EVENTS

Wednesday October 9, 2024
6:30 -8:00  PM EST, via Zoom

Many medications produce side effects that can impact mental and sexual health. These include medications for anxiety, arrhythmias, constipation, contraception, depression, fertility, hair growth, hypertension, insomnia, pain, and seizures; even over-the-counter antihistamines and acid-blocking medications are culpable. If used chronically, many of these medications deplete vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy sexual function, good mental health, and vitality.

Taking vitamins, minerals, and botanical supplements can support health and wellness and positively impact sexual and mental health. For example:

• Nitric oxide (NO) boosts blood flow to the genitals and other body parts, including the brain. NO bioavailability is enhanced by increasing the consumption of specific foods and nutritional supplements, e.g., beets, leafy green vegetables, vitamins C and B12, magnesium, potassium, and L-arginine. Increased NO is associated with reduced homocysteine, an inflammatory substance detrimental to sexual and mental health and cognition.
• Dopamine (DA), the “feel good” neurotransmitter closely associated with sexuality and focus, is enhanced by tyrosine in meat, poultry, and eggs; greens, berries, curcumin, ginkgo biloba, fava beans, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B6 and D3, and magnesium, and engaging in exercise, massage, and experiencing nature.
• Medical devices such as pulsed electromagnetic frequency (PEMF) treatment and red light therapy also can help sexual and mental health. PEMF creates a magnetic field near an affected body part, stimulating cell growth and repair by increasing blood flow and oxygenation. It can help sexual and mental health. Red light therapy uses natural red or near-infrared light to stimulate the mitochondria, the cell’s energy-producing bodies. Red light enhances circulation, reduces inflammation, and promotes collagen formation and healing. When applied to the scalp, red light photons can penetrate the skull, reaching the brain and may help neuropsychiatric conditions. Since it improves blood flow, it can potentially enhance sexual function.