Men and women have used anaphrodisiacs--herbs that suppress the libido--for centuries. In antiquity, priests, nuns and soldiers would take anaphrodisiacs to curb sexual desire during times of temptation. Today, some people take libido-suppressing herbs before an exam, date, job interview or presentation, hoping to prevent distracting thoughts or physical signs of arousal. Herbs that suppress the libido have been the subject of very limited clinical study, and none has been scientifically proven to decrease sexual desire.
Also known as monk's pepper, chasteberry owes its name to its historic popularity as an anaphrodisiac for monks and priests. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, monks in the Middle Ages used this medicinal herb to promote chastity and curb sexual response. Chasteberry may increase sex drive in women while decreasing sex drive in men; more studies are needed to confirm its effects.
50 Fat-Burning Workouts Burn fat & get totally ripped with these 50 full-body workout routines www.MaxWorkouts.com
Camphor
Dr. Franklin D. Lewis, a professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Emory University, reports that camphor aromatherapy was used in Persian folk medicine to reduce sexual response. Camphor, a heavily scented wax derived from evergreen trees in the laurel family, is now used in as an ingredient in over-the-counter medicinal products, such as Vick's Vaporub. A small amount of a camphor-infused product can be placed under the nose or on the chest; this may help to ease muscle tension and reduce sexual desire. Note that camphor causes an intense burning sensation if it is placed on a sensitive area, such as the lips or genitals; its toxicity also makes it unsafe for oral ingestion.
Hops
Hops, commonly used as an ingredient in beer, may help to reduce sex drive. Herbalists Kathleen Brown and Jeanine Pollak note that hops were historically used to curb sexual desire in sexually deviant men. Today, this sedative herb may contribute to beer's reputed anaphrodisiac qualities. However, no modern scientific studies have evaluated this traditional association.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/105790-herbs-suppress-libido/#ixzz21lWCft6Y
An Update on Plant Derived Anti-Androgens
http://endometabol.com/?page=article&article_id=3644
Anti-androgens are an assorted group of drugs and compounds that reduce the levels or activity of androgen hormones within the human body. Disease states in which this is relevant include polycystic ovarian syndrome, hirsutism, acne, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and endocrine related cancers such as carcinoma of the prostate.
We provide an overview and discussion of the use of anti-androgen medications in clinical practice and explore the increasing recognition of the benefits of plant-derived anti-androgens, for example, spearmint tea in the management of PCOS, for which some evidence about efficacy is beginning to emerge. Other agents covered include red reishi, which has been shown to reduce levels 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that facilitates conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT); licorice, which has phytoestrogen effects and reduces testosterone levels; Chinese peony, which promotes the aromatization of testosterone into estrogen; green tea, which contains epigallocatechins and also inhibits 5-alpha reductase, thereby reducing the conversion of normal testosterone into the more potent DHT; black cohosh, which has been shown to kill both androgen-responsive and non-responsive human prostate cancer cells; chaste tree, which has a reduces prolactin from the anterior pituitary; and saw palmetto extract, which is used as an anti-androgen although it shown no difference in comparison to placebo in clinical trials.
Plant derived Anti-Androgen Therapies
There is an ever-increasing demand for complementary therapies, or those that are perceived as being more natural. The presence of anti-androgenic chemicals in plants, herbs, and foodstuffs provides an alternative to modern synthetic pharmaceuticals. It is also commonly believed that there are fewer adverse effects of such alternative therapies.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Red reishi, commonly known as LingZhi in Chinese, is a mushroom thought to have many health benefits. In a research study exploring the anti-androgenic effects of 20 species of mushrooms, reishi mushrooms had the strongest action in inhibiting testosterone (3). That study found that reishi mushrooms significantly reduced levels of 5-alpha reductase, preventing conversion of testosterone into the more potent DHT. High levels of DHT are a risk factor for conditions such as benign prostatatic hypertrophy (BPH), acne, and baldness.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Licorice is a flavorful substance that has been used in food and medicinal remedies for thousands of years. It is also known as “sweet root,” licorice root contains a compound that is about 50 times sweeter than sugar. It has been used in both Eastern and Western medicine to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from the common cold to liver disease. Licorice affects the endocrine system because it contains isoflavones (phytoestrogens), which are chemicals found in plants that may mimic the effects of estrogen and relieve menopausal symptoms and menstrual disorders. Licorice may also reduce testosterone levels, which can contribute to hirsutism in women.
