Low libido is extremely common, but it can be surprisingly difficult to talk about.
A reduced interest in sex may appear gradually, sometimes so gradually that it is difficult to say exactly when things changed. For some people, sexual desire disappears during a period of stress or exhaustion. For others, it may accompany menopause, hormonal changes, illness, medication, relationship difficulties or simply a prolonged period of feeling physically or emotionally depleted.
Chinese medicine takes a somewhat different approach to low libido. Rather than treating sexual desire as an isolated symptom, it looks at the person’s overall health and asks what may be preventing desire from arising naturally.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used as part of this individualised approach.
What can cause low libido?
There is no single cause of low sexual desire.
Stress and psychological pressure are common contributors. So are poor sleep, exhaustion, low mood and difficulties within a relationship. Physical factors may also be important, including hormonal changes, menopause, chronic illness, pain and some medications.
For women, changes associated with menopause can include reduced sexual desire as well as vaginal dryness and other genitourinary symptoms. NICE recognises low sexual desire as one of the possible symptoms associated with menopause.
In men, it is also important to distinguish low sexual desire from erectile dysfunction. They can occur together, but they are not the same problem.
Persistent or unexplained changes in libido deserve appropriate medical assessment, particularly when they occur alongside other symptoms.
Low libido in Chinese medicine
Chinese medicine does not have one single diagnosis corresponding to “low libido”.
Instead, the practitioner looks for a pattern of imbalance.
Two people may both complain that they have lost interest in sex while having quite different underlying patterns. One person may be exhausted and depleted; another may be tense and frustrated; another may have developed symptoms following hormonal changes.
Treatment is therefore based on the individual rather than simply on the symptom.
Liver Qi stagnation
Stress is particularly important in traditional Chinese medicine.
The Liver is associated with the free movement of Qi throughout the body. When Qi becomes constrained, a person may feel tense, irritable, frustrated or emotionally stuck.
There may also be physical symptoms such as chest or abdominal tension, sighing, digestive disturbance or menstrual symptoms.
Sexual desire can be affected when someone has been living for a long time under pressure.
In this situation, treatment may aim to regulate Liver Qi and restore a greater sense of physical and emotional freedom.
Kidney deficiency
In Chinese medicine, the Kidneys have a particularly important relationship with reproduction, sexuality and vitality.
Kidney deficiency may be considered when reduced libido occurs alongside symptoms such as persistent tiredness, weakness, low back or knee weakness, feeling unusually cold, reduced vitality or changes associated with ageing.
There are different forms of Kidney deficiency. Some people show predominantly Kidney Yang deficiency, while others have signs of Kidney Yin deficiency.
The treatment is therefore not simply to “boost the Kidneys”, but to identify the particular pattern present.
Blood deficiency
Blood has an important role in Chinese medicine in nourishing the body and supporting the menstrual cycle.
Where there is Blood deficiency, someone may experience tiredness, dizziness, pale complexion, dry skin or hair, lighter periods or difficulty feeling physically restored.
If low libido occurs as part of a wider picture of depletion, treatment may focus on nourishing Blood as well as addressing the other underlying patterns.
Heart and Shen
Chinese medicine also recognises the importance of the mind and emotions in sexual desire.
The Heart is associated with the Shen, which encompasses consciousness, emotional life and mental activity.
Persistent worry, emotional distress, poor sleep or a mind that never seems to switch off can make it difficult to feel relaxed and receptive to intimacy.
In these circumstances, treatment may place considerable emphasis on calming the Shen and improving sleep and emotional regulation.
How can acupuncture help?
Acupuncture treatment is individualised according to the pattern found during diagnosis.
Treatment might involve points on the abdomen, legs, feet, hands or back, depending on the person’s symptoms and constitution. The aim is not simply to stimulate particular “libido points”, but to address the pattern of imbalance identified during the consultation.
For example, treatment for someone whose low libido is associated with prolonged stress may be quite different from treatment for someone whose symptoms have developed alongside exhaustion and menopausal changes.
The evidence for acupuncture in sexual dysfunction is still developing. A systematic review published in 2021 found studies reporting improvements in areas including sexual desire, libido and erectile dysfunction, but also noted that high-quality evidence was lacking.
A 2023 meta-analysis of acupuncture for female sexual dysfunction found statistically significant improvements in overall sexual-function scores, sexual desire and arousal, although the researchers stressed the need for larger and better-designed trials.
Research into acupuncture and erectile dysfunction has also produced encouraging findings, although the quality of the evidence varies considerably. A recent 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found improvements in erectile-function measures but rated the certainty of the evidence from very low to moderate.That question can lead to a much more individualised approach.
What happens during treatment?
Your first consultation involves a detailed discussion of your symptoms and general health.
I may ask about:
- when your libido began to change
- your energy levels and sleep
- stress and emotional wellbeing
- digestion and appetite
- menstrual or menopausal symptoms where relevant
- sexual function and any associated difficulties
- medications and other health conditions
- other symptoms that may help establish a Chinese medicine diagnosis
I will also use traditional Chinese diagnostic methods, including examination of the tongue and pulse.
Treatment is then tailored to the pattern identified.
Acupuncture may be combined with dietary and lifestyle advice and, where appropriate, Chinese herbal medicine.
When should low libido be medically investigated?
A persistent change in sexual desire can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.
It is particularly important to seek medical advice if low libido is sudden, unexplained, associated with significant pain, changes in menstruation, erectile difficulties, other new physical symptoms, or a substantial change in mood.
Medication can also affect sexual desire. If you think a prescribed medicine may be contributing, discuss this with the doctor who prescribed it rather than stopping it yourself.
For people experiencing menopause-related low sexual desire, conventional treatment options may also be appropriate. NICE, for example, recommends considering testosterone supplementation for menopausal low sexual desire when HRT alone has not been effective.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be used alongside appropriate conventional medical care rather than instead of it.
Acupuncture for low libido in London
Low libido is rarely just a question of “not having enough sexual energy”.
It may reflect stress, exhaustion, hormonal change, emotional tension, depletion or a combination of several factors.
Chinese medicine offers a way of looking at these different factors as part of a single picture and tailoring treatment accordingly.
If you would like to discuss whether acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine may be appropriate for you, you can arrange a consultation at Blue Dragon Acupuncture in London.
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