ColumnCraving better orgasms? Or just craving orgasms, period? You’re not alone.

Pleasure is a right, not a privilege, and Matthew Gerson, formerly of Sir Richard’s Condoms, created Foria, a cannabis-infused natural lubricant, on that premise. I chatted with him about the rollout of his breakthrough product, the epidemic of anorgasmic women, and how we can begin to shift the paradigm toward pleasure. (Full disclosure, Matthew is a friend of mine.)

Stefanie Weiss: What inspired the creation of FORIA?

Matthew Gerson:  Foria was inspired by a long walk on the beach. Seriously though, it was during my dawn dog walks that I began to think about the possibility of using cannabis in a way that might address the needs of 50 percent of the adult female population in the U.S.

I spent a few years running the Sir Richard’s Condom Co. and during that time had the opportunity to speak with thousands of people about their intimate lives. During that time it was brought to my attention how unbalanced the FDA has been with regards to putting out safe and effective medicines for female sexual challenges. My personal use of cannabis as a sensual enhancer led me to research its historical use as an aphrodisiac, which dates back thousands of years into Asia. This is a plant that has been identified by countless cultures for its benefits to human sexuality and our quest for heightened pleasure and wellness.

SW: Why do you think that Viagra/Cialis et al. have been approved and on the market for so many years, and nothing exists for women?

MG: One of the books I was reading when developing Foria was “What Women Really Want, The Science of Female Desire.” It takes a deep look at the sexual issues facing women in the U.S. and has a pretty critical assessment of the FDA’s handling of what appears to be a national crisis. There is a great organization that is bringing attention to the disparity and possible latent sexism at the FDA. This is a very charged and complex subject and I recommend checking them out and supporting their efforts. (Eventhescore.org)

I see sexual health and orgasm as a part of the arc of wellness that we are all seeking in our lives. This seems to be the emergent trend within modern medical circles. Historically sexuality was left out of the conversation on basic approaches to health and wellness and was something that had to be hidden from view. This compartmentalizing has created huge obstacles for us as a culture to overcome, ones that we are only now starting to recognize.

SW: Have most of your customers been women who have trouble achieving orgasm rather than people who want to use FORIA recreationally? Have women with sexual imbalances (I prefer this term to “dysfunction”actually) reported that FORIA has helped?

MG: Our test groups included women across the pleasure spectrum between ages 21 and 70. The results that these women were experiencing was the fuel that kept us going through all of the legal and economic challenges that one faces when working in the cannabis industry. As plant medicine seems to work “with” the body as opposed to “on” the body each users experience is quite unique and we have found that the best person to talk to about Foria is a current user! As you know Stefanie, there is so much shaming in the sex space and we strive to not create expectations for what the plant will or will not do for our patients. We strive instead to create an open and safe opportunity for women to try Foria and see how it works with them and their specific needs. So far, this approach really seems to be working as the majority of our patients are referrals from other users.

SW: Do you believe there is an epidemic of anorgasmic women? Can we find a way to have better orgasms? 

MG: Stress, pace of living in the digital era, environmental toxins with unknown effects on human sexual response, sex as a consumer activity, a cultural lack of body-based intelligence, horrendous sexual education standards, did I mention stress? Yes, living in the modern world we are dealing with some intense conditions that don’t make for easy access to orgasms for any of us, men or women.

SW: Do you think that FORIA and products like it will eventually have broader impact on the movement to develop research around women’s sexual imbalance?

MG: This is our desire. We would love to work with a university to get this type of research underway. There is so much we don’t know about cannabis and it’s relationship to female sexual function, there is so much possibility here and it is very exciting.

SW: Have menopausal women been using FORIA? Does it help with lubrication simply because of the coconut oil, or is there a property in the THC/cannabinoids that enhances lubrication?

MG: Yes, menopausal women have been some of our strongest advocates. They are reporting that for many it does help with dryness, loss of sensation as well as access to orgasm. The liquid coconut oil is certainly a great natural lubricant on it’s own. The “entourage effect” of the various cannabinoids might also be a primary factor in this response. Without further research all we have is the feedback from our users so it is not possible to say at this time.

SW: How often can one use FORIA without building up a tolerance?

MG: Foria use should be dictated by the specific needs of the individual. Tolerance would be a based on a multitude of factors such as, historical use of cannabis, strength of dosage for use, consistency of usage, body type, other health conditions, etc. As with other uses of marijuana both as medicine and for recreational purposes, the relationship with your unique body will vary quite dramatically from person to person.

SW: I haven’t smoked weed in a decade —am I likely to be more sensitive to FORIA?

MG: It is a good possibility and it really depends on how you use it. While taking Foria orally brings about a similar result to eating marijuana infused products, the interesting thing with using Foria as a topical application directly onto the vulva is that the overwhelming majority of our users and testers do not report any type of mental “high.” The primary effects are grounded in the body; heightened sensation leading up to and during orgasm as well as a body euphoria and feeling of deep relaxation.

