Aphrodisiacs fact or fiction?

[Mary Anne PA]

Will aphrodisiacs improve my sex life?


Aphrodisiacs are certain special foods and drinks that are said to raise the libido and send your desire soaring through the roof. But do they actually work?

Food and sex have always been linked. Many of the ancient books on the arts of love, such as the Kama Sutra, include potions and recipes said to get couples in the mood. In ancient Greece the fig was one of the sacred foods associated with fertility and love. Just because it’s not been medically proven that aphrodisiacs affect sexual desire and performance, there’s no reason why you can’t use these foods and drinks in the bedroom. So why not have fun finding out which foods and drinks work for you?

As well as the old favourites, champagne and oysters, asparagus, bananas, figs, honey, carrots, onions, almonds, chocolate and peppers are all believed to be aphrodisiacs. For many of these foods it may be their appearance, smell and taste that arouse the senses.

In technical terms, bananas are rich in B vitamins believed to help create sex hormones, whereas chillies contain capsaicin, a substance that brings on a temporary high and helps stimulate circulation. Chocolate triggers the brain to release endorphins, the happy hormones that quicken your pulse and produce feelings similar to being “in love”, while champagne relaxes the mind and body, and opens small blood vessels – making you feel flushed and warm.

Don’t take it too seriously and have fun. Exercises like this can help bring couples closer both physically and emotionally. While naughty treats like chocolate, cream, champagne and some of the other aphrodisiacs mentioned are ok once in a while; the staple ingredient of a good sex life is a well balanced diet.

 

[Abbey]

I have been experimenting with tea for improving sex drive, there are heaps of herbs and plants that work in different ways, I have tried wormwood (artemisia absinthium) and ashwagandha, and feel as though work has been more pleasurable
Not even a handful of jasmine flowers covers the bitterness but yeah worth it ^-^

https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/sexual-health

 

[Sherry]

Hey Abbey I wonder if you added honey to your tea if it might help with the bitter taste?
Anyway I found this interesting article on the subject that is actually science backed so here it is.......

Since the beginning of recorded time, people have been seeking the secret to sexual satisfaction. Wherever you look, there’s an herb or a pill or a food that promises precisely that. Trouble is, science hasn’t exactly supported any of those promises…until now!

Korean red ginseng

We already knew that gingseng (also known as “ashwagandha”) is a natural alternative treatment for low sexual desire and erectile dysfunction. But Elizabeth West, MD and Michael Krychman, MD, authors of a study that’s a comprehensive review of all existing scientific journal articles on the subject of aphrodisiacs—approximately 50 as of 2015—found that one particular variety, Korean red ginseng, can improve sexual arousal in menopausal women.
Because ginseng can interfere with blood clotting, you should avoid it prior to surgery. And it has estrogenic effects, so you should avoid it if you’ve been diagnosed with a hormone-sensitive cancer.

Ginkgo biloba

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine use ginkgo biloba to treat dizziness, believing that it increases circulation and blood flow to the brain. Drs. West and Krychman found it may actually improve the sexual response of both men and women who are experiencing sexual side effects from using antidepressants with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) (although they see a need for additional research to confirm this).
Ginkgo can interfere with clotting, and that effect can be magnified if you’re already taking aspirin or any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and should be discontinued prior to surgery.

Maca

A cousin of the radish, maca root, is known for improving circulation. Maca has also been scientifically proven to heighten sexual desire in men and alleviate menopause symptoms in women. Drs. West and Krychman’s study research confirms that maca may enhance libido in both men and women and improve erectile function, as well as potentially correcting sexual side effects caused by SSRIs.
That said, maca contains phytosterols and phytoestrogens, and although it has not been found to directly alter hormone levels, further research is needed to determine its potential adverse effects

ArginMax

ArginMax is a combination supplement containing vitamins A, B, C, and E and also Korean ginseng and gingko bilboa. Drs. West and Krychman found that it may actually do the trick, in terms of improving sexual desire and sexual satisfaction and also increasing the frequency of sexual intercourse. Specifically, in women, ArginMax was found to increase lubrication, clitoral sensitivity, and orgasm frequency.

For women only: Zestra massage oil

Zestra is a massage oil containing borage, evening primrose, and angelica root and is designed to enhance female arousal and orgasm after applying it to the clitoris and labia. Its label states that it causes “tingling” or a “rushing” sensation. Drs. West and Krychman found that studies show it to be an effective aphrodisiac for women. There are no clinical studies of Zestra usage in men.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is known to help nursing mothers increase their milk supply. It also has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine as an aphrodisiac, and a 2011 study showed that fenugreek boosted sex drive in men experiencing low libido. Drs. West and Krychman found evidence that it can, in fact, improve male sexual arousal and orgasm, and that it can improve sexual function (arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction) in premenopausal women.
Because fenugreek contains precursors to estrogen and testosterone, and because in studies, its users show increased levels of hormones, the doctors recommend that people with hormonally active cancers steer clear. Fenugreek can also cause blood-thinning and so shouldn’t be used on patients using prescription blood-thinners.

Hersynergy

Hersynergy is an oral supplement that contains B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc, as well as 300 mg of fenugreek. Marketed toward women, it has no published data proving its efficacy. However, as we know, fenugreek shows promise as a sexual enhancer. In addition, zinc is important to the production of that all-important sex hormone, testosterone. So, perhaps clinical data will emerge over time that proves what the doctors suspect may be true about Hersynergy (i.e., that it works!).

Potency wood

This Brazilian herb has long been known for its use in improving erectile function and improving low libido. Although Drs. West and Krychman found little in the way of clinical proof, they do recognize that a few small-scale studies show that the herb has promise as an aphrodisiac. Still, further study is required before a clinical recommendation can be made.
As Dr. Krychman tells Reader’s Digest, “Smart consumers should examine the data and recognize that data is often emerging and changing.”