Libido refers to Physiological and emotional energy associated with the sex drive. The concept was originated by Sigmund Freud, who saw the libido as linked not only with sexual desire but with all constructive human activity. He noted that the sexual drive is characterized by a gradual buildup to a peak of intensity, followed by a sudden decrease of excitement. He believed that psychiatric illnesses were the result of misdirecting or suppressing the libido. It is a synonym for the sexual drive, and various remedies are advertised as the surest way to revive a flagging libido, even perhaps incorporating ‘libido’.
A large number of psychological and physiological factors interact to determine an individual’s libido. It is often difficult, therefore, to pinpoint the cause for a loss of sexual desire. Nevertheless, a healthy diet and regular exercise can improve a person’s sex drive; overindulgence in food, alcohol, or exercise can reduce it.