SW: Medical marijuana was just approved in New York State (YAY) —do you have plans to make FORIA available here? Follow up —do you suspect more states will legalize and will you attempt to get it on the market shortly after?

MG: We are all standing on the shoulders of giants. Patient rights’ advocates, activists, historians, lawyers and conscientious law enforcement agents, countless people over the past five decades have committed so much of their lives so that the full potential of cannabis as medicine can be realized.

Personally, when I look at this movement and how rapidly public opinion is changing in favor of legalization, I see a movement that is powered by empathy. One that demands access to a plant that has real potential to mitigate the suffering of countless of Americans with various forms of challenges and serious ailments. A movement fueled by empathy crosses all party, philosophical and religious lines and is pretty much unstoppable. So yes, legalization on the national level will be a reality in our lifetime.

As for Foria, we are looking at other ways in which we might be able to make our medicinal available in as many states as possible. Colorado and Washington are the next two markets that we hope to be entering within the next few months.

SW: Thank you, Matthew!

MG: Thank you, Stefanie.

I’m so thrilled that there is a growing movement intent on providing shame-free pleasure to all. From Foria to orgasmic mediation to scholarship about women’s desire and libido, orgasm is becoming more accessible to those of us that haven’t been able to have it. Foria can be used with a partner or for solo sex — making it even more user-friendly. And that equals better orgasms for all of us — no one should be barred from this peak experience. If you’ve struggled with finding your orgasm, or you’d like to experience deeper, more profound orgasmic peaks, there’s something out there for you, and your biggest O yet.

Got a question for Stefanie? Email stefanie at ecosalon dot com, and she’ll answer it in the next Sexual Healing column.

Keep in touch with Stefanie on Twitter: @ecosexuality

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9  Natural Ways To Spice Up Your Sex Life

Image: frugivoremag.com

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We’ve all got one – a little tube in the nightstand drawer, ready for those moments when our bodies seem to be failing at what they’re supposed to do naturally. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I’m just going to say it: vaginal dryness happens.

Maybe you’re on birth control pills, or maybe your man isn’t spending enough – ahem – quality time before the act itself takes place. But if you find yourself reaching for lubrication, stop and read those ingredients! You might be filling one of the most delicate parts of your body with a bunch of scary chemicals, and even affecting your fertility.

It’s all too easy to just grab whatever the most promising-looking plastic tube on the drugstore shelf. The labels on products like KY Jelly, Astroglide and Durex Play focus on adjectives like “sensual” and “warming”, not safety – and sometimes, ingredients aren’t even disclosed.

Here’s the thing about most conventional sex lubes:

Many contain parabens. KY brand lubricants – aside from the ‘sensitive’ version – contain parabens, a class of chemicals used as preservatives. Even the relatively natural-sounding brand ‘Phyto Soya’ is packed with practically every paraben in existence. Parabens are estrogen mimickers and have been linked to breast cancer. Chemicals like parabens are easily absorbed through the skin, and mucous membranes – like vaginal tissue – are even more susceptible.

They’re often petroleum-based. Any lubricant that lists mineral oil in its ingredient list is made from petrochemicals. An obvious offender is plain old petroleum jelly. If you like putting fossil fuels in your vagina, raise your hand! Yeah, that’s what I thought.

They can cause infection. Whenever you see glycerin or a word starting with “glycol” in the ingredients, you’ve got potential problems. These ingredients – common in lubes like Astroglide – are closely related to glucose, which means they’re a sugary feast for yeast. Not exactly sexy.

They affect fertility. If you’re trying to conceive, think twice about using any old lube. Studies show that lubricants like KY, Astroglide and FemGlide affect both sperm quality and motility, meaning they slow ’em down and damage their DNA. While a product called “Pre-Seed” proved to be the most sperm-friendly, it does contain parabens, so it’s best not to use artificial lube at all if possible.

That doesn’t mean that just because you’re breastfeeding, going through menopause or taking antidepressants, you have to resign yourself to uncomfortable sex. Check out some of these alternatives:

Firefly Organics – Though not made for use with latex condoms (polyurethane is okay), Firefly Organics is a 100 percent natural, paraben-free personal lubricant made with sunflower seed extract, cocoa butter and shea butter.

Yes Lubricant – Yes brand lubricants come in both water- and oil-based varieties for latex condom compatibility. The oil-based product contains shea butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and vitamin E while the water-based product is made with aloe, guar gum, locust bean gum and flax extract.

Good Clean Love – Totally natural, organic and vegan, Good Clean Love lubricants come in naturally scented versions like lavender rose, almost naked with a touch of lemon and vanilla, and cinnamon vanilla – a spicy scent reminiscent of pumpkin pie, a scent that most men find sexy.

Coconut Oil – Some ladies swear by plain old virgin organic coconut oil as a sex lube, and though no studies have been done on its safety, it seems like a great choice. Coconut oil is naturally fungicidal, so nothing funky will grow in it (which is a common problem in any kind of lube). It’s also antibacterial and silky smooth, but avoiding it in conjunction with latex condoms is probably a good idea.

Image: Zawezome

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