A small clinical trial published in 2004 by Armanini and colleagues found that licorice root significantly decreases testosterone levels in healthy female volunteers. Women taking daily licorice root experienced a drop in total testosterone levels after 1 month and testosterone levels returned to normal after discontinuation. It is unclear as to whether licorice root affects free testosterone levels (4). The endocrine effect is thought to be due to phytoestrogens and other chemicals found in licorice root, including the steroid glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid, which also have a weak anti-androgen effect (5, 6).
White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Chinese peony is a widely grown ornamental plant with several hundred selected cultivars. Many of the cultivars have double flowers with the stamens modified into additional petals. White peony has been important in traditional Chinese medicine and has been shown to affect human androgen levels in vitro. In a 1991 study in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine Takeuchi et al described the effects of paeoniflorin, a compound found in white peony that inhibited the production of testosterone and promoted the activity of aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen (7). To date, there have been no studies that translate or explore the clinical effects.
Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
In addition to supporting the cardiovascular system and somewhat reducing the risk of cancer and type 2 diabetes (8), green tea may also have an important anti-androgen effect because it contains epigallocatechins, which inhibit the 5-alpha-reductase conversion of normal testosterone into DHT. As previously noted, this anti-androgen mechanism may help to reduce the risk of BPH, acne, and baldness. As yet, no randomized controlled trials of green tea for these androgen dependent conditions have been conducted.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata [Labiatae])
Spearmint, usually taken in the form of tea, has been thought for many years to have testosterone reducing properties. It is commonly used in Middle Eastern regions as an herbal remedy for hirsutism in females. Its anti-androgenic properties reduce the level of free testosterone in the blood, while leaving total testosterone and DHEAS unaffected, as demonstrated in a study from Turkey by Akdogan and colleagues, in which 21 females with hirsutism (12 with polycystic ovary syndrome and 9 with idiopathic hirsutism) drank a cup of herbal tea steeped with M. spicata twice daily for 5 days during the follicular phases of their menstrual cycles. After treatment with the spearmint tea, the patients had significant decreases in free testosterone with increases in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol (9). There were no significant decreases in total testosterone or DHEAS levels. This study was followed by a randomized clinical trial by Grant (10), which showed that drinking spearmint tea twice daily for 30 days (vs. chamomile tea, which was used as a control) significantly reduced plasma levels of gonadotropins and androgens in patients with hirsutism associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome. There was a significant change in patients’ self-reported dermatology-related quality of life indices, but no objective change on the Ferriman-Gallwey scale. It is possible that sustained daily use of spearmint tea could result in further abatement of hirsutism.
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)
Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is a plant of the buttercup family. Extracts from these plants are thought to possess analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Black cohosh preparations (tinctures or tablets of dried materials) are used to treat symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, although the efficacy has been questioned (11). The inhibitory effects of black cohosh extracts (Cimicifuga syn. Actaea racemosa L.) on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells has been reported recently (12), and Hostsanka. et al (13) have examined the plant’s effects on prostate cancer, another androgen hormone-dependent, epidemiologically important tumor. In that study, the inhibitory effect of an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh (iCR) on cell growth in androgen-sensitive LNCaP and androgen-insensitive PC-3 and DU 145 prostate cancer cells was investigated.
