THE HISTORY OF APHRODISIACS

I. What in an Aphrodisiac?

• A substance (food, drink) which when ingested, will lead to a heightened feeling of excitement and/or sexual arousal/desire
• Believed by some scientists to be a psychological reaction
• Studies have shown some aphrodisiacs to have a physical affect on the body

II. Ancient Sex Enhancers, Remedies & Rituals

• From the time of ancient Greece through today, certain foods are consumed believing they contain aphrodisiac properties, leading to an increase in sexual desires and an increase in a woman’s sexual prowess
• There are historians who believe that the Romans held to a promise of heightened sexual performance, pleasure and desire after eating certain foods
  • Garlic. Believed to be an aphrodisiac, garlic is also said to have magical and therapeutic properties
    • Greeks would consume Garlic on a daily basis as a condiment with crusty bread or eaten with salad
  • Mushrooms: In ancient Greece, mushrooms, as well as truffles, were considered to be a very expensive aphrodisiac.
  • Onions. Classified as a staple food in ancient Egypt, onions were believed to have an aphrodisiac effect which led to the celibate priests of the time not being allowed to eat them
  • Herbs. Julius Caesar was a big believer in herbs having aphrodisiac properties
    • Romans used in excess of 3,000 tons of herbs a year as aphrodisiacs
  • Ginseng. Widely used in ancient China, and continues today, as a commonly used pick me up, aphrodisiac, sexual enhancer
    • The ginseng root is known for its taking on a human form
  • Horny Goat Weed. Has a quality known to increase blood flow circulation, thus aiding in blood flow to the penis or clitoris
    • Used in ancient China and still in use today to aid in erectile dysfunction in men and sexual dysfunction in women

3. Causes of Male Impotence

• In many early cultures, impotence was believed to be caused by ‘bewitching’, with men being encouraged to find the woman who had bewitched their penis and take action to restore their functionality, potentially leading to violent encounters, rape and sometimes death of the woman
• When a man suffers from male impotence, chances are high that they will also suffer from stress, anxiety and depression.
• Research has identified that in America alone, over 30 million men suffer male impotence
• Studies have shown that 1 in 10 men suffer from erectile dysfunction caused by work-place stress alone, and 1 in 5 men suffer from complete loss of sexual desire due to stress
• One study discovered that nearly 90% of men will demonstrate one or more symptoms of stress which can lead to impotence, and that only half of the men suffering with impotence will realize that their impotence is due to stress in their lives

IV. What Does Sexual Dysfunction in Women Cover?

• Lack of sexual lubrication. Where the woman’s vaginal wall is dry and fails to become moist upon sexual arousal
• Lack of orgasm. Where the female fails to become sexually excited during a sexual encounter
• Lack of interest in sex. Where the female lacks interest and/or desire to engage in sexual activity with a partner

Ancient sexual enhancements cover a broad spectrum, including, but not limited to:

• Ginseng. Commonly used on the Asian continent today as it was thousands of years ago in ancient Greece and in Roman times
• Damiana Leaf. From ancient times through today, this is a leaf used in its raw form to relieve hot flashes and to increase sensitivity in both female and male genital areas
• Truffles / Mushrooms. Known to have an aphrodisiac effect and used by women in ancient times

V. Sexual Enhancers for Women

• The search for sexual enhancers for women has been a timeless quest to aid women, and men as well, in achieving a satisfying and fulfilling sexual relationship.
• While we are past the time of luring a woman into drinking a potion made of aphrodisiac herbs, this may be a safer option than using some of the chemical potions prescribed today
• There are many sexual enhancers which can be prescribed by a physician, including but not limited to:
  • Viagra for Women
  • Lyriana
  • Vigorelle
• Not to be overlooked is the consumption / use (as a body paint) of chocolate to boost a woman’s libido. A number of studies associate the eating of chocolate on a daily basis to achieving a much higher degree of sexual satisfaction. It was concluded that women who normally had a low sex drive were given a ‘boost’ after eating chocolate
• Other foods commonly found in the kitchen, such as celery or figs, can work as well. Being inventive with celery can make for a great enhancer when used with a bit of foreplay
• Provestra is a product on the market known to help women’s sexual libido by its use of natural herbs. Women who are healthy and fit can use this product as well, or any other sexual enhancer, to enhance their sexual desire
• Women may find that topical products have a better effect than products to be taken internally

