What you will find here
All over the world people have discovered substances which help strengthen and improve both men's and women's sexual performance. After taking these delectable ingredients men become more virile and women desire more. This website will talk about these almost magic potions -- their history, use, availability and limitations.
Modern science has developed medications which improve male sexual performance, such as Viagra (tm), Cialis (tm) and Levitra (tm). There are many products sold over-the-counter and on the internet which combine several -- usually labelled 'natural' or 'organic' -- ingredients which claim to improve both female and male sexual performance. As interesting and worthy as these two classes of substances are, they will not be the focus of attention here.
The focus here will be the simple, natural, unrefined, easily-available, renewable products our average and noble ancestors used in their search of a better life. They were called sexual aids or aphrodisiacs or love potions. Most have long histories, usually extending before written records were kept. They survived because people believed they worked. They served an essential need. They satisfied an eternal hope. They are worth re-investigating today even if they are no longer considered fashionable or up-to-date or high tech.
Please feel free to leave a comment or two. Someone is likely to start a fascinating educational conversation based on your comment.
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In the beginning....
Hlbe / Fenugreek
Arabs consider Oil of Hlbe a male and possibly a female aphrodisiac. The name is sometimes spelled hulbe or hilbeh. It is hard to render the Arabic pronunciation in English lettering. The 'h' sound is barely pronouned. More stress is put on the 'l' sound. The final 'be' is pronounced like the first two letters of the word "benefit."
Hlbe is actually fenugreek, which has a wide variety of uses in many national diets and folk remedy apothecaries. Traces of it were found in over 3000 year-old Egyptian tombs. It probably began to be used in the Middle East, and now it is used all over the world. It is frequently used as a seed or in its dried, leafy form. It is eaten as a fresh vegetable in India, where it is called methe in one Indian language. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine. An American shopper could probably find fenugreek seeds and powder in any comprehensive spice counter in any big food market.
As a food and flavoring, fenugreek is considered nutritious and safe for all but a handful of people--excluding pregnant women. It has a reputation in folk medicine traditions in many countries of helping improve lactation or increase breast size. There are stories on the web claiming fenugreek was fed to harem women to help make them more buxom. The list of other medical conditions for which fenugreek is used is extremely long and impressive.
Fenugreek is so commonly used by all sorts of people in all sorts of food preparations that it would probably come as quite a surprise to most fenugreek consumers that it is sometimes considered an aphrodisiac. There are records going back to ancient Roman times which extoll fenugreek's virtues as an aphrodisiac. Many other literary and scholarly sources also connect fenugreek with sexual stimulation. In Nepal fenugreek has been considered a powerful aphrodisiac. But there is something missing in all these references.
This author has not found a single written description in English of how fenugreek works as an aphrodisiac. Fenugreek is used in all sorts of food every day--as an important ingredient in maple syrup substitutes, for example. Yet there is no record of a rash of unexpected and uncontrolled sexual behavior after eating morning flapjacks. How does fenugreek become an aphrodisiac, as opposed to a normal food or flavor? What has to be done to produce this powerful transition?
Oil of hlbe, when purchased in a Middle Eastern market with a label partly in English, provides some instructions for use. But, being the product of a culture which does not advertise or flaunt sexual prowess, the label will almost certainly not give instructions how to heighten the product's effects on the libido. For that purpose, word of mouth might be necessary.
My sources, Egyptians, tell me a few drops of oil of hlbe are mixed in tea after the evening meal, and the brew will take effect by bedtime. Well, maybe not bedtime the first night. Maybe the morning after or the second night. How many drops? How many hours? There is a great deal of room here for experimentation. Bear in mind that for thousands of years people have insisted it works. If you are interested, keep trying until you find the right combination. Then let us know.
Soppu
In central India today, peddlers push carts up and down the streets and call out the word "Soppu" to the housewives. They are not invoking Sappho, a name which in the West is associated with lesbianism. They are selling a deep green vegetable that looks like a kind of spinach.
When I first heard the word soppu I was told it is a shortened, regional version of the word asafetida. Asafetida [spelled many different ways, such as asafoetaeda] is a kind of green, leafy vegetable in its original form. Most of the time it is used in its dried form as a flavoring.
