FOOD THAT MAKES YOUR SEX DRIVE RISE

Overworked and Under-sexed
We’re hot-blooded, passionate beings. So why do you find yourself saying “Not tonight, dear…” for the fifth time this week? If your libido is limping toward the finish line, blame it on your busy life. “After sitting at a computer and working all day, we just don’t feel like sex,” The same goes for homemakers swamped with chores and errands.

Even if you do find the energy to get busy between the sheets, you may find yourself halfheartedly going through the motions. What to do? The secret may be simple relaxation. To truly enjoy lovemaking, “you have to prepare yourself mentally and spiritually,” says Hadady. And that doesn’t just mean dimming the lights and playing soft music. To really get in the mood, I recomend indulging all your senses, starting with your sense of smell.

Scent-Sational Sex
Aromatherapy oils will relax and rejuvenate you, not to mention make your room smell delicious. Here are five of the most erotic:

1. Geranium
This herb, native to Africa, has undertones of fruit and mint. It “stimulates adrenal energy, the driving force behind libido,” explains Hadady. It revives the senses and reduces stress – the perfect antidote to a day in career overdrive.

2. Jasmine
Rich, exotic and honey-sweet, this oil evokes a “sensual southern climate, like Mexico or San Diego,” says Hadady. Found in France, Egypt and India, it emanates a lush, sensual fragrance perfect for massage oils.

3. Grapefruit
Grapefruit oil wakes up your senses and energizes you with its refreshing and citrusy aroma.

4. Cardamom
The spicy undertones of this Indian herb stimulate energy and help relieve fatigue and depression, while the floral undertones make you feel oh-so-alluring.

5. Clove
This native of tropical Asia is “a spicy aphrodisiac,” says Hadady. One whiff of its warm, fruity and sweet aroma will put lovin’ on your mind.

Admittedly, not everyone finds geranium arousing or grapefruit energizing. What one person deems irresistible another may dismiss as nauseating, Hadady notes. Before the big night, do a trial run. Dab some oil on the inside of your wrists or behind your ears, and give it a few minutes to settle. If you and your guy both like it, try these suggestions for more sizzle in the sack.

- Add a few drops of the oil to the final rinse of your nightgown and sheets.
- Mix a little oil into unscented moisturizing lotion.
- Diffuse the scent through your bedroom with a vaporizer.
- Add a few drops to a warm bath for two.

Super Sexy Herbs
For more fun in the bedroom, Hadady also recommends herbal tonics – concoctions of complementary herbs blended together.

While essential oils have an immediate, temporary effect on your psyche, herbal tonics take longer to work and provide more permanent benefits. “As you take them over time, you’ll gradually notice their benefits,” Hadady explains.

Looking for sexual tonics? Try these five herbs:

1. Yohimbe
Derived from the bark of African evergreen trees, yohimbe has long been used in fertility celebrations. Like Viagra, yohimbe dilates blood vessels, which can help your guy overcome impotency, Hadady explains. But don’t let him hog this herb – it also helps increase the blood flow to your genitals and sharpens your senses – an aphrodisiac double whammy.

2. Ashwagandha
This Indian herb offers solace when you’re “stressed, burned out and exhausted,” says Hadady. Its tranquilizing properties help you shrug off the cares of the day and get in a sultry state of mind. And it soothes tired, sore muscles so you can focus on other parts of your body!

3. Shatavari
Commonly known as wild asparagus, this herb has been nicknamed “wife with 1,000 husbands,” but it works just as well for monogamous types.

Found in the jungles of India, shatavari is a moistening herb. Taking it over time will give you more lubrication, making lovemaking more comfortable.

4. Shilajit
A byproduct of coal, shilajit has been prized for centuries in India.

Like shatavari, it’s a moistening herb and will not only benefit you below the belt, but all over your entire body, rejuvenating hair, skin and nails.

Bonus: It doubles as an anti-wrinkle and anti-aging treatment.

5. Epimedium
Also known as horny goat weed, this hardy Asian herb allegedly earned it name when a Chinese goat herder noticed his flock eating it then mating enthusiastically. True to form, it boosts libido by increasing the body’s production of “feel-good” hormones like epinephrine, serotonin and dopamine.

You can find many of these herbs at your local health foods store. But remember: always consult your doctor before you begin any type of supplementation regimen.