Herbs and Spices
Enhancing sexuality should be an everyday occurence. Herbs and spices are used in everyday life. Below are some herbs and spices which may help to improve serious conditions of clinical sexual dysfunction or simply set the mood for romance. However, as with anything in life, these should be used in moderation.
Spices
Hot and spicy foods such as onions, ginger, curry powders and peppers are thought to be effective because they make you heat up and sweat and give you the flushed appearance of someone sexually excited. And any sweet or spicy taste puts you in a relaxed, pampered state of mind, ready for further indulgence.
Garlic
This pungent member of the lily family has been used to treat a wide variety of illnesses from the common cold to heart disease. Garlic has been used as an aphrodisiac by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Japanese. Garlic mixed with lard used externally to bring on an erection has been suggested by a professor at USC medical school. Garlic stimulates the appetite, awakens the senses and makes food taste great.
Ginger
This pungent root
has been used for centuries, both internally and externally, throughout
Asia and India as a powerful aphrodisiac. To combat impotence Indian herbalists
recommend eating a mixture of ginger juice, honey and half-boiled eggs.
In Europe, young maidens baked and ate ginger bread men believing the
ritual would bring them a husband.
Cayenne:
Cayenne peppers release endorphons into the systems of men and women and build the immune system. It is loaded with vitamin C, and the erotic effects will be most effective shortly after consumption. Cayenne is hot in every way. The more you can stand, the better. The powdered pepper in a soup or sauce that is cooked is best.
Herbs
Cinnamon
You may not associate cinnamon with sex but one study found that of all the scents tested, the bark of this evergreen tree native to Asia evoked the greatest increase in sexual desire among participants. The results were clear, although the reason for cinnamon's effect in increasing sexual desire is not well understood.
Damiana
This mexican shrub has a long history of restoring vitality- especially
for sexual vigour- in women. But it can have a similar effect in men too.
Damiana's effectiveness comes from its ability to promote oxygen flow
throughout the body, including to the genital areas. Sex-related benefits
attributed to this herb include reducing prostate inflammation in men,
relief of menopausal hot flashes and PMS in women, decreasing fatigue
and increasing energy. It is generally safe to use but it may take up
to two months to notice the effects.
Saw Palmetto
As well as reducing prostate inflammation in men, this herb also increases sexual desire and drive in both men and women. Ironically, Saw Pametto suppresses testosterone, the sex hormone found in greater amounts in men and lesser amounts in women. Other steroidal substances in this herb are responsible for reducing inflammation of the prostate and the urinary tract which may leave you in a better position to want and enjoy sex. Saw Palmetto is generally considered safe but it should not be used by pregnant women.
Peppermint
Peppermint has long been used as a digestive aid, originally in the Middle East. Peppermint also increases the respiration rate. When you breathe , more oxygen enters your bloodstream. More oxygen in the blood results in all your organs including the genitals receiving more oxygen and functioning better. This can be esecially helpful to men who are impotent or women who have problems acheiving orgasm due to circulation conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. Peppermint is available in many forms and dosage instructions should be followed carefully.
information courtesy of Herbs for Romance by Beth Ann Roybal and Gayle Skowronski of Vegetarian Times, February 2000
www.bbc.co.uk/health/sex/enjsex_aphrodisiacs.shtml and www.aboutaphrodisiacs.org
Classification of Aphrodisiacs