The word has interesting origins. The asa part is Persian and means 'resin.' The fetida part is Latin and has the same root as the English word fetid--meaning 'smelling like decaying material.' The ingredient that is cooked is the resin of a plant that grows mostly to the northwest of India. It is so smelly until it is cooked that extra effort must be made to keep it in closed containers. Once it is thoroughly cooked it blends in well and imparts a taste to the dish very similar to sauteed garlic or onion. Some Indians call it hing.
None of the many sources consulted by this author suggests that asafetida is used as an aphrodisiac. There do not seem to be any ancient historic references, no ayurvedic or Chinese medical texts in English which refer to asafetida as an aphrodisiac. It is assumed that Alexander the Great brought asafetida from India to the West. In addition to use as a cure for flatulence, its strong, unpleasant odor makes it useful to scare away pests, such as snakes, and to shock the user into a cure for alcoholism. In Jamaica, asafetida is traditionally applied to a baby's anterior fontanelle (Jamaican patois "mole") in order to prevent spirits (Jamaican patois "duppies") from entering the baby through the fontanelle.
It wasn't until much later that I learned that soppu is not asafetida at all, not by a long stretch. Asafetida oozes out of its mother plant when cut by the farmer, much like opium oozes out of the poppy plant (both of which grow in Afghanistan). The resin is dried, usually ground into a powder, then combined with some non-active filler material. Soppu is a simpler vegetable which grows and is treated like spinach.
Most forms of spinach in the West are quite soft and have soft, flexible stalks. Indian soppu has a hard stalk.
After much labor, I struck a useful vein of information. There are at least two forms of soppu. The form sold by peddlers on the streets to average Moms is dantin soppu. There is a separate form of soppu, Garagada soppu, that is alleged to have aphrodisiac qualities.
Garagada soppu is consumed in the following manner: after cooking, a stalk is put in the mouth and the leaves are scraped off and eaten. The remaining stalk is flossed between the teeth, where it leaves little stringlets between the teeth.
Winks and nods
My experience scouring the internet for material on which to base posts has lead me to a conclusion: when it comes to the topic of aphrodisiacs, one must approach the internet with a great deal of skepticism. Or, to use an American colloquial expression, one must be aware of winks and nods.
'A wink and a nod' means the speaker does not make a complete and open report on an issue. The speaker draws a general picture but leaves out important details. The speaker then winks and nods to the listener, signaling that there is still more to the story but the speaker will not say more.
Usually, when a speaker 'winks and nods' he or she is leaving out an important part of the story.
The topic of aphrodisiacs is very touchy. It is frowned upon by many religions, cultures, moral systems and even laws. Discussion about it is forbidden or seriously restricted. Not even the internet is free of restrictions on discussing aphrodisiacs and sex.
For that reason, I believe many websites limit their discussion of the aphrodisiac qualities of some substances. If this topic were discussed openly and in great detail, actual or potential censorship would take place.
I have come to the conclusion that many substances, herbs, plants, natural products have aphrodisiac qualities, but these qualities are not discussed fully even on the usually wide-open internet. Writers refer to the aphrodisiac qualities of some substances, but stop their discussion and research before filling in needed detail. In other words, writers say "there's something here you might be interested in" but they stop, wink and nod, then leave the reader hanging. Okay, the reader might say, I see you write that for centuries people thought this or that substance has aphrodisiac qualities, but you don't explain how or why. More, I need more, the reader says.
When the topic is aphrodisiacs--the topic of this blog, and remember this blog does not include Viagra, Cialis or Levitra in its scope--the subject has not been, is not being and probably never will be fully explained. There are holes in the story so wide one could drives truck through the holes. It has never been and probably never will be the case that the last word is said. There is much room for imagination and experimentation. After the last wink and nod, one is on one's own. Fill in the missing blanks yourself.
