Valentine’s Day is near, but your faithful companion is already here. You know it, you trust it, you love it – Rise is the aphrodisiac you didn’t realize you needed. An aphrodisiac is any food (in this case, herb) or drug that elicits sexual desire when ingested. While conversations about natural aphrodisiacs have commonly revolved around raw oysters and dark chocolate, our alternative will boost your libido while it’s supporting your brain health.
What is an aphrodisiac?
According to the literature, there are three main groups of aphrodisiacs; each pertaining to its own unique mode of action within the body. These categories are broken down between “increasing libido, potency, or sexual pleasure.” While CBD has been regarded as a companion for healthy sex in recent years, that’s not the only ingredient in Rise that can support your bedroom fantasies.
CBD is most often used for its tension- and discomfort-relieving effects in the sheets and in the streets. After all, worry and discomfort are two of the most universal blocks to pleasurable, uninhibited sex (and pleasurable, uninhibited living in general). While we will always advocate for your daily dose of CBD, we’re here to spotlight the lesser known (but arguably more potent) organic botanicals in Rise that have been used for centuries as aphrodisiacs.
The CURED Flow Blend: Peak Performance
With Rise, there’s nothing you can’t do. Your solution for peak performance is all-natural and only three capsules away. Rise is formulated with Lion’s Mane Extract, Cordyceps Extract, Vitamin B Complex, Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract, and the one and only CURED Flow Blend.
This blend was formulated by our in-house clinical herbalist, and contains: Eleuthero, Rhodiola Extract, Gotu Kola, American Ginseng Extract, and Huperzine A.
Eleuthero, also known as Siberian Ginseng, is a perennial shrub native to East Asia and far east Russia, known for its adaptogenic properties. When ingested, it improves cognitive function and mental and physical endurance. It’s well-known in traditional medicine and widely used to sharpen focus, mitigate fatigue, decrease discomfort, support sleep, balance stress, and return the body to a state of homeostasis.
Here’s where things get spicy: one study performed in 2001 demonstrated this herb’s ability to improve male’s testosterone:cortisol ratio by over 28%, which indicates a decreased stress response. With rising stress levels, libido can be significantly hampered while other sex hormones (like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone) take a back seat. This is likely why improving stress (and buffering cortisol) prompts such a significant boost in secondary hormones.
A second study performed in 2010 showed that the daily ingestion of 800 milligrams (mg) of eleuthero over the course of 8 weeks increased male’s endurance time by 23 percent, peak oxygen saturation by 12 percent, and highest heart rate by 3 percent. The takeaway? Eleuthero is your sidekick for marathons; pick your flavor. It may increase your libido and potency, while presenting you with a long list of additional health advantages.
Rhodiola Extract, also known as golden root, is a perennial flower native to the arctic regions of North America, Asia, and Europe. Similarly to the other botanical ingredients in Rise, it is well-regarded in both ancient and modern medicine traditions for its adaptogenic properties. A thorough review of this herb promotes it as a remedy for “[increasing] energy, stamina, strength, and mental capacity, [improving] athletic performance, [resisting] the effects of stress” and helping relieve mental distress.
As discussed with eleuthero, stress is an anaphrodisiac; it blunts natural levels of libido and sexual appetite. In natural medicine, rhodiola rosea is a powerful remedy for reversing the adrenal fatigue and exhaustion caused by high levels of chronic stress. Ingesting this herb can help renew feelings of sexual desire and pleasure largely due to its ability to normalize healthy adrenal output (i.e. which hormones are prioritized and secreted) and boost energy and overall resilience. As a result, both sexual arousal and endurance are improved.
American Ginseng Extract is one of eleven different varieties of the Ginseng genus, which is one of the most widely used herbs in China. In 1843, Carl A. Meyer assigned this genus the name, “Panax;” meaning panacea or all-healing in Greek. Today, it is one of the most commonly used natural remedies.
There is no shortage of science backing up the powerful healing effects of American ginseng. Reviews of the literature demonstrate: antimicrobial and anti-diabetic effects; decreased risks of developing cardiovascular or neurodegenerative disease; and healthy nervous system modulation.
Ginseng is also relied on as a single-compound aphrodisiac; meaning, taking it alone can increase libido, sexual satisfaction, and sexual performance. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, men with erectile dysfunction displayed significant improvement in their self-reported scores on erectile performance and sexual satisfaction after ingesting 300 mg of ginseng three times per day for eight weeks.
Ginseng is also responsible for increasing blood flow, sex hormones, and sex drive. Several clinical studies demonstrate ginseng’s ability to increase free-floating dopamine and acetylcholine in the brain, which have been “implicated in libido” for their effects on desire and arousal (correspondingly).
Gotu Kola is a medicinal herb highly regarded among Eastern medicine practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and indigenous Indonesian rituals. It has over twenty different species, and can be found flourishing in tropical and subtropical countries. In China, gotu kola was identified as one of the “miracle elixirs of life” over 2000 years ago; however, China isn’t the only country that sings high praise for this small, perennial creeper.
Head to this blog to learn more about how gotu kola benefits the brain and the body. For today’s conversation, it’s helpful to know that this herb is considered an aphrodisiac due to its ability to promote healthy blood flow throughout the body; which can improve sexual functioning and satisfaction in both men and women.
The triterpenoids in Gotu Kola have also been shown to ease worry, alleviate mental distress, and relax the nervous system. It’s no surprise: mental health is a prerequisite for sexual health. As any mother will attest, a calm mind allows for a more receptive body and a more pleasurable experience.
It’s clear: any one of these botanicals could stand alone as an exalted aphrodisiac. With Rise, we created an all-natural blend that uses herbal synergy to amplify each of these single ingredient’s powerful effects. The result is a formulation that truly delivers you to a place of peak performance and pleasure. You already love popping your capsules of Rise before heading into the office. This year, why not try snuggling up with your S.O. and partaking with some smooth tunes and even smoother moves?
Trust us now, thank us later.
References:
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