The authors found that regardless of hormone sensitivity, the growth of prostate cancer cells was significantly and dose-dependently down regulated by iCR. At a concentration between 37.1 and 62.7 μg/ml, iCR caused 50% cell growth inhibition in all cell lines after 72h. Increases in the levels of the apoptosis-related M30 antigen of approximately 1.8-, 5.9-, and 5.3-fold over untreated controls were observed in black cohosh-treated PC-3, DU 145, and LNCaP cells, respectively, with the induction of apoptosis being dose- and time-dependent.
Black cohosh extract was therefore shown to kill both androgen-responsive and non-responsive human prostate cancer cells by induction of apoptosis and activation of caspases. This finding suggested that the cells’ hormone responsive status was not a major determinant of the response to the iCR, and indicated that the extract may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Chaste tree (or chasteberry) is a native of the Mediterranean region and is traditionally used to correct hormone imbalances. In ancient times, it was believed to be an anaphrodisiac, hence the name chaste tree. Clinical studies have demonstrated effectiveness of medications produced from extract of the plant in the management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and cyclical mastalgia (14). The mechanism of action is presumed to be via dopaminergic effects resulting in changes of prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary. At low doses, it blocks the activation of D2 receptors in the brain by competitive binding, causing a slight increase in prolactin release. In higher concentrations, the binding activity is sufficient to reduce the release of prolactin (15).
Reduction in prolactin levels affects FSH and estrogen levels in females and testosterone levels in men. There is as yet no information regarding its efficacy in endocrine disease states such as PCOS, however, one small-scale study has demonstrated this prolactin reducing effect in a group of healthy males, and the implication is that it could be of use in mild hyperprolactinemia (16, 17). One could also theorize that it could be refined for use as a male contraceptive, because testosterone reduction should reduce libido and sperm production. This topic is further explored in a review by Grant & Anawalt (18).
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Saw palmetto is a small palm tree native to eastern regions of the United States. Its extract is believed to be a highly effective anti-androgen as it contains phytoesterols. This has been the subject of a great deal of research with regards to the treatment of BPH (19, 20), androgenic alopecia (21), and PCOS (22). However, controlled trials and other convincing research on its efficacy are still lacking. In the context of BPH, there have been 2 reasonably sized clinical trials that found that saw palmetto extract use showed no difference in comparison to placebo (23, 24). In meta-analyses, it has been shown to be safe and effective in mild to moderate BPH when compared to finasteride, tamsulosin, and placebo (25, 26). However, a more recent meta-analysis showed that it is only superior specifically with regards to the symptom of nocturia (27). Therefore, evidence for its routine use is far from convincing and additional research is necessary to determine its true effectiveness.
Discussion
There is clearly a need for a greater variety and more efficacious drugs to treat androgen related disorders such as those outlined above. The fact that there is an increasing emphasis over recent years on the potential for alternative anti-androgen compounds derived from plants is interesting and reflects the fact that from a clinical perspective the medications that are used in practice tend not to work very well for the majority of patients, and it can takes several medication changes and dose adjustments to find a routine that works for an individual patient. The research that has been undertaken, which is summarized in Sidebar 3 , offers hope that alternative treatment options are available and may produce clinically effective therapies in the future, once suitably refined. Multiple challenges remain, however. Firstly the number of experimental and clinical studies remains relatively small and secondly they are often limited in terms of their quality (lack of adequate numbers to achieve statistical significance, lack of randomized controlled trials, and the findings that these compounds only appear to have marginal efficacy when assessed in head-to-head clinical trials). One extremely good review from the Cochrane group examined the use of Serenoa repens in 9 clinical trials. This is a popular herbal medicine for BPH and the review found that it was well tolerated, but was no better than placebo in improving urinary symptom scores. Nor did Serenoa repens provide noticeable relief, generally considered to be a decrease of 3 points, in urinary symptoms (27). To date, there have been relatively few high quality long-term randomized studies evaluating standardized preparations of (potentially) clinically relevant doses. Given the frequent use of Serenoa repens and the relatively low quality of existing evidence, a few more well designed, randomized, placebo-controlled studies that are adequately powered, use validated symptom-scale scores, and have a placebo arm and a minimum follow-up of 1 year, are needed to confirm, or deny, these findings. The same argument can be made for all of the plant-derived anti-androgens covered in this review. While there may be detectable and significant biochemical and in vitro changes in androgen related parameters, we are still not clear as to the benefits in endocrine practice.
