FYI Health Tip
Saffron, chocolate, nutmeg, and ginseng are thought to have aphrodisiac powers.
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Procreation made existence on this planet possible. At one time, and even still for some people, it is probably the single most important goal. There are reality television shows based around this concept, and multiple births make front page news. Couples want so much to have children that they turn to in vitro fertilization, but could there be a natural remedy? According to a recently published article, aphrodisiacs may be the answer.
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Loading ...The Greek word aphrodisia, which means sexual pleasure, is where aphrodisiacs got their name. They are naturally occurring plant and animal sources, and are thought to increase sexual desire, pleasure, enhance sexual performance, and aid in the proper function of both male and female sex organs. They have two mechanisms of actions; the first is through their mood stimulating hallucinogenic properties, and the second is a more physiological role of enhancing hormones, increased blood flow and relaxing muscles.
The author admits there is a lack of human studies, but claims, based on the review of literature, common herbs and spices such as saffron, chocolate, nutmeg and ginseng have aphrodisiac properties. If you are among the many that are having reproductive difficulties, grab a pinch of these and add some “spice” to your night.
The supporting research
Turning You On: Which Aphrodisiacs Really Work
Summary
Aphrodisiacs are agents that have been used since ancient times in Asian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations in order to enhance sexuality and to aid with reproduction. Some past studies have tried aphrodisiacs on animals as well as humans in experimental trials. These aphrodisiacs were derived from animal and plant sources. This current study reviewed previous literature on aphrodisiacs, and did a collation of scientific evidence on the same. Results showed that, although there is evidence of efficacy of aphrodisiacs, there have been few human studies. Future studies on humans can establish the true role of naturally derived aphrodisiacs for sexual enhancement.
Introduction
Aphrodisiacs have been advocated and used for centuries by Indian, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Aztec civilizations. The primary use of these agents was as therapy for infertility. Another common use of these agents was to attain sexual fulfillment. These agents have been derived from plant and animal sources. Some of these include material from the Bufo toad, Spanish fly, MACA root, ginseng, saffron, cacao (chocolate), nutmeg, and other natural ingredients. Some scientific studies have even explored the actual efficacy of some of these agents. Currently, synthetic chemical agents, like sildenafil or Viagra, are used by men suffering from erectile dysfunction or an inability to maintain an erect penis for the purpose of sexual intercourse. However, drugs like sildenafil come with side effects such as heart problems, headaches, muscle aches and pains, and blurring of sight. Also, sildenafil fails to raise the libido as aphrodisiacs have claimed to do. This review was conducted to assess the scientific efficacy of various aphrodisiacs from plant and animal sources.
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