Aphrodisiacs I: Some are for Real
Author: Michael Castleman, M.A.
(But Probably Not the Ones You Expect)
What do ginseng, chocolate, oysters, coffee, alcohol, powdered rhinoceros tusk, a ground up Mediterranean beetle and the bark of a certain West African tree all have in common? They are just a few of the many items people have used down through the ages to set off sexual fireworks. For almost as long, scientists have dismissed every one of these traditional aphrodisiacs as sexually worthless -- and sometimes dangerous.
But old beliefs die hard when they promise to add extra zing to lovemaking. The rhinoceros has been hunted almost to extinction in part because its powdered horn reputedly boosts virility (it doesn't). And Spanish fly, a drug made by pulverizing the Mediterranean Cantharis beetle, is a urinary tract irritant that can be poisonous in large doses. Until recently, scientists insisted that nothing ingested, inhaled or injected could possibly have the effect promised in that old rock song, "Love Potion #9," whose narrator recalls that after downing the herbal brew, he "started kissing everything in sight." The sad fact is that there are many more ways to kill sexual interest than enhance it (see sidebar: "The Sex Killers" in Part II).
Nonetheless, belief in aphrodisiac drugs runs deep. It's embedded in the very terms we use to describe sexual attraction. Why do people fall head over heels for each other? Chemistry. Recent research shows that those love-sick chemists of yore were on to something. Science has still not identified anything that charms reluctant objects of desire into ripping their clothes off. But a surprising number of herbs, drugs and foods have physiological effects that just might make reluctant paramours more receptive to erotic invitations. In addition, if we define "aphrodisiac" broadly to include anything that adds extra excitement to lovemaking, then the possibilities become as boundless as the erotic imagination.
How Those Aphrodisiacs of Yore Gained Their Sexy Reputations
Three reasons account for belief in most traditional aphrodisiacs: ancient myths, medieval medical theory and traditional herbal medicine. The mythological genesis of some purported sex boosters takes us back to the origin of the term "aphrodisiac." It comes from Aphrodite, Greek goddess of beauty and love. In Greek mythology, when Uranus, the first ruler of the heavens, was killed in a battle among the gods, his flesh fell into the sea and Aphrodite was created from it. Ever since the love goddess' mythological nativity, products of the sea have been considered sex stimulants, especially oysters, whose soft fleshy moistness bears some fanciful resemblance to the vagina. (It turns out that oysters have reproductive benefit -- read on.)
Resemblances such as oysters and the vagina lie at the heart of the medical philosophy that dominated the Middle Ages. Known as the Doctrine of Signatures, the idea was that the same God who had cursed humanity with illness had also blessed his children with natural cures that announced their utility by their appearance or "signature." Plants with heart-shaped leaves were prescribed for heart disease, yellow flowers were used to treat jaundice, etc. Using the same logic, plants with phallic parts -- for example, carrots and bananas -- were considered virility boosters, according to George Armelagos, Ph.D., a professor of anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta and author of Consuming Passions: The Anthropology of Eating. While anything soft and moist -- oysters and ripe, juicy, peaches, pears and tomatoes -- were linked to the vagina and were considered women's aphrodisiacs. Echoes of the Doctrine of Signatures remain to this day. A few years ago, author Sallie Tisdale published a pro-pornography rumination on women's sexuality called "Talk Dirty to Me." Its dust jacket featured a gauzy photograph of a feminine hand holding half an apple, which looked decidedly vaginal.
The Doctrine of Signatures held sway from China to Kenya. It partly explains why Asians have revered ginseng root for centuries as a male aphrodisiac. Some ginseng roots are shaped like little people, with a body-like center and branches that resemble arms, legs and sometimes central protuberances that look rather penile. In Africa, rhinoceros horns looked phallic enough to spur a belief that they were sex stimulants. The horns of other animals such as deer and reindeer gained similar aphrodisiac reputations and gave us a term for feeling sex-starved: "horny."