Why Our Great-Grandparents Were Happier Than We Are |
| A bottle of Bayer's heroin. Between 1890 and 1910 heroin was sold as a non-addictive substitute for morphine. It was also used to treat children with strong cough. Coca Wine Metcalf Coca Wine was one of a huge variety of wines with cocaine on the market. Everybody used to say that it would make you happy and it would also work as a medicinal treatment. Mariani wine Mariani wine (1875) was the most famous Coca wine of it's time. Pope Leo XIII used to carry one bottle with him all the time. He awarded Angelo Mariani (the producer) with aVatican gold medal. Maltine Produced by Maltine Manufacturing Company of New York . It was suggested that you should take a full glass with or after every meal. Children should take half a glass. A paper weight: A paper weight promoting C.F. Boehringer & Soehne ( Mannheim , Germany ). They were proud of being the biggest producers in the world of products containing Quinine and Cocaine. Opium for Asthma: No comments. Cocaine tablets (1900) All stage actors, singers teachers and preachers had to have them for a maximum performance. Great to "smooth" the voice. Cocaine drops for toothache Very popular for children in 1885. Not only they relieved the pain, they made the children happy! |
Dethroned Kings and Queens
Chili Peppers
Ready to heat things up? Try adding chili peppers to your seduction menu. The effects of the chemical capsaicin in these sassy vegetables mimic sexual arousal—sweating, increased heart rate, and flushing—and may cause you to mistakenly attribute the reaction to feelings of passion for your partner.
Garlic
Ezra, the Jewish priest and scribe from the fifth century B.C., commanded the Jews to eat garlic on the Sabbath eve to activate sexual drive.
Honey
One of the oldest sweeteners known to man, honey has long been touted as a cure for sterility and impotence. While these claims are questionable, honey's fructose content aids stamina and provides a slow and steady release of energy, explains Dr. Barry Swanson, a food historian with the Institute of Food Technologists. Hindu tradition calls for grooms to have honey on their wedding day, and "sweet liquid gold" is tied to love in everything from the Bible to the Kama Sutra.
Pine Nuts
As far back as medieval times, pine nuts have been used to stimulate the libido because they are rich in zinc, a key mineral for maintaining male potency. "Pine nuts first got their aphrodisiac reputation from the effort required to get them. They're nestled in the cones of the pine tree, and the best were said to come from the Himalayas," says Martha Hopkins, author of InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook.
Walnuts
Ancient Romans threw walnuts instead of rice at weddings because they associated walnuts with fertility.
Shark fin
Shark fins can be found on many Chinese restaurant menus and on display in many apothecaries in the Chinatown sections of cities worldwide. The fins are treated with great reverence by Chinese people as aphrodisiacs. But the popularity of shark fins is running into a storm of opposition as the population of sharks throughout the world is allegedly being reduced to near-extinction. There's much trouble ahead for people devoted to the reputation of shark fins.
Shark fin is usually served as a main ingredient in soup. The fin is cut from the body of the shark and consists primarily of cartilage. Those who have eaten the soup report that the fin itself has little intrinsic taste; whatever taste the soup has comes from the other ingredients.
Serving shark fin soup is a conspicuous sign of wealth among the Chinese people. Proud parents often go to great pains to make sure to serve shark fin soup at the gatherings celebrating the marriages of their children. It is at these times that the reputation of shark fin as an aphrodisiac is enhanced.
But this reputation is leading to great trouble, warn many environmentalist groups. The new-found wealth of China is leading more people to indulge their desire for shark fin--both at weddings and at other times. Fishermen all over the world are catching shark fins and selling them to the eager Chinese.
To make matters worse--even a little gruesome--the expanding desire for shark fin is leading to a practice called 'finning.' It is said that fishermen catch sharks, haul them aboard ship, cut off the fins, then throw the still-living shark back into the water. This is said to be a space-saving gesture, since there is little demand for shark meat, thus no need to haul the rest of the shark's body to port after the fins are removed. Needless to say, sharks without fins cannot maneuver in water. A finless shark is condemned to die a quick, sad death.
Most fishermen are aware of the very bad reputation of 'finning.' Few will admit to practicing it. Nevertheless, each day tons of shark are caught by fishermen from almost every nation of the world, the fins are sold into the growing Chinese market, yet few people consume the meat or any other part of the shark. Whether this practice is leading to overfishing and the possible extinction of subspecies of sharks is a matter of heated debate.
At this moment in history it is hard to find solid support for the claim that shark fin is a reliable aphrodisiac. Certainly many Chinese people fervently want to believe this claim and repeat the story to anyone who listens. But that is not sufficient or satisfactory proof for the scientifically inclined. In today's controversial environment--where shark fishing is looked upon with condemnation--few researchers are likely to launch full-scale studies on the subject. Imagine the uproar if a scientist actually found proof of the effectiveness of shark fin as an aphrodisiac. One could easily expect that researcher's laboratory to be picketed 24 hours a day by harsh critics. For that reason, the reputation of shark fin as an aphrodisiac will probably remain up in the air and scientifically unverified for a long time. Believe it if you want, or disbelieve it and be supported by many alarmed environmentalists.
