Zimagal Monthly Magazine - Volume One, Issue Seven

Other substances with purported aphrodisiacal qualities:

Vanilla: Vanilla is the cured, full-grown, unripe fruit of an orchid, Vanilla planifolia. Already the name hints at amorous properties. It derives from the Spanish word vainila, a diminutive of vaina meaning vagina (or pod) It was used already by the aztecs to flavor chocolate (which they got from the seeds of Theobroma cacao (Sterculiaceae), a tree native to the area around the Gulf of Mexico and northern South America.

Avena Sativa: An all-natural supplement which has been linked to increased levels of free testosterone in the body and the resulting effects of increased vigor and stamina.

Bee Pollen: Fresh pollen is high in vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids; bee pollen has also been shown to reduce cravings, and has been used as a traditional tonic for the deleterious side effects of aging, fatigue, and allergies. It has also been used to rejuvenate the body and the sexual appetite and stamina.

Ginseng: Both the Siberian and Korean forms of this powerful root have been used for centuries to increase mental and physical stamina, endurance, appetite, and vigor.

Yohimbe: Yohimbe's main constituent is Yohimbine, a strong alkaloid, and an MAO Inhibitor. Yohimbine is taken from the bark of the Yohimbe (Pausinystalia Yohimbe), a tree indigenous to Africa.

Yohimbine is available by Prescription in the United States for male impotence. Yohimbe Bark is available as an over the counter food supplement in health food stores. It has been traditionally used by native African peoples, herbalists, and tribal medicine men as an aphrodisiac or potency type herb. Current theory is basically that because Yohimbe is an inhibitor or adrenoreceptor blocker it may reduce effects of hormones which cause restriction of blood vessels. The male sexual organ relies heavily on bloodflow to obtain erection.

Some research has been done on Yohimbe. Animal studies show an increase in sexual activity, and some human studies have shown positive result in the area of male impotence. Yohimbe can have side effects and should not be taken by individuals on MAO Inhibitors, other prescription drugs, or by people with medical condition, without consulting their physician .

Spanish Fly: The Spanish fly is the emerald-green blister beetle, in Latin Cantharis vesicatoria or Lytta vesicatoria, which is found in the southern parts of Europe. The body is usually 15-22 mm long and 5-8 mm wide with a strong smell and a burning taste. The dried and crushed body of the beetle was earlier used medically as a irritant and diuretic, but was also regarded as a potent aphrodisiac, especially for elderly gentlemen.

The earliest descriptions of its use as a medicine dates back to antiquity. The drug is mentioned by Hippocrates, Celsus and Pliny. It must be handled with extreme care. It is highly toxic by ingestion, but can also be taken up through skin and mucous membranes. The poisoning is called cantharidism and can consist of severe gastrointestinal disturbances and nephritis. Collapse occurs in severe cases and death might follow.

Cantharidin is excreted by the kidney and will, during excretion, irritate the entire urinary tract. The irritation of the urethra will increase the blood flow to this region and might result in priapism. It is likely that the priapism is the origin of the use of Spanish fly as an aphrodisiac.

Priapism is a persistent abnormal erection of the penis. It is usually a quite painful condition, not associated with any sexual desire. The name is derived from Priapus, the Greek god of male procreative power.

And it gets stranger...

Powdered horn of Greater One-Horned Asian Rhinoceros: Widely believed to increase the male sexual capacity, including the capacity for erection However, it should be noted that the original rhino aphrodisiac was the dried penis and not the horn.

Periwinkle: "When it is beaten unto powder with worms of the earth wrapped about it, and with an herb called Semperviva, in English Houseleek, it induceth love between man and wife if it be used in their meats."

Henbane: "...and to them that desire to be loved of women, it is good that they bear it with them, for it maketh the bearers pleasant and delectable."

Hemp Seeds: As an aphrodisiac, the most powerful preparation according to popular beliefs are the roasted and salted hemp seeds. However, they should only be used by men. Earlier, it was customary to feed the bridegroom roasted hemp seeds during the wedding dinner. The seeds could be served as a part of a special wedding bread or as an ingredient of a wedding night drink.

Celery: Apium graveolens, has a long history of use as an aphrodisiac. C.E. Hagdahl. In his Cooking as Science and Art, published in 1879, he says: "Celery contributes to a stimulation of the digestion, but is also suspected to be somewhat sexually exciting or even straightforward arousing. These effects can be reduced by boiling. It is not a food for everybody."

Ambergris: A product arising from some whales, which occasionally can be found on ocean beaches. It is extremely expensive and used for perfume production. According to Arabic folklore it is also an aphrodisiac, a claim which might have substance. Dr. S.A. Taha and co-workers have published a scientific paper in which they report that ambrein, a main constituent of ambergris, in male rats produced "recurrent episodes of penile erection, a dose-dependent, vigorous

and repetitive increase in intromissions and an increased anogenital investigatory behavior." In other words, the male rats started to copulate like they were crazy.

Snake Blood: In parts of Eastern Asia snake blood is used to boost a flagging male libido. The precise snake species does not really matter as long as it is truly poisonous, but cobras appear to be favoured. The best effects are obtained from perfectly fresh blood. In Malaysia, according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle , special parlors exist where live snakes are served. The snake tail is pierced and the customer sucks blood from it for a few minutes to invigorate his capacity for love-making.

Miscellany: Other things used as aphrodisiacs seem to share certain physical characteristics with human genitalia, i.e. penis- or breast- or testicle-shaped or coloured. Oysters, carrots, cucumbers, rhinocerous horns, ginseng, mandrake and tomatoes all fall in this catagory. Others were actual body parts from animals perceived as being very fecund or virile such as snakes, bulls, rabbits, and the like. The sexual organs of beavers were considered an aphrodisiac. A beaver, when chased through the woods, would bite those organs off, throw them at the pursuer, and race away. They would "grow back". At least, according to those bestiaries.

In "The Perfumed Garden" it is suggested that rubbing the penis and the vulva with the bile of a jackal will make those parts vigorous for the coitus. A similar result can also be achieved by rubbing the penis with asses' milk. A man can also, according to "The Perfumed Garden", melt down fat from the hump of a camel and rub his member with it just before the act; it will then perform wonders, and the woman will praise it for its work, it is asserted.

Cleopatra, born 69 and dead 30 B.C., was queen of Egypt. In order to provoke her amorousness she used to dissolve pearls in vinegar and drink this beverage. Since she managed to get both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony as lovers, the potion must be considered successful.
"Hmmm...this pearl stuff must be working!"

And one that really seems to work...

Viagra: Sildenafil Citrate was originally tested as a heart drug with miserable results, but appears to be a drug potentially useful as a male aphrodisiac. It was released in the U.S. on March 27, 1998 and within two months over one million prescriptions had been issued. The active ingredient works by inhibiting an unhelpful enzyme system,

which could prevent erection when a male is subjected to sexual stimuli. Taken one-two hours beforehand, it will for many males facilitate action if the right circumstances arise (so to speak), without giving rise (again) to a potentially useless erection as might be the case with drug injections into the penis. It is quite likely Viagra can work also for women, and studies are underway. Viagra increases the blood flow, and an increased blood flow through the clitoris should enhance its sensitivity and thus facilitate for the woman to reach orgasm.