Finally, the Doctrine of Signatures extended to taste. "Hot" spices, particularly the peppers and ginger, were believed to promote the heat of lust.
Beyond the Doctrine of Signatures, in traditional herbal medicine, any plant containing any chemical stimulant gained a reputation as a sex stimulant. In the Middle East, before Arab caliphs visited their harems, they sipped coffee which contains the potent stimulant, caffeine. Montezuma and Casanova fortified themselves for sex by drinking hot chocolate which also contains caffeine. Ginseng has no caffeine, but it contains other stimulants (ginsenosides) that enhance work performance and were generalized to include performance of a more intimate nature.
In addition, many herbs with action on the genito-urinary system gained reputations as aphrodisiacs, particularly urinary irritants like Spanish fly and diuretics. Also among them are sarsaparilla and saw palmetto. And down through the ages, several other herbs have clung tenaciously to aphrodisiac reputations; for example, the West African yohimbe tree, wild yam and damiana, whose scientific name is Turnera aphrodisiaca.
Despite traditional aphrodisiacs' amorous reputations, until recently, scientists dismissed them all as quaint frauds whose powers had less to do with sex than suggestion. "It's very difficult to separate their effects on the mind from their effects on the body," says Varro Tyler, Ph.D., the Lily distinguished professor of pharmacognosy (natural-product pharmacy) at the Purdue University School of Pharmacy in West Lafayette, Indiana. "Sexual enjoyment involves the mind as much as the body, so anything people consider arousing becomes arousing."
Beyond Folklore: Some Scientific Substance
With all due respect to the power of suggestion, in recent years, scientists have discovered that while the traditional aphrodisiacs don't unleash unbridled lust, several stimulate more than just the imagination:
* Caffeine (in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and colas). If your honey's thoughts turn to dreamland just as yours turn to dallying, a cup of coffee (with perhaps a Hershey Bar on the side) just might keep him or her awake long enough to make the most of the evening. But caffeine does more than simply keep the Sandman at bay until the end of the 10 o'clock news. In one study, University of Michigan urologist Ananias Diokno, M.D., found that compared with those who did not drink coffee, regular coffee drinkers were considerably more sexually active.
* Chocolate. Chocolate contains not only caffeine, but also what sexual medicine specialist Theresa Crenshaw, M.D., author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust (Putnam, 1996) and co-author (with James Goldberg, Ph.D.) of Sexual Pharmacology (Norton, 1996), calls "the molecule of love," phenylethylamine (PEA). PEA is a natural form of the stimulant, amphetamine. It is also a natural antidepressant. Both love and lust increase blood levels of PEA, but after a heartbreak, PEA levels plummet. Chocolate contains high levels of PEA, which may account for its centuries-old reputation as an aphrodisiac. However, critics contend that the PEA in chocolate gets metabolized so quickly that it couldn't have much libidinous effect. Perhaps, but giving chocolates has become a worldwide courtship ritual. Maybe it's the silky texture and creamy taste. Then again, maybe it's the PEA. P.S. The artificial sweetener, NutraSweet, also increases blood levels of PEA. Maybe lovers should forget the Champagne (see sidebar: "The Sex Killers") and toast one another with goblets of Diet Coke.
* Ginseng. The Chinese and Koreans insist that in addition to stimulating productivity, the immune system and athletic ability, ginseng also "strengthens exhausted sperm and impotent genitals." American scientists remain skeptical, including noted herbal medicine expert James Duke, Ph.D., author of many herb books, among them Ginseng: A Concise Handbook. But even he cites several Asian animal studies showing that ginseng stimulates sexual function and a Russian study showing it effective in treating impotence. The herb also helps alleviate menopausal symptoms in women. Ginseng preparations are available at health food stores. Try a half-teaspoon of powdered root per cup of tea and take up to two cups a day. With other preparations, follow the package directions. Unlike coffee, herbalists advise that ginseng does not produce a quick buzz. It must be used regularly for several months before its subtle stimulant effect becomes noticeable.
