Sex and Aphrodisiacs

Humans have always sought substances intended to arouse or stimulate sexual desire, which we call aphrodisiacs or “love potions.”

These have been used throughout history, from Classical Greece to the present day, to increase libido and improve sexual relations.

The word dates back to Ancient Greece and the myth of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who has the power to bestow all these blessings.

However, the earliest historical evidence we have regarding aphrodisiacs and the desire to stimulate sexual appetite dates back to the 23rd century B.C., in some Egyptian papyri where recipes for potions and ointments were found to stimulate sexual appetite and increase desire for the opposite sex.

In Genesis, there are also other references to aphrodisiacs… mint scattered on the newlyweds’ bed to increase libido, which was later also used by the “strigae” or Roman witches.

In the Kama Sutra treatises from the 5th century B.C., honey was recommended to newlyweds to ensure they would have long nights of passion; it was also believed to be a cure for impotence and infertility.

It has been proven that it is not a cure for either of the two conditions mentioned above, but it is still considered a pleasure enhancer in intimate relationships, and it is also a great source of vitamin B.

Countless recipes were also found that still include ingredients considered to be aphrodisiacs today, such as peas, cardamom, ginger, parsley,pepper, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, and cinnamon—spices that increase blood flow in the body, leading to a rise in body heat, and whose scent stimulates sexual desire.

Even today, there is a wide variety of books dedicated to aphrodisiac recipes.

The raw materials used in aphrodisiacs—whether plants or animals—throughout history, from ancient times through the Middle Ages to the present day, share a curious commonality: their shape resembles the male and female sexual organs.

Examples of this, by way of a feminine analogy, include oysters, clams, and other marine bivalves; and by way of a masculine analogy, radishes, garlic, and turnips…because of their resemblance to the penis; and, for example, beans and legumes, which were considered very beneficial because of their resemblance to male testicles.

Oysters’ reputation as an aphrodisiac dates back to the 2nd century B.C., during the Classical Roman period, and today they remain the quintessential aphrodisiac, often enjoyed with wine or champagne.

The most high-end escorts use this combination a lot…

In Ancient Rome, truffles were considered an aphrodisiac because it was believed that their contact with the skin made it more sensitive to touch; and like dark chocolate—which contains serotonin and phenylethylamine and is rich in antioxidants, in addition to lifting the mood and containing some caffeine…—perfect properties for stimulating libido—and they are still used today as aphrodisiacs.

Aphrodisiac analogies…

During the Middle Ages, a powder called “salep”—extracted from the tubers of the orchid’s root—was widely used as an aphrodisiac.

Asparagus is also currently considered a sexual stimulant because, when taken in high doses, it causes mild sensations in the urinary tract and has a distinctly phallic shape.

Ginseng, the “star product” in China, whose root takes on strange and whimsical shapes that make us imagine a human figure in various poses, is used as a powerful tonic and also as a libido stimulant.

As a point of interest, another traditionally used aphrodisiac was catarrhid powder, a substance extracted from the wings of a green fly (Litta vesicatoria) that lives on fruit trees and rose bushes.

Cataride extract causes some irritation in the urinary tract and stimulates sexual desire. Its use has virtually disappeared because, when used in large quantities, it can be highly toxic.

Another of the most commonly used substances to stimulate sexual activity was musk, which is still used today in high-end perfumery.

Musk is an extract of a fragrant secretion found in the testicles of certain animals.

Currently, the use of musk is NOT recommended for ethical reasons, despite its aphrodisiac properties, since it would involve the killing of many animals and could put some species at risk of extinction.