Well, maybe. Since writing about the anti-cancer benefits of flaxseed on Eat and Beat Cancer,™ I’ve decided to indulge–been taking 2 Tablespoons ground flax/day  for 5 days now.  Holy moly! I think it’s working. The pain in certain unnameable parts has subsided, and the pleasure is returning!

I’ll be honest from the outset. This suggestion is based solely on my own brief experience–anecdotal evidence, as scientists say.  But hey, that’s how science gets started, right?

University of Toronto’s grande dame of flaxseed research, Dr. Lilian Thompson, says she’s not aware of  any clinical trials but that the mechanism could make sense:  Flaxseed affects hormone levels, and  testosterone can quickly boost desire.      

Testosterone? I thought that was a guy hormone. Isn’t that what caused my boys to hit each other just for fun?

Well, it seems we gals produce testosterone too: The ovaries and adrenals make it. But in some women, menopause, particularly if surgically induced, chemo, radiation, autoimmune disease or even stress can lead to low testosterone, and that in turn causes lack of sexual desire.  If that’s your problem, a  hit of the hormone can rapidly rev up your drive, explains women’s health specialist Dr. Christiane Northrup in her comprehensive book, “The Wisdom of Menopause.”  

(To be perfectly clear, many women continue to produce lots of testosterone throughout their lives; waning estrogen and progesterone are more common reasons for a low female libido, Northrup says. But hey, maybe flaxseed eventually fixes that, too?)

OK, I have an idea. Let’s do our own small-time research.  Who wants to join our flaxseed brigade?

Starting this week, take 2 T ground flaxseed for 5 days (with loads of water or else your bowels will suffer), and report back in– at your own risk, of course.  You know I’m not a doctor, right? Just a holistic blogger with some expertise, but it seems pretty clear that the benefits could be orgasmic!