* Oysters. Scientists scoffed at oysters' sexual reputation until nutritionists discovered that they are "exceptionally rich" in the essential trace mineral zinc. Zinc is intimately related to male sexual health. Men with zinc-deficient diets are at high risk for infertility, prostate problems and loss of libido. University of Rochester researchers have restored sperm counts in infertile men using zinc supplements. Processed foods are often low in zinc. In addition to oysters, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables also contain this mineral.
* Saw palmetto. This small palm tree native to the Southeast U.S. was recommended by early American folk healers as a diuretic, breast enlarger and a treatment for benign prostate enlargement; a common problem among men over 50. Recent research shows that this herb won't boost anyone's bra size, but it is a mild diuretic and several double-blind studies show that saw palmetto extract does, in fact, help treat prostate enlargement. In one study, 305 men with typical enlarged-prostate symptoms -- urinary difficulty and several nightly wake-ups to urinate -- were given 320 mg a day of saw palmetto extract. After 90 days, 88 percent of them reported significant improvement in urine flow and quality of life.
* Wild yam. This tuber's sexual reputation springs from its age-old reputation as a treatment for gynecological ailments. It turns out that wild yam is a potent source of diosgenin, a chemical resembling female sex hormones, which was used in the manufacture of the first birth control pills. Many herbalists tout wild yam salves for vaginal dryness which makes intercourse uncomfortable for many women of all ages, particularly those who are postmenopausal.
* Yohimbe. For centuries, the bark of the West African yohimbe tree was reputed to restore erections to impotent men. Scientists scoffed, but several studies during the 1980s showed that a chemical in the bark, yohimbine, did indeed raise erections in some impotent men by increasing blood flow into the penis. Some years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved yohimbine as a treatment for impotence. The herbal extract is now available in five prescription drugs: Ahprodyne, Erex, Yocon, Yohimex and Yovital.
However, since its FDA approval, some medical naysayers have continued to assail yohimbine as ineffective. A recent review of 16 studies shows that yohimbine is an effective treatment for erection impairment. But the naysayers may have a point, at least about the yohimbine products sold in supplement shops and health food stores. In 1995, the FDA sponsored a study of 26 over-the-counter yohimbine products, among them: Super Man, Hot Stuff and Yohimbe Concentrate. The yohimbine content of yohimbe bark is 7,089 parts per million (ppm). Concentrations found in the tested products ranged from less than 0.1 ppm to 489 ppm, probably not enough to have much effect. If you want yohimbine's benefits, go with a prescription drug.
Yohimbe is the spiritual forebearer of the recently approved erection pill, Viagra. Before yohimbe was shown to be able to stimulate erection, scientists flatly denied that chemical erection was possible. But the research in support of yohimbe set pharmacological minds to thinking and the rest is history.
However, it's important to understand that drugs that produce erection -- no matter if they're traditional herbs or pharmaceuticals -- are not aphrodisiacs per se. It's quite possible for a man to feel sexually aroused and not have an erection if he has a spinal cord injury. It's equally possible to have an erection and not feel aroused, as in the painful condition known as priapism.
Of course, erection and arousal usually go together so it's not surprising that erection aids were considered aphrodisiacs. However, there's also a certain amount of sexism in this equation. Historically, women were considered the passive recipients of male lust (not to mention, their fathers' or husbands' property). If a man got turned on that justified sex, even if the woman was not feeling amorous. Yohimbe has never been shown to have any effect on women's libido, but it's considered an aphrodisiac because it raises erection in men. The herb is actually, at most, HALF an aphrodisiac because it affects only one gender and men who use it may get erections, but not feel really turned on.The same goes for Viagra. It raises erection, but should not be considered an aphrodisiac because that's all it does. It doesn't necessarily make men feel more libidinous and it certainly has no sexual effect on women. In fact, Viagra has spawned a new sex problem in women -- "viagravation.," This is the irritation women feel when chemically erect men won't leave them alone. Fortunately, the Viagra craze began cooling a few months after the drug was approved because people slowly came to realize that there's more to sex and aphrodisia than just erection.
