Aphrodisiacs: Miracle Herbs and Common Supplements to Aid in Sexual Function

Aphrodisiacs have been around for thousands of years. Two thousand years ago men applied black pepper to their genitals to cure impotence, men still ingest dangerous substances such as Spanish Fly and belladona, endangered animals are poached in order to be made into aphrodisiacs. When Viagra first came out it was pretty common to hear stories about old men with heart conditions who weren’t supposed to take it, yet they found a way to acquire some and then died. Hopefully happy.

As an alternative to black market aphrodisiacs that kill endangered species—or you, let’s look at some cheap, natural ingredients and supplements. These aphrodisiacs work by aiding in sexual function naturally by making up for the nutrition that the body is lacking.

Nutrient/Vitamin	What it’s found in	Effect
Black pepper	Spicy food	The alkaloid affects the mucous lining of the genitals and stimulates the organs in men.
Caffeine	Coffee, chocolate, energy drinks	The caffeine stimulates the body
Capsaicin	Chili peppers, cayenne pepper, curry, garlic, spicy food	The heat of capsaicin stimulates endorphins and nerve endings when ingested. Also high in Vitamin C and good for circulation.
Chocolate (my favorite drug)	Cocoa, chocolate, candy, etc.	Chocolate has over 30 chemicals that stimulate, relax, release endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, etc.
***Damiana	Herbal supplement, liquor (in a bottle shaped like a woman)	This South American plant contains chemicals that increase sensitivity in the genitals.
Dopamine	Fava beans	Dopamine is a chemical in the brain necessary to increase libido and decrease depression.
Garlic	Common root herb	The heat aids in increasing sexual desires. Also keeps mosquitoes away, so be sure to have some before a romantic or unromantic camping trip.
Ginger	Root/spice found in supermarkets, pumpkin pie, stir-fries, etc.	This spice stimulates the circulatory system and aids digestion.
Ginko	Supplement found in vitamins and herbal stores.	This supplement increases circulation and aids sexual dysfunction, causes the release of nitric oxide, and widens the blood vessels and erectile tissue. Also good for the memory, so you will have the added benefit of remembering your recreational activities.  (Not to be taken by people with heart disease or blood thinning drugs.)
Ginseng	Very common in Korean food and some Japanese food, found in teas, soups, dietary supplements and raw.	This plant usually grown in Korea, relaxes muscles, increases circulation and acts as a hormonal stimulant. (Similar to Viagra.)
Kava kava	Supplement found in the health food store	This Polynesian aphrodisiac aids in relaxation.
L-arginine	Supplement found in the health food store	This amino acid increases the nitric oxide in the blood vessel walls to maintain erection.
Phenylethylamine	Red wine, aged cheese, chocolate	In small amounts, increases arousal, stimulates the senses, and causes relaxation. Too much can cause headaches, fatigue and a lack of sexual desire.
Phytoestrogen	Soy products, cardamom, saffron	A plant chemical that mimics estrogen and helpful for women. This decreases; vaginal dryness, cholesterol, the likelihood of some cancers, and the side effects of menopause such as lowered sex drive.
Chlorogenic acid	Sunflowers	Aiding sexual stimulation.
Tryptophan	Black beans	Amino acid that relaxes.
***Yohimbe Bark (nature’s Viagra)	Must purchase in a healthfood store	It increases circulation, enhances libido, fights depression by releasing serotonin in the brain, relieves impotence caused by stress, fatigue or tension.

Sugar and spice and everything nice: handy aphrodisiacs to have in your kitchen

Cinnamon, cloves, ginger and other common cooking spices have been considered aphrodisiacs for thousands of years in both Western and Eastern cultures. Many years ago, cinnamon was used as a cure against impotence, often mixed with wine in Great Britain and Rome. Cloves are reputed to be a male aphrodisiac because of their shape, especially in Indonesian culture.  From ancient China, to Islam to the Greeks, ginger has been considered an aphrodisiac and cure all for many problems. Ginger is commonly used as a digestive aid, anti-inflammatory, and increases blood flow. Recently in a study in Nigeria at the College of Medicine at the University of Ibada, the effects of ginger on sexual functioning were tested on rats. The finding showed that after the eight days the rats were given ginger infused water, they experienced an increase of testosterone levels and also experienced an increase of weight in their testes.

Another sexual stimulant commonly found in a kitchen is honey. Honey is a great source of B vitamins which is needed for testosterone production. It also contains boron which helps the body metabolize estrogen in women and possibly enhances blood levels of testosterone in men. Molasses is a great source of iron, magnesium, chromium, and potassium, all being especially important in sexual hormone production for men.

