Can Tamarind Increase Libido? – Introduction
Tamarind is the fruit of the genus Tamarisks, which is traditionally used in herbal remedies and traditional medicine for various uses. Tamarind, according to some cultures, also enhances libido and sexual performance. In recent years, men have turned to alternative methods to improve their sexual health and libido. Now, the question remains, is tamarind any good for increasing libido? In this article, we’ll discuss all of the possible libido effects of tamarind and the science behind these claims.
For one, we need to know what libido is and how it’s affected. The term libido refers to the individual’s total sexual motivation or appetite for sex. It can result from stress, physical condition, hormone changes, and marital problems. Low libido means decreased sexual inclination and performance that leads to frustration and anguish on the part of both partners. As such, the search for natural ways to increase libido has become a hot topic.
Tamarind is an African fruit that has been extensively grown across much of the tropics. It is chock-full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that support numerous health benefits such as detoxifying the body, lowering inflammation, and strengthening the immune system.
Improving digestion
The popular health benefit of tamarind is that it helps to enhance digestion, as mentioned by many sources. That is largely due to its fibre content, which is important for maintaining a healthy gut. Tamarind’s fiber bulks up stool, which prevents constipation. In addition, tamarind is high in tartaric acid, which has been shown to induce the secretion of digestive enzymes and facilitate the breakdown of food in the stomach (Sahu et al., 2016). The traditional medical use of tamarind included treating diseases of the digestive tract such as diarrhoea, dysentery and colitis.
Reducing inflammation
Even Tamarind is reputed to be anti-inflammatory, thereby decreasing inflammation and pain levels in the body. Tamarind contains anti-inflammatory compounds like flavonoids and tannins that have been found to suppress inflammation and pain in animals (Pawar et al., 2011). Tamarind has been used in conventional medicine to alleviate inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis, rheumatism and neuralgia.
Boosting the immune system
The antioxidant action of tamarind can inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria and fungi within the body. Tamarines, phenolic acids and flavonoids are the antimicrobial components present in tamarind that have been found to inhibit the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica (Adebayo et al., 2016). Traditional medicine uses tamarind to treat tooth decay, skin infections, and respiratory infection.
Similarly, tamarind also contains anticancer properties that might hinder the proliferation and spread of cancer cells in the body. Tamarind’s anticancer constituents include phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins, all of which suppress the growth and development of colon, breast and lung cancer cells (Sultana et al., 2017). Tamarind has been used in folk medicine to cure liver, colon and breast cancers.
In one experiment on male rats, tamarind extract significantly improved sexual behaviour. Tamarind extract-treated rats were more sexually active – having more mounts and intromissions, for example – than controls. The researchers attributed this to tamarind’s flavonoids and polyphenols, compounds already associated with improving male sexual performance.
In addition, tamarind was also used in traditional medicine to cure male and female sexual dysfunction. Tamarind, as a potent aphrodisiac in Ayurvedic medicine, is prescribed to enhance sexual desire and libido. It’s said that tamarind’s bitter flavour induces the secretion of digestive juices, leading to more energy and sexual fervour. Although these beliefs are not well-backed by the science, many still hold on to tamarind’s effectiveness as an aphrodisiac.
However, a few other experiments had mixed results regarding the effects of tamarind on libido. A 2014 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology reported that tamarind extract had no significant impact on male rats’ sexual behaviour. In the same vein, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 60 men, tamarind supplementation failed to dramatically improve sexual function.
We don’t know why these different findings came from the same studies or what the concentration of tamarind was. It’s also possible that tamarind’s aphrodisiac qualities do not always apply to everyone, and that other conditions, including age, health and lifestyle, are at play.
Another study, this time with female rats, demonstrated that tamarind extract did not affect sexual behaviour. Perhaps this is because female sexual behaviour is more nuanced and subject to a wider variety of factors than male sexual behaviour. Therefore, further studies are required to figure out what impact tamarind might have on female desire.
There is limited science to suggest that tamarind has a positive effect on libido, but this needs to be researched more closely. Until recently, there were no human trials to determine the influence of tamarind on libido. This means that we should take this topic seriously, and not only from the anecdotal perspective.
Conclusion: Can Tamarind Increase Libido?
The end result is tamarind, a fruit that is used as an aphrodisiac and to boost libido. But there is little scientific evidence to support it, and further research is needed to assess whether tamarind really helps sexual health. To conclude, let us remind you that libido is a very nuanced problem with a wide range of influencers; there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this issue. Individuals should go to a doctor and get diagnosed and treated appropriately for a sexual-health problem.