* Quebracho. This South American herb has a centuries-old reputation as an aphrodisiac. It turns out that like yohimbe, it too contains yohimbine.
* Oats. Many ranchers swear that horses fed wild oats become friskier and more libidinous. When humans behave that way, we say they're "sowing their wild oats." The research is scant, but many herbalists recommend wild oats, often in combination with ginseng and yohimbe, in aphrodisiac tea blends. In addition, oat bran is well known for its ability to reduce artery-clogging cholesterol. If oat products help improve blood flow into the heart, they just might do the same for blood flow into the penis which might enhance erections.
* Ginkgo. Ginkgo is the newest arrival among sex-promoting herbs. It has no traditional reputation as an aphrodisiac, but over the past decade a great deal of research has shown that it improves blood flow through the brain. Today, ginkgo is widely used in Europe to treat stroke and cerebral insufficiency (poor circulation in the brain). Ginkgo also boosts blood flow into the penis. In one study, 50 men with erection impairment caused by poor penile blood flow were given 240 mg of a standardized ginkgo extract daily for nine months. Thirty-nine (78 percent) regained their erections. Standardized gingko extracts are available at supplement shops and health food stores.
While many traditional aphrodisiacs have shown at least some stimulating or genital-sexual effects, nothing even remotely libidinous has ever been discovered about damiana, despite the aphrodisiaca in its scientific name. Nonetheless, its sex-enhancing reputation remains, touted breathlessly -- and without persuasive scientific evidence -- in such recent books as Love Potions by Cynthia Watson, M.D. (Tarcher, 1993). Perhaps it's simply a placebo. Perhaps some sex-boosting benefit will be discovered in the future. In any event, this herb is safe to use so it won't hurt you or your honey.
Three Surprise Aphrodisiacs: Exercise, Weight Loss and Triphasic Birth Control Pills
Want more sexual heat? Then work up a sweat. One indisputable aphrodisiac is exercise. James White, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of physical education at the University of California at San Diego, recruited 95 healthy but sedentary men (average age 47) into one of two exercise programs. One engaged in low-intensity, 60-minute walks four times a week. The other participated in an hour of aerobics. After nine months both groups reported increased sexual desire and pleasure, but the aerobics group reported the greatest increase in fun in the sack. Exercise leads to fitness and fitness, says Fair Oaks, California, sex therapist Louanne Cole, Ph.D., boosts self-esteem: "You feel healthier and more attractive and you project that, so you look more alluring to prospective lovers."
The same could be said for weight loss. It's amazing that Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig have not picked up on this, but shedding extra pounds often boosts interest in sex. A few years ago, Ronette Kolotkin, Ph.D., a psychologist at the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center, noticed that people who lost weight at the Center often remarked that they felt more sexual. Curious, she surveyed 70 male program participants, aged 18 to 65, before and after weight loss of eight to 30 pounds. "After losing weight," she says, "they all reported more sexual desire." Excess weight makes most people feel less desirable and more anxious about being seen naked. In other words, fat causes stress and stress interferes with desire. Carrying extra weight also requires a good deal of energy. Dropping pounds frees that energy for use in more pleasurably erotic ways.
Finally, one type of birth control pill appears to increase women's libido and enhance their sexual satisfaction. In a survey of 364 sexually active women, age 18 to 26, sex researcher Norma McCoy, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, compared the sexual effects of monophasic pills which contain constant doses of estrogen and progestin and triphasic pills which vary progestin levels. Women taking triphasic pills reported more sexual interest, more sex fantasies, more arousal during sex and greater satisfaction from lovemaking. Dr. McCoy speculates that compared with monophasic pills, triphasics delay the suppression of luteinizing hormone which controls the production of other sex hormones. Most women in the study who used triphasic pills took Orthonovum 7/7/7 (for more on sex hormones, see the sidebars on DHEA and testosterone).