Our Health – The Greatest Aphrodisiac

Sexual vitality is different in each individual. Our genes are believed to have unique dispositions encoded within them that control sexual functioning and behaviour. No two people have identical sexual responses or urges. It is known that our hormones, neurotransmitters and lifestyle determine how we feel and how much vitality we may have at a given moment. Therefore it is natural to conclude that our sexual virility is the strongest when our body is in balance, and we are at our healthiest state.

Historically virility has been associated with males. The search for sexual vigour at all age levels and in all social strata has always been intense, and it is still considered to be the dominant characteristic of the human male today.

Man has sought to sustain, even increase, his virility through exotic foods and drinks, by herbal compounds and by fantastic manipulations. Against the challenges of oncoming age or decrepitude or the numerous assaults of exhaustion, man has undertaken herbal and scientific, legendary, medicinal and culinary means through the ages and under desperate circumstances to perpetuate or to extend his masculinity and his functional operations.

In ancient Rome, love concoctions of all kinds were sold publicly. Among the ingredients of such preparations were starfish, remora (sucking fish), dried human marrow, and sanguus menstruus (menstrual blood). Earnest invocations were offered to deities during their preparation. In the Middle Ages, the alchemist sold a putative aphrodisiac of which gold itself was an ingredient. Known as “potable gold” and consumed in the form of a beverage, the preparation was to be taken daily.

Aphrodisiac preparations during the time of Nefzawi included almonds. People were instructed to eat 20 almonds and 100 grains of pine tree combined with a glassful of very thick honey before bedtime. Heightened sexual vitality was said to be theirs after consuming this tonic for three consecutive days. The other aphrodisiac remedy with almonds as a main ingredient consisted of powdered almonds combined with the yolks of eggs, chicken stock and cream, creating almond soup.

Such recipes, for the most part, are basically wholesome and create sexual vitality by simply inducing a feeling of well-being.

In modern times we have considered aphrodisiacs to be anything that stimulates the central nervous system, thereby heightening our experience or anything that removes our inhibitions by depressing the higher centres of the brain. The resulting sexual desire in both instances may be increased.

What we truly need to look towards to produce an amorous inducement in ourselves is optimum health and balancing daily stresses. The overall health of our body has a direct correlation on our reproductive system and can be a determining factor for our sexual drive. Endocrine health, vascular health and neurological health must all be in balance. Herbal medicines today are coming back into the forefront in balancing our systems. They can act as an immune booster, energizers, and detoxifiers, which can optimize physiological functioning naturally. They can work individually or synergistically to stimulate the desired effects.

Herbs that impact on the nervous and hormonal systems result in enhanced testosterone levels and increased blood circulation in the lower regions of the body. Yet any herb will have an aphrodisiac effect on us if it creates energy enhancing effects, improves our overall health and strengthens our immune system. The following listing of herbs is known to have aphrodisiac properties.

The Ginkgo Biloba extract (GBE) enhances blood circulation and increases the supply of oxygen to the heart, brain and all body parts. In addition, it acts as an anti-oxidant and thereby has anti-aging effects.

In the male, it improves the arterial inflow to erectile tissues through arteries and veins without any change to systemic blood pressure. It is therefore considered to be extremely beneficial in the treatment of male impotence due to lack of blood flow.

GBF is also effective in women against congestive symptoms of PMS—fluid retention, vascular congestion, increased capillary permeability and breast tenderness.

In the psychological arena GBE, when combined with standard drug therapy (tricyclics and tetracyclics) or when used on its own, may be a significant benefit as an antidepressant.

The most well known medicinal plant of China, Panax Ginseng is used for its mental and physical revitalizing properties. These antifatigue properties thus help to create more energy and can elevate mood.

In both men and women, it universally combats weakness and gives us extra energy. It improves our endocrine gland function and has a positive effect on our sex glands. In addition to enhancing our athletic performance, Panax Ginseng rejuvenates and increases longevity. It also acts as a general detoxifier and normalizes the entire system.

The Brazilian aphrodisiac plants that make up the Amazon Rainforest Herbs in general impact on the nervous system. They enhance our sense of general well being while energizing, stimulating and building our mental and sexual energy. They have natural synergistic and balancing effects and may be prescribed in combination to best fortify specific deficiencies.

