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The Healf Source
These 7 Plants Will Boost Your Libido
From maca root to pistachios, these surprising ingredients can help get you in the mood.
Written by: Tom Ward
Written on: April 19, 2026
Something has quietly shifted in UK bedrooms. Roughly 34% of women and 15% of men have reported a lack of interest in sex, according to one study in the British Medical Journal. And 16% of Brits have sex only once per month, per a 2020 study from Lloyd’s Pharmacy. Stress, busy lives, and mental health issues all appear to play a role in that decline. But those stats aren't really reflective of how people think about intimacy. For one, prescriptions for testosterone in the UK skyrocketed by 135% between 2021 and 2024, according to a BBC report citing data from The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.
The good news is that firing things up in the bedroom again doesn’t necessarily mean shelling out for romantic getaways, taking medications, or injecting hormones.
Shirin Lakhani, MBBS MRCGP DRCOG, a hormone health and intimate health expert, says that plants, nutrient-dense foods, botanicals, and supplements can all play a role in naturally boosting libido. “There are so many plants out there that support blood flow, hormonal balance, mood, and energy,” she says. “All of this can gently enhance sexual desire through whole-body wellbeing rather than quick-fix, short-term stimulation.”
Is the answer to your lagging libido really in the plants we eat? Here's what the science around libido-boosting plants says, and how to make the most of them.
1. Maca Root
Maca root is an Andean tuber full of beneficial amino acids and polyphenols, which may have a positive impact on hormone levels and cellular energy synthesis. In the context of libido, the benefits come from the root's calming impact on the adrenaline gland. “Essentially, it stabilises stress-induced decreases in sex drive,” explains Kristy Thomas, a registered nutritionist who specialises in weight management and gastrointestinal disorders.
Ways to consume: Add 1-2 teaspoons of gelatinised Maca powder into smoothies, porridge, or golden-milk lattes. Alternatively, it’s also available in drop and pill forms, depending on your preference.
2. Fenugreek
Fenugreek seed extract contains beneficial enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and lipids that contribute to overall health, and can also enhance libido, according to a study in the journal Sexual Medicine Reviews. “Researchers believe the plant compounds saponins may influence both testosterone and libido,” says Dr. Lakhani. But, taken incorrectly, she warns it can cause adverse affects, and specifically notes that there isn’t enough evidence to support its effectiveness for conditions like erectile dysfunction.
Ways to consume: Fenugreek is widely available. You can add the seeds and leaves to dishes like curry, or soak the seeds overnight to make fenugreek tea.
3. Cordyceps
This medicinal mushroom has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine as an aphrodisiac. “It’s believed to enhance energy production,” says Dr. Lakhani. However, while there has been some promising research on animals, she says more human studies need to be conducted in order to conclude how, exactly, it improves libido.
Ways to consume: Alice Mushroom’s Happy Ending chocolates are packed with other beneficial botanicals in a unique ‘Please & Arousal Blend’, while Fun Guy’s Perform Elixir combines mushrooms and adaptogens to support your natural vitality.
4. Red Ginseng
Red ginseng improves blood flow, increasing nitric oxide, and may support testosterone balance, which can all in turn increase libido. “There is promising research showing the effectiveness of red ginseng being used to treat erectile dysfunction and improve libido, however more studies need to be conducted,” says Dr. Lakhani. She adds that its uses in stress treatments may contribute positively to issues like erectile disfunction.
Ways to consume: Standardised capsules (often 600 to 1000 mg, 1 to 3 times/day) can help, or you can use sliced roots in soups and teas.
5. Ginkgo Biloba
Thomas says that Ginkgo can be particularly effective if your antidepressants are squashing your sex drive. “It’s a vascular-protective, flavonoid which enhances blood circulation, and antioxidant conditions,” she says. It short, this means it can improve blood flow to your brain, and sensitive areas, and could be used to overcome SSRI sexual side-effects. “This will help a libido that has gone down due to attending antidepressant treatment, or due to age-related changes in vascularity,” she says.
Ways to consume: Take standardised leaf extract (usually 120 to 240 mg/day in several doses) in the form of capsules or tablets. High doses should be avoided when taking blood thinners.
6. Saffron
Saffron is believed to improve mood, reduce anxiety and increase blood flow. With stress and anxiety common factors in lowered libido and erectile dysfunction, Dr. Lakhani says it could have a positive impact in the bedroom. “There have been some promising studies on it, but data is needed to be completely confident,” she says.
Ways to consume: Add it to your rice, or add a pinch to warm milk, risotto, or tea.
7. Pistachios
Pistachios are rich in healthy fats, arginine, and antioxidants that support vascular health and blood flow, including to sex organs. Studies have shown that eating a handful of pistachios daily for around three weeks may help to enhance erectile function. It sounds simple, but Dr. Lakhani says that more clinical studies and human trials must be undertaken before confidently claiming it can help with libido or erectile dysfunction.
Ways to consume: Pistachios are in just about everything at the moment, from chocolate bars to coffee. It’s harder to not eat something with pistachios in. But, if you don’t want to (ahem) shell out for trendy fare, you can always grab a raw handful of nuts.
Takeaway
Making sure you're approaching your diet in a way that supports your overall health, with nutrient-dense foods, botanicals, and supplements, can help naturally boost libido. But it's important to remember that a few extra ingredients in your diet can't solve all your problems in the bedroom. Sex and desire are incredibly complex processes that include all sorts of inputs, from hormones to mental health. There's never going to be a one-size-fits-all solution that will magically boost your desire, and experts say that taking a holistic approach is always the best course of action.
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
Tom Ward is a former Men's Health features editor, and writes regularly on sports, fitness and adventure for the Red Bulletin, Outside, and the Sunday Times. He is the author of the novels The Lion and The Unicorn, and TIN CAT.