References
Grant P. Polycystic ovary syndrome. [cited October 03, 2011]; Available from: [Link]
Lee OD. Think androgen deficiency. Am J Mens Health. 2011;5(5):377. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1177/1557988311416633 ]
Fujita R, Liu J, Shimizu K, Konishi F, Noda K, Kumamoto S, et al. Anti-androgenic activities of Ganoderma lucidum. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;102(1):107-12. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.05.041 ]
Armanini D, Bonanni G, Palermo M. Reduction of serum testosterone in men by licorice. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(15):1158. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199910073411515 ]
Somjen D, Knoll E, Vaya J, Stern N, Tamir S. Estrogen-like activity of licorice root constituents: glabridin and glabrene, in vascular tissues in vitro and in vivo. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004;91(3):147-55. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.04.003 ]
Tamir S, Eizenberg M, Somjen D, Izrael S, Vaya J. Estrogen-like activity of glabrene and other constituents isolated from licorice root. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2001;78(3):291-8. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1016/S0960-0760(01)00093-0 ]
Takeuchi T, Nishii O, Okamura T, Yaginuma T. Effect of paeoniflorin, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid on ovarian androgen production. Am J Chin Med. 1991;19(1):73-8. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X91000119 ]
Grant P, Dworakowska D. Tea and Diabetes: the laboratory and the real world. Book chapter in Tea in Health & Disease Prevention. 1st ed. Edited by Preedy V, editor. : Elsevier Academic Press; 2012
Akdogan M, Tamer MN, Cure E, Cure MC, Koroglu BK, Delibas N. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother Res. 2007;21(5):444-7. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2074 ]
Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2010;24(2):186-8. [PubMed]
Newton KM, Reed SD, LaCroix AZ, Grothaus LC, Ehrlich K, Guiltinan J. Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy, or placebo: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145(12):869-79. [PubMed]
Fang ZZ, Nian Y, Li W, Wu JJ, Ge GB, Dong PP, et al. Cycloartane triterpenoids from Cimicifuga yunnanensis induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells (MCF7) via p53-dependent mitochondrial signaling pathway. Phytother Res. 2011;25(1):17-24. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3222 ]
Hostanska K, Nisslein T, Freudenstein J, Reichling J, Saller R. Apoptosis of human prostate androgen-dependent and -independent carcinoma cells induced by an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh involves degradation of cytokeratin (CK) 18. Anticancer Res. 2005;25(1A):139-47. [PubMed]
Daniele C, Thompson Coon J, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse events. Drug Saf. 2005;28(4):319-32. [PubMed][DOI: 10.2165/00002018-200528040-00004 ]
Webster DE, He Y, Chen SN, Pauli GF, Farnsworth NR, Wang ZJ. Opioidergic mechanisms underlying the actions of Vitex agnus-castus L. Biochem Pharmacol. 2011;81(1):170-7. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2010.09.013 ]
Azadbakht M, Baheddini A, Shorideh S, NASER ZADEH A. Effect of vitex agnus-castus l. leaf and fruit flavonoidal extracts on serum prolactin concentration. J Med Plants. 2005;4(16):56-61. [Link]
Merz PG, Gorkow C, Schrodter A, Rietbrock S, Sieder C, Loew D, et al. The effects of a special Agnus castus extract (BP1095E1) on prolactin secretion in healthy male subjects. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1996;104(6):447-53. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1211483 ]
18. Grant NN, Anawalt BD. Male hormonal contraception: an update on research progress. Treat Endocrinol. 2002;1(4):217-27. [PubMed][DOI: 10.2165/00024677-200201040-00003 ]
Boyle P, Robertson C, Lowe F, Roehrborn C. Updated meta-analysis of clinical trials of Serenoa repens extract in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. BJU Int. 2004;93(6):751-6. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2003.04735.x ]
Wilt T, Ishani A, Mac Donald R. Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002(3):CD001423. [PubMed]