Damiana is an overall tonic herb that nourishes the libido. It naturally supports and nourishes the nervous system and gives long-term energy. Damiana also helps in rebalancing the body’s hormones by regulating the pituitary gland, the master gland that controls the production of many hormones of the body.

A stimulant, Guarana fights fatigue by stimulating all of our systems. It is absorbed into our systems more slowly, and we therefore benefit from its longer effects.

Marapuama is also a nerve tonic that is considered to be a powerful aphrodisiac. It is shown to improve male sexual function, especially libido and erections as well as frequency of erections and performance. It is therefore considered an enhancement of virility. Like many of the aphrodisiac herbs, it improves overall health and is an energy tonic.

A strong tonic and nervous system fortifier, Catuba is known for its general capability of giving strength and relieving fatigue. In men, it is a libido enhancer and is used synergistically with Marapuama for tonifying sexual and urinary organs, specifically as an aphrodisiac and for impotence.

Cajueiro is a general tonic for the body and has aphrodisiac properties. The tonic herbs have normalizing and nurturing effects on the body. It increases vitality by strengthening and rejuvenating a specific organ, a system or the entire body.

Suma, considered to be Brazilian Ginseng, is one of the most effective herbs from the Amazon for female problems. Its action is normalizing rather than stimulating or inhibiting. It acts primarily as a regulator of the endocrine, nervous muscoskeletal and digestive systems. It thus increases energy flow through the body. Two plant hormones, sistosterol and stigmasterol, occur naturally in Surna. These plant compounds mimic some of the properties of estrogen.

Avena Sativa is considered to be a male as well as a female aphrodisiac as it works by freeing up testosterone, which becomes increasingly bound to various compounds within the body with advancing age. It is testosterone that is responsible for stimulating sexual activity in both women and men. Avena Sativa addresses male impotence and female lack of desire or inability to respond sexually.

For 5,000 years hemp has been used as a sexual stimulant. It is derived from the Sanskrit word BHANG that means hemp. In India, frequently the seeds of hemp are mixed with sugar and yoghurt and blended to make a Bhang Lassi, which can increase sexual capacity among other desirable effects.

Derived from the bark of the yohimbe tree, native to Central Africa it is widely used for sexual potency. It is also known as Quebrachine, which refers to the alkaloid present in Yohimbine, which is the active ingredient.

Indian aphrodisiacs in the form of Ayurvedic remedies balance the doshas or body types, creating an optimal flow of energy and balancing chi within the body.

The seed of the Ajwain herb is an effective aphrodisiac as it is rich in thymol. It is best when crushed and fried in ghee (clarified butter), normal butter or olive oil together with an equal quantity of crushed tamarind seed kernels. This is then taken together with honey and milk before retiring. This herbal tonic increases virility and cures premature ejaculation.

An herb that has been used for general debility, sexual debility and nervous exhaustion, Ashwaghanda balances the hormonal system promotes the healing of tissues and supports sound sleep, which in turn nourishes the body.

While all of these herbs may create increased sexual vitality we should not forget that inguinal (pelvic) massage by a partner, imaginative foreplay (i.e. role-playing) and aromatherapy can all enhance and heighten the sexual experience as well. Bodywork such as acupressure massage, opening up chakras, acupuncture, and yoga can all assist in balancing and re-directing energy flow in the body which in may in turn increase sexual desire or performance. Deep breathing and meditation is incorporated into Tantrie lovemaking to heighten awareness and awaken the kundalini (sexual energy coiled at the base of the spine).

Whatever herbs you feel may best address your specific needs, it is best to work with a health care practitioner who can properly tailor your program to impact on your specific concerns and enhance your overall health. They take into consideration the importance of the balance of the body and the mind. After all, this balance creates the most powerful aphrodisiac of all—your health.

Dr. Nitin Dilwari is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chiropractic. He also has a Masters o/Science in Biology and Nutrition from Carleton University.

He integrates both Eastern and Western approaches to treating disease, pain and stress related disorders. Using a combination of natural therapies and counselling, he enables the patient to harness his/her own body’s healing power.