’s sexual health.
Beetroot is extremely rich in nitrates which converts to nitric oxide in the body and is very well documented in human case studies at helping to increase blood flow.
One recent study showed that nitrates from vegetables such as beetroot can improve endothelial function which is the flexibility lining in blood vessels.
What that may mean for you is stronger erections you are able to keep longer. (29)
Learn more about beetroot.
Pomegranate has multiple benefits for a man’s sexual health as it has both been shown in human case studies to:
Finally, a double blind study on men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction who supplemented with pomegranate juice showed overall improvement. (33)
I want to point out the ED study while positive overall did involve a small sample size and the difference between the placebo and active group was not statistically significant. However, researchers concluded the evidence was positive enough to recommend more in-depth studies.
Because pomegranate has the potential to positively affect multiple areas of a man’s libido, has been proven in several human case studies and its ability to increase blood flow can happen within just 30 minutes, it’s definitely a great supplement for you to try.
Learn more about pomegranate.
The supplements mentioned in this article can work wonders for your libido if you are a man. In fact, many of them can help if you are a woman.
But if you suffer from extreme ED problems, I strongly suggest you also consult with your doctor.
Serious ED problems can signal a much more serious and even potentially deadly issue, such as clogged arteries.
It’s much better to put your pride aside and get your doctors sign off that you have no serious health concerns which need to be addressed than to learn about it in an emergency room.
References
Rhodiola Rosea stands out as a potent adaptogenic herb with a rich history of traditional use and a growing body of scientific research. Revered for
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Betaine anhydrous is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient for pre-workouts. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of betaine anhydrous, its connection to carnosine,
Beta-alanine is a pre-workout powerhouse. From boosting workout performance to potential anti-aging effects, discover why this amino acid is a favorite among health buffs.
When caffeine and L-Theanine are taken together, these two ingredients can power up your workouts, delivering results neither can achieve alone.
Rhodiola Rosea stands out as a potent adaptogenic herb with a rich history of traditional use and a growing body of scientific research. Revered for
In this comprehensive article, we will explore what L-tyrosine is, its benefits as a pre-workout supplement, the correct dosage, and other potential health benefits it
Betaine anhydrous is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient for pre-workouts. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of betaine anhydrous, its connection to carnosine,
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