VI. Myths and Facts About Sexual Enhancers

• While a larger penis size is a common desire among men, some of the ancient methods to achieve this result, such as the practice in some rural tribes in Uganda for example, where a rock would be tied and hung from the penis to ensure its’ length would increase, might make you squirm
• A much less unpleasant male enhancement practice used years ago was to eat asparagus and nuts as a means of increasing blood flow to the man’s penis. The Hindu Kama Sutra was also to have said to have a meal consisting of rice before sexual intercourse
• Other foods classified as Aphrodisiacs include:
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Ginseng
  • Golden Root
  • Ginger Root
  • Caviar
  • Crab
  • Oysters
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrots
• A myth dating to ancient times suggests that drinking the sexual secretions from a man and eating the testicles of an animal will have an erotic effect on women as both are full of hormones
• The ‘virgin cure’ myth dates back to the 16^th century, and was revived in the 19^th century (Victorian era), where it was believed that having sex with a virgin would rid you of syphilis and gonorrhea. This ‘virgin cure’ myth still runs rampant in South Africa which has resulted in the rape of infants and toddlers. Major publicity campaigns have been undertaken over the past couple of decades to bring an end to this horrific myth
• The ‘frog juice’ myth, often referred to as Peru’s version of Viagra, is identified as an aid to male impotence. “Extracto de rana”, or pureed frogs, can be purchased at venues similar to smoothie stalls in Peru, with the highest population of people using this product being in Lima. Not surprisingly, ‘frog juice’ is not only sold to aid with male impotence but is also used as a treatment for many diseases and illnesses of the respiratory system. Despite it’s name, the pureed frog potion also includes a well-known sexual enhancing plant called ‘Maca’ to strengthen the powers of the product

VII. Viagra – What Is It and Where Did It Originate?

• Brought to market in 1998 by Pfizer, the worlds largest pharmaceutical company, Sildenafil, or it’s more common name Viagra, has become more well-known than products such as Paracetamol, Aspirin or Ibroprofen
• Sildenafil (Viagra) was originally designed and developed as a medication for Angina. It was only discovered to be of an aid to men suffering from erectile dysfunction by accident
• Viagra, now one of the fastest selling drugs in the world, has achieved a status in popular culture beyond what was ever imagined when it was developed and released into the market
• Purchasing Viagra online from non GMC or FDA certified companies can be potentially dangerous, with up to 90% of the Viagra labeled products sold online being fake. These fake Viagra pills purchased online have been known to contain dangerous ingredients, which when taken by men who are on other medications, has resulted in the men becoming violently ill, leading to permanent organ damage and in some cases, death

VIII. Interesting Facts About Sex and Sexual Enhancement

• Years ago, women who were suffering from hysteria would have a vibrator used on them
• Did you know that a quarter of all men who have sex turn off the light? Why?
• For people who enjoy a good session of sex, it is a proven fact that the more sex you have the more you crave it
  • Is it the same with dolphins? They are the only other mammal know to man who has sex for pleasure
• If you are hoping to have a straight penis when it is erect, then you might as well give up now…No man ever has a straight penis; it is nearly always a little bent on erection
• In some countries, sperm is rubbed into the skin of women as it has the same anti-wrinkle effect as anti-wrinkle cream or moisturizer
• To become more desirable to the opposite sex, it was suggested that celery be eaten as an aid to pheromones traveling up the throat into the nose, thereby increasing arousal and a greater attraction to the opposite sex
• In ancient Egypt, crocodile dung was used as a contraceptive
• The female black widow spider, after sex with the male of the species, will eat up to 20 partners in a day
• The male killer whale (Orca) has a 7 foot penis
• The vibrator was first developed in the Victorian era as a means of treating women with ‘hysteria’. One of the first vibrators developed was actually steam powered
  • Some historians, however, believe that the first vibrator actually developed was in Egypt in 54 BC , when Cleopatra would have an empty gourd filled with a swarm of angry bees, the angry bees thus causing the gourd to vibrate
• Vibrators first became commercially available in 1905
• In ancient times women used sex toys much the same way they do today, or what is commonly known today as ‘dildo’s’. They would use wood that was carved into an oblong shape, a stone which has been smoothed, or a packed leather packet, covered with olive oil for a level of lubrication

IX. The Record Breaker

• Jonah Falcon is known to have the largest penis, at 13.5 inches long, which on one occasion became a potential security risk when, while traveling through an airport security station Jonah was asked to empty the contents of his pockets. A full search brought to light that what was concealed in his pants was not a gun
• On a television program in March, 2010, Jonah stated that he can completely envelope a doorknob with his foreskin. If you think of a wine bottle, it’s width and length, then you can picture what Jonah is talking about
• As for Jonah’s sex life, he tends to get as many men asking him out as women, and while he says he does not swing that way, he does claim to have bisexual tendencies

X. PT-141 (Bremelanotide)

• This product, which activates Melanocortin receptors in the body, is used as an aid for female dysfunction and hemorrhagic shock
• The use of this product was stopped at one time over fears that it had the effect of raising a woman’s blood pressure
• PT-141 is the only aphrodisiac product available that is of a synthetic nature (not a natural aphrodisiac) which in testing resulted in positive reactions in 90% of the volunteers
• In men, it is used to treat erectile dysfunction
• PT-141 works on the nervous system which is a different approach to that of Viagra and other available products