Murugusundram S. Serenoa Repens: Does It have Any Role in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia? J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2009;2(1):31-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20300369 [10.4103/0974-2077.53097 ]
Liepa GU, Sengupta A, Karsies D. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other androgen excess-related conditions: can changes in dietary intake make a difference? Nutr Clin Pract. 2008;23(1):63-71. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1177/011542650802300163 ]
Bent S, Kane C, Shinohara K, Neuhaus J, Hudes ES, Goldberg H, et al. Saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(6):557-66. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa053085 ]
Dedhia RC, McVary KT. Phytotherapy for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2008;179(6):2119-25. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2008.01.094 ]
Geavlete P, Multescu R, Geavlete B. Serenoa repens extract in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ther Adv Urol. 2011;3(4):193-8. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1177/1756287211418725 ]
Sosnowska J, Balslev H. American palm ethnomedicine: a meta-analysis. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009;5:43. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-5-43 ]
Tacklind J, MacDonald R, Rutks I, Wilt TJ. Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009(2):CD001423. [PubMed]
Grant P, Ramasamy S. The Pituitary Gland & Erectile Dysfunction. Book chapter in Erectile Dysfunction: Causes, Risk Factors & Management.: Editor P.Grant. Nova Publishers; 2012.
Magin PJ, Adams J, Heading GS, Pond DC, Smith W. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies in acne, psoriasis, and atopic eczema: results of a qualitative study of patients' experiences and perceptions. J Altern Complement Med. 2006;12(5):451-7. [PubMed][DOI: 10.1089/acm.2006.12.451]
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 102, Issue 1, 31 October 2005, Pages 107–112
Anti-androgenic activities of Ganoderma lucidum
Rumi Fujitaa, Jie Liua, Kuniyoshi Shimizua, Fumiko Konishib, Kiyoshi Nodab, Shoichiro Kumamotob, Chie Uedac, Hisatoshi Tajiric, Shuhei Kanekod, Yoshitaro Suimie, Ryuichiro Kondoa,
The inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms on 5α-reductase activity were examined. The extract of Ganoderma lucidum Fr. Krast (Ganodermataceae) showed the strongest 5α-reductase inhibitory activity. The treatment of the fruit body of Ganoderma lucidum or the extract prepared from it significantly inhibited the testosterone-induced growth of the ventral prostate in castrated rats. These results showed that Ganoderma lucidum might be a useful ingredient for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH
Phytother Res. 2007 May;21(5):444-7. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism.
Akdoğan M, Tamer MN, Cüre E, Cüre MC, Köroğlu BK, Delibaş N.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
Abstract
Mentha spicata Labiatae, known as spearmint and Mentha piperita Labiatae, known as peppermint can be used for various kinds of illnesses in herbal medicine and flavoring in industry. M. spicata Labiatae grows on the Anamas plateau of Yenithornarbademli town of Isparta, located in southwest part of Turkey. In this town, clinicians thought that consumption of tea steeped with M. spicata or M. piperita caused a diminished libido. Because antiandrogenic effects of spearmint and peppermint were found previously in rats, it was decided to observe the effect of this herbal tea on the androgen levels in hirsute women.Twenty-one female hirsute patients, 12 with polycystic ovary syndrome and 9 with idiopathic hirsutism were included to the study. They were took a cup of herbal tea which was steeped with M. spicata for 5 days twice a day in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles. After treatment with spearmint teas, there was a significant decrease in free testosterone and increase in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol. There were no significant decreases in total testosterone or dehydroepiandrostenedione sulphate levels. Spearmint can be an alternative to antiandrogenic treatment for mild hirsutism. Further studies are needed to test the reliability of these results and the availability of spearmint as a drug for hirsutism.
