Welcome to the Libido Lounge

Dr. Diane: Welcome to the Libido Lounge, where we focus on all things love, lust, and libido. We believe that fabulous sex is as important to health as exercise and good food!

Hey everybody, welcome back to the lounge! In this episode, we’re diving into a wide variety of causes and solutions—physical and holistic—for supporting your libido, your sex drive, your love life, and more.

The Top Four Physical Root Causes of Low Libido

Dr. Diane: When we look at root causes, the top four physical contributors to low libido are:

1. Adrenal imbalances
2. Sex hormone imbalances
3. Cardiovascular issues
4. Neurological imbalances

And yes—stress and sleep absolutely tie into all of this.

How Your Adrenals Impact Libido

Dr. Diane: Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and make stress hormones and energy hormones. Post-menopause, they even help make sex hormones. But if your adrenals are overactive, especially at night, they can pump out too much cortisol—making you wired and disrupting sleep.

Sleep and stress are deeply connected to libido, so managing adrenal health is crucial.

Take the Libido Quiz

Dr. Diane: I created an amazing Libido Quiz that helps you figure out which of the four root causes is most likely affecting you. I worked with a developer to create something super detailed and specific to YOU. Be sure to take that!

Sleep, Blue Light, and Better Libido

Dr. Diane: A major disruptor of sleep is blue light—yes, from your house lights and screens. Blue light suppresses melatonin production, your sleep hormone.

Try:

• Wearing amber or red blue-blocker glasses at night
• Using red bulbs after sunset
• Installing blue light filters on your devices

When you sleep better, your libido improves. It’s that simple.

Food, Inflammation, and Aphrodisiacs

Dr. Diane: Let’s talk food! While aphrodisiacs like oysters (rich in zinc) are famous, they don’t instantly spike testosterone. What really matters is reducing inflammation and feeding your body what it needs.

Try a paleo-style diet. Pay attention to how you feel. Add in fish oils or cod liver oil if you’re not eating fatty fish like salmon or sardines regularly—these fats are vital for hormone production, brain health, and a vibrant libido.

#1: Support Your Adrenals and Stress Response

Dr. Diane: We can’t always eliminate stress, but we can increase our resilience to it. Herbs like:

• Kava
• Ashwagandha
• Rhodiola
• Ginseng

…can support adrenal function and reset your stress response.

Also—oxytocin is key. Cuddling (even with pets or friends!), platonic touch, or self-pleasure increases oxytocin, which lowers stress and boosts libido.

#2: Cardiovascular Health and Blood Flow

Dr. Diane: Good blood flow is essential for genital arousal, lubrication, and that delicious turn-on sensation. You can:

• Get a calcium score or CIMT
• Ask your doctor to test ApoB (more predictive than cholesterol)

Supplements like red yeast rice, CoQ10, nattokinase, and my favorite: Citrulline (3g/day) can support better blood flow—and you’ll feel the difference.

#3: Calm Your Nervous System

Dr. Diane: Nervous system regulation is critical. Oxytocin helps, but so do calming herbs like:

• California poppy
• Kava
• Valerian
• GABA

When your nervous system is relaxed, you’re more connected to your body—and more connected to pleasure.

#4: Rebalance Your Sex Hormones

Dr. Diane: I’ve covered sex hormones in depth in previous episodes, especially Episode 24. You’ll want to check that out to understand the different types of estrogen and some of the latest research.

But yes—sex hormones matter! And testing them can give you valuable insight into what your body needs.

Bonus: Movement, Posture, and Libido

Dr. Diane: “Sitting is the new smoking.” Movement matters! Get a standing desk, move throughout the day, and consider how pain or stiffness in your body may be affecting your experience in bed.

Better posture and flexibility = better sex. It’s that simple.

Recap and Final Thoughts

Dr. Diane: Today we covered:

• Adrenals and stress
• Cardiovascular health
• Nervous system regulation
• Sex hormones
• Sleep
• Diet
• Movement

This was a jam-packed, info-rich episode—but don’t worry. You can listen again and again. And take the Libido Quiz to find your most likely root cause.

Dr. Diane: This is Dr. Diane signing off—reminding you to always stay classy, sexy, and a little badass-y!

Thank you for listening to the Libido Lounge. Please don’t keep me a secret—share this with your friends!

You can find me on YouTube, on Instagram, and check out our Modern Libido Club for so much more!