Spanish fly (cantharidin)
Spanish fly, or cantharides, is probably is the subject of more legends than any other aphrodisiac--and it is the most dangerous. Made from dried remains of beetles, the sexual excitement from Spanish fly comes from irritationital tract of the urogenital tract, which causes blood to rush to the sex organs. Spanish fly is a poison that burns the mouth and throat and can lead to genitourinary infections, scarring of the urethra, and even death.
Most of the stuff sold as Spanish Fly does not contain any beetle. Reliable testing is necessary but very rarely done.
Oysters
There is evidence oysters were eaten by humans from very ancient times. Many oyster shells have been found in middens--a word archeologists use to describe piles of garbage left by humans centuries and thousands of years ago--in sea coast areas all over the globe. But it is not known whether these bivalves were eaten as part of the ordinary diet or as aphrodisiacs. More likely the former than the latter.
In Western culture oysters have had an enhanced reputation at least as far back as Roman times. Some speculated that oysters have sexually stimulating properties because of their resemblance to parts of the female anatomy. This was called the Doctrine of Similarity. Ginseng, rhinoceros horn, and oysters are three classical examples.
One of the biggest boosts to the reputation of oysters came upon the publication of the biography of the famed 18th century lover Casanova. Casanova claimed he breakfasted on 50 oysters a day. He went on to claim he slept with 122 women. Perhaps the world figured that with data like that, why fight the trend?*
Oysters are one of the very few substances whose chemical constituents have been put to a contemporary scientific test to determine the existence or strength of its sexual powers. A study was published in 2005 by American and Italian researchers. It was known before--and this study confirmed--that oysters contain a good deal of zinc. The necessity of zinc as a constituent of male sexual performance has been established. This study analyzed the enzymes found in oysters. It was found that oysters contain two enzymes which are very strongly related to the production of testosterone in men and progesterone in women. This recent chemical analysis supports oysters' hallowed reputation.
Of course, one study is only a beginning. As is almost always said after a scientific study is completed, more work needs to be done. Any volunteers?
* In twentieth century America there was a famed basketball player named Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain claimed that over his lifetime he slept with 20,000 women (none married at the time he slept with them, he asserted). In his autobiography Chamberlain did not attribute his sexual vigor to any food or chemicals, including oysters. He said he just liked women.
Warning: Modern Isn't Always Better
A recent article in a Japanese newspaper found online sounds a loud and clear warning that modern methods are not always the best. In fact, sometimes the modern way is downright dangerous.
From Mainichi Shimbun:
Don't risk rubbing your gal the wrong way with second-rate sex toys from China
The article begins by writing about a recent food poisoning scandal in Japan. Some gyoza--or dumplings or potstickers--made in China and sold in Japan caused almost two thousand cases of food poisoning. This incident raised concerns in Japan about the safety of products made in China. A few paragraphs into the story the writer writes:
...damsels demanding delights through diddling with a dildo -- whether developed in Dalian or devised in Dongguan [China]-- hazard destructive damage.
"Currently, nearly all the items sold in Japan are imported from China," says the owner of an "adult toy" shop in Osaka's American Village. "I wouldn't say all of them are junk, but maybe about half have high rates of failure. [snip]
But the real problem is not just failure to arouse:
It seems that frustration from frequent failures due to cheap components and careless quality control is not the problem. Rather, young women working in the sex industry, where such devices are frequently put to use by lecherous customers, have been heard to moan -- and not from pleasure -- that soon after a session with a pink rotary vibrator their nether parts "became inflamed" or "began itching persistently."
Apparently Chinese plastic manufacturers still make extensive use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which has been found to contain phthalate-based polyester, a hormone receptor that some researchers suspect contributes to reduced sperm counts in men and menstrual irregularities in women, among others problems.
PVC is partially banned in Japan, Europe and the US. I am resisting making a snide remark about PVC and Love Canal, a place near Buffalo NY which had a serious PVC scare several years ago. This is not a trivial problem; it could lead to serious health consequences, so I will stiffle my desire to make humor of the words.
There is also an additional problem about sexual aids in Japan mentioned in the article.
[A medical doctor quoted in the article] says he's encountered a completely different problem: rampant Chinese counterfeiting of ED drugs like Viagra and Cyalis [a misspelling of Cialis (tm)] and Levitra.
