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Clinically reviewed by: Jim Rohr, LAc, Dipl.OM (NCCAOM), MSTOM
We got personal w/ Jim Rohr, Licensed Acupuncturist at Moon Rabbit.
Jim earned his bachelor's (BA) in Anthropology from Stanford University and his master's (MSTOM) in Chinese Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.
Over the last twenty years, Jim has been a professor of acupuncture, a meditation instructor at Scripps Center for Executive Health, an acupuncturist at Canyon Ranch Miami Beach and has had private practices in Brooklyn and Miami Beach before landing at Moon Rabbit.
Jim is the author of Unlearning Stress and the host of Pleasure Points - a podcast that offers a no-nonsense approach on how to break free from old, unhealthy patterns to rediscover vitality, love, and ease, in all areas of your life.
Q: What prompted your career choice?
When I was in high school, I used to get acupuncture for sports injuries and growing pains. But when I was in college, I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Western medications weren’t helping and acupuncture was the only thing that provided any relief. So, when I finished my undergrad, I enrolled in Chinese medicine school to better understand what was going on with my body and how I might be able to help others.
Q: What are your general thoughts about libido in today’s climate?
It’s complicated —so many things are impacting libido today. The rise of social media and easy access to porn are rewiring our brains. In turn, our attention spans are shorter — people crave shots of dopamine. We're now comparing ourselves to others at a scale that our species has never seen before. When you throw in high amounts of stress, a contaminated food supply and exposure to phthalates, our environment isn’t supportive of a healthy sex drive.
Libido is a great marker for health. In Chinese medicine, the libido is connected to the same energies of strong willpower, good self-confidence and healthy aging. So, when the libido is strong, people are open to connection. They tend to take action as their internal fire for life is well-stoked. But, when the libido is in decline, we often see other signs such as: low back pain, fatigue, lethargy and feeling cold. “How’s your libido?” This is a phenomenal question for a practitioner to ask because it can give us a lot of insight as to someone’s overall wellness. When the libido goes down, it’s like a ‘check engine’ light going on in the body.
Q: Do you see an equal amount of libido concerns for men and women?
In my practice, I see low libido affecting women more often. Here at Moon Rabbit Acupuncture in Chicago, we see a lot of career-driven women. As they juggle the demands of work and motherhood, it’s easy for sexual desire to fade into the background. That’s too bad because good sex can be healing, invigorating and balancing. But if the sex hasn’t been good, or if there’s a lack of intimacy and heart-connection, it’s easier for people to ignore what’s happening rather than have some of those tougher relationship conversations. This is why holistic treatment is so important. Addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual blocks helps reconnect to one’s desires and strengthens the impulse to clearly ask for what one needs.
Men tend to be notoriously secretive and fickle about their health in general — especially around libido and erectile dysfunction. In fact, one of my most memorable patients was a disheveled guy who told me that he made an appointment to address knee pain. So, I gave him a treatment for his knees. He came back for a follow up a few days later and I almost didn’t recognize him. He was showered and shaved, dressed in a suit, smiling ear-to-ear. He practically floated back to the treatment room. Behind closed doors, he divulged that his knees were fine and that his biggest issue for the past few years had been his low libido. Because acupuncture connects many different systems at once, those points for his knees also happen to be good for stoking the libido. After his acupuncture session, he and his wife spent the entire weekend romping in bed together!
Q: Road map: where does a client start? Please list some solutions/ideas/advice! Aromatherapy, acupuncture, anything else?
The first step is acknowledging what’s happening. There are lots of reasons your libido may not be what it used to be and most of them can be resolved with some easy lifestyle changes. Acupuncture is fantastic because it is well-rounded and holistic. Often the libido decline is because of something else: stress, feeling overwhelmed, digestion or hormone imbalance. Acupuncture can address all of those things and more. Seeing a licensed acupuncturist can help you get to the root of the problem.
Aromatherapy and essential oils are wonderful options to support the body. Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Sandalwood and Bergamot are all safe to use topically (on pulse points or in a diffuser). Make sure the oils you’re using are 100% pure! Otherwise, the synthetic fragrances and fillers can actually have a negative effect on your body’s endocrine system.
There are ancient Taoist sexual practices that address how to naturally balance and support the libido. These teachings are great because they emphasize the importance of good sexual technique. The onus begins with men needing to be patient and attentive partners. These ancient masters knew that when a woman is frustrated, overwhelmed, or shut down, the energy flow is blocked. Blocked energy leads to illness and disease.
Men were encouraged to have lots of sex but to withhold ejaculation. They said that frequent ejaculation could lead to premature aging and death! ‘Preserving essence’ by withholding means that the man will feel invigorated throughout the day, using that energy to support him in all areas of his life.
I love giving talks on this because at this point, the women tend to be all-in, whereas the men sometimes get up and leave the room! But, for the modern woman, this practice may be more difficult for her than it is for a man to withhold. Because a woman here is challenged to be open, to express herself freely, to communicate what she likes, and to fully surrender to herself, her partner and her pleasure. This is no small task for women who are used to going through the motions with a mediocre sex life. It’s no surprise that libido is declining when people aren’t having good sex!
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