- An aphrodisiac is anything that stimulates sexual drive or desire. An aphrodisiac may be a food, drink, substance or even a certain behavior. According to researchers at the University of Chicago, around 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men experience sexual dysfunction, meaning they are unable to feel satisfaction during the five stages of the sexual response cycle: desire, excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution. They may lose interest in sex altogether. Aphrodisiacs are supposed to enhance the libido by offering a sensory experience of sight, touch, hearing or smell.
- A variety of objects are said to be aphrodisiacs; opinions differ as to which one works best. Ten popular aphrodisiacs are: massages; alcohol; chocolate; oysters; Yohimbe; certain vegetables; money; exercise and good nutrition; respect; and certain spices, like chili.
- Massages are soothing and sensual. There's even a theory that, if someone is willing to give you a massage, she is willing to be physically close to you in other ways. Even though alcohol "provokes the desire, but takes away the performance," as Shakespeare said, it does lower inhibitions. Just be careful of drinking too much alcohol, which can cause erectile dysfunction. Chocolate contains chemicals that boost pleasant feelings, oysters are high in minerals that may increase testosterone, and Yohimbe (the bark of an African tree) may stimulate the nerve centers in the spine that control an erection. Phallic-shaped vegetables, like cucumbers and bananas, are said to increase desire. Money may make people more attractive, exercise and good nutrition keep a body in shape, and chili has been used for centuries to "spice up" desire.
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Though some aphrodisiacs have been used for thousands of years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found no scientific evidence to prove that over-the-counter (OTC) remedies can treat sexual dysfunction. There is one exception: diet and exercise. A healthy diet and regular exercise comprise the only OTC remedy for sexual dysfunction that is endorsed by the FDA.
Some popular yet exotic remedies, such as rhinoceros horn and Spanish fly, are toxic or dangerous. The demand for rhinoceros horns is forcing this animal into endangerment. Spanish fly is a a powder made by crushing a bright green blister beetle; it has long been felt to be an aphrodisiac when ingested, but an excessive dosage can cause genitourinary infections and possibly death. - People have sought out aphrodisiacs for centuries. The word "aphrodisiac" is derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sex and beauty.