"They'll sell five at a time, mixing in one real tablet with four phony ones," he says. "Japanese have been repeatedly swindled. The phonies don't work, and we have no idea what's actually in the pills' ingredients. It's really a shady operation, whoever's behind it." (By Masuo Kamiyama, contributing writer)
Bottom line: the modern way is not always safe or the best.
Ben Wa Balls
Ban Wa balls, also called Ben Wah balls, Burmese bells and Geisha bells, are usually balls attached together by a small cord and inserted in the vagina or anus, where they are said to produce constant erotic stimulation. Some call them Love Balls or Pleasure Balls.
The feeling of the balls floating freely in the vaginal or anal body cavity causes intense sexual arousal. The muscles exercised by these balls are usually weak at first insertion. It takes a period of time before the muscles are strengthened enough to keep the balls in place. Of course, like any controversial issue, there are some who doubt whether the Ben Wa balls work as advertised. Such is the nature of debate.
For an extremely biologically correct video demonstrating insertion and removal of these devices, known in German as Liebeskugeln (Love Balls), go to this website.
Their origins are shrouded in mystery. From the names used above, it is likely they were first used in Asia, although where and how and when is unknown.
Maca
If you climb between 4000 and 4500 meters up the Andes mountains in Peru you'll find a plant called maca consumed as human and animal food in the region for at least 2000 years (so they say, although I doubt whether shopping lists or restaurant menus from 2000 years ago survive). Like almost any food which has a long history, stories are told about maca's aphrodisiac properties. You know, like the ones about ancient Inca warriors feasting on maca before battles. You have to understand that one of the inducements most ancient rulers used to encourage their troops was the promise to have their way with the women of the conquered army after the battle. In what form maca was consumed--as seed, porridge, veggie or beer--isn't known for sure.
Given it's ancient history and exotic reputation, modern health and natural food companies are all over this product and are trying to sell it as a sex drug to anyone with a credit card.
Alas, along came a group of researchers from a university in Peru. These dudes didn't get it. Researchers are supposed to prove local products are good for consumers and good for consumers' libidos. Such studies raise sales and keep people employed. Noooo, not these guys. They went and produced a study which demonstrated that Peru's very own maca has no known affect on libido among men from their 20s to their 50s. Sorry about that, guys. Save your money and don't bother climbing 4000 to 4500 feet up the Andes, unless you have other intentions besides getting off on maca.
Longjack or Eurycoma longifolia
Eurycoma longifolia Jack also known as longjack and Tongkat Ali) is a flowering plant native to Indonesia and Malaysia.
Under its various names it is included in herbal supplements for bodybuilders. It has a reputation for enhancing male sexual characteristics because it allegedly encourages testosterone, which in turn improves muscle mass and the size of testicles. It has long been used as a folk medicine for a wide variety of conditions, including many that have nothing to do with testosterone. There have been some studies in Western medicine of its properties, but these studies are still in a preliminary stage.
The association between testosterone and aphrodisiacs is obvious, leading some to use Tongkat Ali as an aphrodisiac.
Yet another name for longjack is Libidus, an artificial name concocted to suggest aphrodisiac qualities. This form of the plant, which is often included in herbal mixtures sold as aphrodisiacs, is considered dangerous by some governmental authorities. Health Canada warns consumers to avoid products containing Libidus. Pharmacologically Libidus contains a distant cousin of vardenafil, the active ingredient in the prescription drug Levitra (tm), a poplar Western erectile dysfunction treatment. Libidus could pose serious health risks, making its use as an aphrodisiac questionable.
It is expensive to purchase any form of Tongkat Ali, and those who extoll its aphrodisiac qualities claim only its extract produces the desired effect. They say merely swallowing a pill containing Tongkat Ali as one of many ingredients doesn't do the trick. The extract is so expensive because there are no plantations anywhere devoted solely to the cultivation of this plant; any plants used are wild and becoming rare or protected by governmental decree. Some advertisements suggest elaborate rituals for taking the supplement, such as a certain number of days on and a certain number of days off. But there is no scientific or even folk medicine support for this schedule. And, at today's prices, the ritual would be extremely difficult to follow by any but the most wealthy.
