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Just like the age-old search for the alchemist’s
mythical stone which would turn lead to gold, man has always longed to
find a potent aphrodisiac. Named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of
love, beauty, and fertility, aphrodisiacs are substances that elicit
sexual desire, enhance sex drive and improve sexual "performance”. Since
all these are such subjective measures, it’s hardly surprising there is
so much controversy about the efficacy of these products.
Aphrodisiacs could be used either to enhance your
own sexual drive; or that of your partner. Every infertile couple knows
how stressful having timed "baby making sex " can be, so that an
effective aphrodisiac would be a big boon ! The good news is that since
the most important sexual organ is your brain, practically anything will
work as an aphrodisiac if you are convinced that it is effective. Of
course, a good night's sleep, time, privacy, and a turned-on partner can
do the same thing as effectively – after all, if you are having sex with
someone you love, you really don’t need any further stimulation !
Unfortunately , researchers have still not been able to find a magic
potion which you can use to seduce another person , but the search still
goes on !
There are two main types of aphrodisiacs -
psychophysiological stimuli (which turn you on by titillating your sense
of vision, touch, hearing or smell ); and internal preparations (food,
alcoholic drinks, drugs and love potions). However, studying these
scientifically has been extremely difficult. Most scientists have kept
away from this field, leaving the way open for exploitation by quacks
and so-called 'sexologists” .Most writings on the subject are little
more than unscientific compilations of folklore, making it difficult to
distinguish facts from myths. Few substances have been scientifically
evaluated until recently; and sadly most of these studies have been
carried out on men, while women have been completely ignored. ( I guess
this is because most men are happy to experiment with anything which may
help them to get turned on, while women are more cautious !)The placebo
effect is a major scientific stumbling block which makes evaluating
these products very difficult, because the mind is the most potent
aphrodisiac there is. If you tell them it's an aphrodisiac, the hope of
getting a sexual response might actually cause them to get it ! However,
experimenting with aphrodisiacs can be fun, so give it your best shot –
after all, you are your own expert in this field !
So what can you start with ? Many preparations from
plants and animals with reputed aphrodisiac properties have been
recorded throughout history. Many ancient people believed in the
so-called "law of similarity," reasoning that an object resembling
genitalia may possess sexual powers. Rhinoceros horn, for example, has
been extensively used by men to enhance sex drive , because it resembles
an erect penis ( and is responsible for the derivation of the slang
word, feeling “horny”.) However, chemical analysis of powdered horn
extracts reveals only polypeptides, sugars, phosphorus, ethanolamine and
free amino acids – none of which can improve libido ! Unfortunately,
this factual analysis has come too late , and rhinos have been
practically hunted to extinction in many parts of the world.
The word ginseng means "man root," and the plant's
reputation as an aphrodisiac probably arises from its marked similarity
to the human body. Ginseng has been looked on as an invigorating and
rejuvenating agent for centuries in China, Tibet, Korea, and India. The
root may have a mild stimulant action, like coffee, but there is no
evidence that ginseng has an effect on human sexuality, no matter what
the ads claim. Many types of seafood have also gained reputations as
aphrodisiacs , perhaps because Aphrodite was said to be born from the
sea, and the most famous of these are oysters .
Yohimbine , an extract from the bark of the West
African yohimbe tree, has been shown to be helpful in maintaining an
erection, but it’s not as likely to enhance sexual arousal or desire.
The most famous reputed aphrodisiac of all is Spanish Fly , which is
made from ground up beetles of the Lytta vesicatoria species. Its active
ingredient is cantharidin, which irritates the bladder and urethra,
causing increased blood flow to the genitals and creating sensations of
warmth in the private parts, which can be very pleasurable. However, it
can lead to an abnormally prolonged or constant erection ( priapism) or
an engorged vulva and vagina, both of which are often painful. Prolonged
use can permanently scar urethral tissue , infect the genitourinary
tract, and can even be fatal. Indeed, many commercially available
preparations which claim to be aphrodisiacs can be dangerous. In Asia,
for example, a number of people have suffered severe poisoning after
taking herbal formulations containing mercury and arsenic complexes to
enhance sexual performance, so beware !
What about alcohol or mind-altering drugs such as
ecstasy ? Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and barbiturates
help reduce inhibitions and produce pleasurable feelings that could lead
one to feel sexually stimulated. However, instead of this intended
outcome, decreased sexual response could occur, often when taking larger
amounts, or from long-term usage. Alcohol is actually a depressant, and
so, as Shakespeare observed, it "provokes the desire, but it takes away
the performance."
The recent introduction of Viagra has helped to
revolutionize this field of research into aphrodisiacs. Since Viagra
became a billion dollar blockbuster, pharmaceutical companies now
realize that this area is a potential gold mine, and are willing to
invest millions in developing new lifestyle enhancing drugs , which can
improve sexual performance. However, Viagra is not an aphrodisiac. While
it helps to enhance erection by improving blood flow, it does not create
sexual desire. Even worse, it does not seem to work well on women. In a
way, this is hardly surprising, because female sexual desire is such a
complex area, which is affected by so many variable, many of which are
practically impossible to analyse or study.
John Morgenthaler, author of the book, Better Sex
Through Chemistry , discusses a new class of pharmaceuticals called "prosexual
drugs". Niacin, or vitamin B-3, when taken on an empty stomach causes
blood vessels near the skin to dilate for several minutes, which
produces the well-known "niacin flush.". Taking niacin prior to sex may
increase tactile sensations, electrifying the sense of touch, and
enhancing orgasms. Niacin is a safe vitamin, which is inexpensive and
easily available.
Other popular prosexual chemicals include: deprenyl
( which is a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor) ; GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate)
; L-Dopa which is commonly used to treat patients with Parkinson’s
disease, some of whom develop "hypersexuality" as a side effect; and
bromocriptine , which works by stimulating the brain's production of
dopamine (low levels of this chemical are associated with a decline in
sex drive). More recently, researchers have investigated the role of
neurotransmitters in sexual behaviour, and as a result many new
potential drugs have been explored . ( Don’t worry about missing out on
this research - when they find one which works, you’ll read about it on
the front page of every newspaper !)
The ideal aphrodisiac would be one which is cheap;
easily available; safe; retains activity when used repeatedly; and
effective for both men and women. Current trends indicate that
psychopharmacological agents - compounds that stimulate both mind and
body - will be useful in the future. However, maybe the wishful search
for a cure-all drug should be abandoned in favor of an easier, more
reliable mechanism: the erotic stimulation of one's own imagination –
and your partner’s ! To quote renowned sex expert "Dr. Ruth" Westheimer,
Ed.D.: "The most important sex organ lies between the ears."
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