That means holiday foods—which you probably thought you should stay away from—like pumpkin pie, spice cake, and gingersnaps are actually good for you. To maximize the effects of these ingredients, try adding a teaspoon of ginger and molasses to apple pie and apple crisp, add cinnamon to blackberry pie and cherry cobbler. Not only will your secret ingredient be delectable to the palette, but be infusing aphrodisiacs into your diet.

Out of Order: Natural Sexual Dysfunction Solutions

 “Yeah, all this aphrodisiac stuff is great and all but I need something a little stronger. I need something that’s more than just nutrition,”one who has read about aphrodisiacs might say.

The idea behind aphrodisiacs is that it provides the nutrients to heighten the body’s sexual functioning. A boost of Vitamin A, B, C etc. can increase energy, stamina and overall well being. Aphrodisiacs can also stimulate the psyche if one is eating a food or meal that reminds them of sexual organs such as bananas, asparagus, oysters or figs. Some plants have natural hormones or help increase hormones needed for sexual function such as soy which contains phytoestrogen for women or ginko for men.

Usually that is all one needs. But in some circumstances, the body needs more than vitamins. Sometimes one needs something to enhance the libido. That is where true aphrodisiacs come in. Damiana, yohimbe bark, chocolate, and fava beans stimulate serotonin and dopamine and help decrease depression. And when that isn’t enough, there are still other factors to examine.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association in a study reported in February 1999, about 43 % of women and 31 % of men suffer from sexual inadequacy.  In the article mentioned above, the causes for impotence ranges from lacking the ability to be aroused, inability to orgasm, premature ejaculation, or other sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction. The latter term specifically refers to not being able to achieve or maintain an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse 50 % of the time. Thirty million American men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Is it really so surprising that drugs such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are so popular?

Below is a list of reasons one might develop sexual dysfunctions and potential preventative measures one can take to remedy this. These are all natural and drug free ways to aid sexual health

List of Potential Problems and Potential Cures

Cause	Solution
Inadequate diet	Providing the vitamins and minerals the body is lacking.
Too much Fat	The body doesn’t need Omega 9 since our diet is already so rich in it. Try to avoid too much corn and canola oil, transfats, etc.
Not enough fat	The body needs more Omega 3 and 6’s which are found it fish oil,
Not enough exercise	When one does aerobic exercise at least three times a week, the body has more energy through out the day, sleeps better at night, decreases depression and increases circulation and sexual hormone production.
Prescription Medications	Some medications ranging from anti-depressants to birth control effect the body’s hormone production and sexual functioning. If an alternative prescription can be substituted,  some times that is a happy alternative.
Diabetes	Causes poor circulation.
Smoking	Decreases circulation.
Drinking	Damages the blood vessels and can cause a little too much relaxation in some cases.
Too much caffeine	Can cause a variety of symptoms including headaches to the caffeine low.
Aging	Yeah, try to avoid that one.
Stress	Effect the psychological and physiological functioning.
Depression	Effect the psychological and physiological functioning. Kava kava and St. John’s Wort are common herbal remedies, (not recommended for women taking birth control as it makes the birth control ineffective!)
Seasonal Depression	If you need more sunlight or Vitamin D, go to a tanning salon, get some sunlight and eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit.

Out of order: 30 million American men battling erectile dysfunction

30 million American men battling erectile dysfunction: Is Viagra the only answer?

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association in a study reported in February 1999, about 43 % of women and 31 % of men suffer from sexual inadequacy.  The kinds of impotence in men ranges from low libido, delayed or inability to orgasm, premature ejaculation, physical defects or abnormalities, and other sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction. The latter term specifically refers to not being able to achieve or maintain an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse 50 % of the time. Thirty million American men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Is it really so surprising that drugs such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are so popular?

But are these drugs really the answer when the side effects may include headache, flushing, runny nose, visual problems, heart attacks, and interfere with many prescriptions--including heart medications?

There are plenty of people who believe so, otherwise it wouldn't be such a booming industry, some elderly men wouldn't be lying about heart conditions in order to obtain these drugs, and these prescriptions wouldn't have become so easily accessible to purchase through the internet. There are now prescription medications for women, though studies show they do no have the same results. Although erectile dysfunction is considered a medical condition, Harvard Health reports that female sexual dysfunction is not yet considered a medical condition. . . . Interestingly, this dysfunctions occurs 10% more in women.

So what are the alternatives? The cause of the sexual dysfunction will effect the cure. Viagra, Levitra and Cialis primarily aid in blood flow and circulation. Natural remedies that increase blood flow might include: damiana, yohimbe bark, capsaicin (chili peppers and other spicy foods), ginger and regular exercise. If the problem is libido, Viagra and other drugs that stimulate circulation will not help. In those cases, medications that promote dopamine and serotonin are key. Natural mood stimulants include chocolate, small amounts of wine, fava beans and black beans.