Pleasure, or the lack thereof, can be a vital sign of our overall hormonal balance, affecting our physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Desire, arousal, and orgasm are not luxuries—they’re biomarkers of health, reflecting blood flow, nitric oxide, oxytocin, vagal tone, and nervous system balance.
“Turn-on chemistry” (oxytocin, dopamine, nitric oxide) builds energy and resilience, while “stress chemistry” (cortisol, adrenaline) hijacks libido, mood, and vitality. Cortisol, insulin, thyroid, and estrogen/progesterone directly shape our hormonal balance, which affects our libido, lubrication, and orgasmic potential.
When we are out of hormonal balance, pleasure practices can generate pleasure chemicals in the body, which foster the well-being of our body, mind, spirit, and sex.
In this episode of Sex Is Medicine Reboot, Dr. Alicia Newsome weaves science, practical steps, and holistic wisdom to address common questions and misconceptions about hormonal health, helping us anchor pleasure as a vital pathway for hormonal balance and sexual wellness.
Join Devi Ward Erickson and Dr.Alicia Newsome to discover:
- How desire, arousal, and orgasm are directly tied to hormone balance—and why pleasure is a legitimate, science-backed pathway to healing.
- The top hormone imbalances draining women’s energy (cortisol, thyroid, insulin, estrogen/progesterone) and how they hijack libido, mood, and vitality.
- Practical, non-pharma strategies to restore hormonal harmony—advanced lab insights, nervous system regulation, mineral repletion, and cycle-aware living-so you can implement these methods in your daily routine for better health.
- The difference between stress chemistry and turn-on chemistry—and how to shift from survival mode to embodied pleasure.
- A spiritually grounded, body-honoring approach for high-achieving women to reclaim energy, confidence, and connection—without drugs or surgery.
Listen and share your thoughts in the comments below! 
Learn More About Dr. Alicia Newsome:
Dr. Alicia Newsome is an international speaker, bestselling author, trainer, and esteemed functional medicine doctor. Dr. Alicia is known to captivate audiences with her profound and thought-provoking insights.
Recognized as a sought-after authority, Dr. Newsome has conducted training at prestigious institutions such as Yale University, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and numerous Fortune 500 companies. As the visionary founder of Powerful & Healthy Academy, she empowers women who lack clarity and guidance to receive the steps, strategies & confidence to regain their authentic voice, transform their health, and walk boldly into their life purpose. Dr. Newsome has been recognized in USA Today, ABC, NBC, FOX & CBS for her work and contribution to the world. She is the honored recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Her passion for empowering women to ask questions and get answers led her to become a highly sought-after consultant for pharmaceutical and naturopathic clinical trials in women’s health and cancer.
In private practice, she helps women find out exactly what’s happening inside their bodies & resolve those issues without drugs or surgery through advanced lab testing and boutique-style, one-on-one, customized programs designed for the individual needs of each woman. When not working, Dr. Alicia loves spending time with her family, traveling to warm tropical places, swimming, creating art, and cooking delicious meals. This year, Dr. Alicia gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Her husband and two daughters have been thrilled with his arrival.
Career Highlights:
- Functional Medicine Practitioner
- Best Selling Author
- International Speaker
- Consultant for 5 clinical trials that received FDA market approval in women’s health
health, cancer, and infectious disease - Trainer to Doctors, Nurses & Pharmacists
- Owner of Body Wellness Institute – Home of the Powerful & Healthy
- Academy Recipient of the Joe Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award