Phytother Res. 2010 Feb;24(2):186-8.Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial.Grant P.
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK. drpaul.grant@orange.net
Abstract
Hirsutism in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), consequent to elevated androgen levels leads to significant cosmetic and psychological problems. Recent research in Turkey has shown that spearmint tea has antiandrogenic properties in females with hirsutism. No research has yet been undertaken to assess whether a reduction in androgen levels brought about by spearmint tea, translates to a clinical improvement in the degree of hirsutism. This study was a two centre, 30 day randomized controlled trial. Forty two volunteers were randomized to take spearmint tea twice a day for a 1 month period and compared with a placebo herbal tea. At 0, 15 and 30 days of the study serum androgen hormone levels and gonadotrophins were checked, the degree of hirsutism was clinically rated using the Ferriman-Galwey score and a questionnaire (the modified DQLI = Dermatology Quality of Life Index) was used to assess improvements in the level of self-reported hirsutism. Forty one of 42 patients completed the study. Free and total testosterone levels were significantly reduced over the 30 day period in the spearmint tea group (p < 0.05). LH and FSH also increased (p < 0.05). Patient's subjective assessments of their degree of hirsutism scored by the modified DQLI were significantly reduced in the spearmint tea group (p < 0.05). There was, however, no significant reduction in the objective Ferriman-Galwey ratings of hirsutism between the two trial groups over the trial duration (p = 0.12). There was a clear and significant alteration in the relevant hormone levels. This is associated clinically with a reduction in the self-reported degree of hirsutism but unfortunately not with the objectively rated score. It was demonstrated and confirmed that spearmint has antiandrogen properties, the simple fact that this does not clearly translate into clinical practice is due to the relationship between androgen hormones and follicular hair growth and cell turnover time. Simply put, the study duration was not long enough. The original studies from Turkey were in fact only 5 days long. The time taken for hirsutism to resolve is significant and a much longer future study is proposed as the preliminary findings are encouraging that spearmint has the potential for use as a helpful and natural treatment for hirsutism in PCOS.
Anaphrodisiaca
Anaphrodisiaca sind den Geschlechtstrieb hemmende Mittel. Besonders im Mittelalter wurden diese Mittel bei der Komtemplation verwendet, damit man ungestoert den Gottesdienst folgen konnte.
Antiandrogene:
Kraeuter, die das Verlangen daempfen:
Baldrian: (Valeriana officinalis)
Die beruhigende Wirkung des Baldrians wirkt daempfend auf die Lust.
Dill: (Anethum graveolens)
Groessere Mengen Dillsamen wirken nach einer Weile der Anwendung lustdaempfend.
Hopfen: (Humulus lupulus)
Die beruhigende Wirkung des Hopfens wirkt auf die Lust des Mannes daempfend. Auf Frauen kann Hopfen hingegen sogar erotisierend wirken, weil er in geringen Mengen Hopfen enthaelt.
Kampfer:
Aeusserlich angewandt kann Kampfer daempfend wirken. Auch als Duftstoff eingesetzt, kann er lustfeindlich wirken.
Keuschlamm (Moenchspfeffer):
Ein Tee aus den Blaettern oder Samen unterdrueckt die Begierde. Wird auch erfolgreich in den Wechseljahren eingesetzt.
Lavendel: (Lavandula angustifolia)
Auch hier wirkt die beruhigende Wirkung entsprechend auf die Libido. Lavendel steht fuer die Jungfraeulichkeit.
Raute: (Ruta graveolens)
Bei Maennern wirkt die Raute lustdaempfend, bei Frauen hingegen eher foerdernd auf die Lust. Moenche verwendeten die Raute frueher als Rautenwein gegen hartnaeckige Gliedsteife.
Salat:
Der Samen der Salatpflanze kann, als Tee getrunken, gegen Lusttraeume wirken.
Seerose:
Der Verzehr von Samen und Wurzel der Seerose kann anaphrodisisch wirken. Auch aeusserlich als Einreibung kann er die Libido unterdruecken.