Chocolate
No list of aphrodisiacs would be complete without this Valentine's Day staple. With a heady combination of caffeine (to keep you up all night) and a stimulant called phenylethylamine, the "love chemical," it's no wonder that chocolate is romance's MVP. And here's good news for chocoholics everywhere: the American Dietetic Association says the antioxidants in chocolate may prevent cholesterol from building up on artery walls (a risk factor for heart attack and stroke), while its flavonoids fight disease. Keep in mind that darker chocolate has more of these compounds. [to be continued]
Women who feast on Chocolates enjoy Sex more
Eating chocolate may improve women's sexual functioning, according to a study.
Women who feast on chocolates enjoy sex more—no this is not the plot of an erotic film but the finding of a scientific study.
Women who eat chocolate regularly have a better sex life than those who don’t. They have the highest levels of desire, arousal and satisfaction from sex, says a study by researchers from San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.
The researchers reported “Women who have a daily intake of chocolate showed higher levels of desire than women who did not have this habit. Chocolate can have a positive physiological impact on a woman’s sexuality,” notes [the] study....
But don't get carried away. According to the study authors the link between chocolate and sex was not an established fact. "It seems alluring to hypothesise that chocolate can have a physiological positive impact over women's sexuality," but as these studies ALWAYS say, more research needs to be done.
Some articles were glorified as aphrodisiacs based on their rarity and mystery. Chocolate was once considered the ultimate aphrodisiac. This honored reputation wore off as chocolate became commonly available.
A Yuppie Version:
Tribulus terrestris
Tribulus terrestris has gained increasing attention recently as a body builders' supplement. Some also say it is an aphrodisiac. Also known as gokshura in native Indian medicine known as Ayurveda, it is considered a sexual stimulant with the added ability to calm an agitated mind. How it's supposed to carry off these contradictory functions is not easily explained.
At first it was believed tribulus was a plant source of testosterone. More recent research has cast that idea in doubt. One 2005 study indicated the herb does not increase testosterone production in young men. A more recent 2007 study indicated that tribulus does not change either testosterone levels or the ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone (one ratio which can cause an athlete to fail a drug test). (PMID 15994038, PMID 17530942)
Do your own thorough due diligence...your own research, because I don't know...
Is Ginseng Your Answer?
Ginseng has a reputation in China as an aphrodisiac, among other qualities. It also grows in places other than China, such as Korea and, interestingly enough, Michigan. Taken in its raw form, it has a bitter taste and can be quite expensive.
The word ginseng means "man root." Ginseng's reputation as an aphrodisiac probably arises from its similarity to the human body. Ginseng has been used as an invigorating and rejuvenating agent for centuries in China, Tibet, Korea, Indochina, and India. The root may have a mild stimulant action, like coffee. There have been some experiments reporting a sexual response in animals treated with ginseng, but there is only shaky evidence that ginseng has an effect on human sexuality.
A favorite form of ginseng in the United States is small capsules of liquid ginseng panax. It is sold in a wide variety of stores, and is favored in many places as a kind of 'Saturday night special.'
Some Asians feed ginseng to children, indicating that not everyone buys the story that it is an aphrodisiac.
Mushrooms
Twenty men and 16 women were asked to smell the mushroom in a controlled trial. All of the men found the smell disgusting. All the women showed some signs of arousal. Six experienced orgasm from the smell. The women who climaxed were the first women to smell the mushroom. Those who smelled it later (when it was older and weaker) were less aroused.
Warning: this study may be urban legend. I was able to find a reference on a website to something that seemed to be a scientific paper. But my suspicions were aroused. If in fact there was an actual study in an actual journal that found the results reported above it would be natural for the study to arouse great interest. It would be expected that many others would follow the study, report about it on the web, try their own variations and make a big fuss. The world is looking for an aphrodiciac that works effectively on woman. This mushroom would seem to be it. But there is absolutely no follow-up to the study on the web. It's as if it never happened. This silence on the web arouses my suspicion. I suspect this study is an urban legend.
Others ... And Some Helpful Advice
Cobra and Spiders "The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to run to the bathroom more...." Watermelon does that to me, too. It kind of messes up the romantic mood.
In Vietnam young men "coming of age" are sometimes taken to special or unspecial places--sometimes as mundane as night-clubs-- and encouraged to drink a shot of whiskey. As an extra kick, a cobra is brought out, sliced open and bled into the whiskey. The young man is encouraged to drink this mixture. It is said this is considered a prime aphrodisiac across much of Southeast Asia.
Liquor with the snake in the bottle--which minimizes the risk of being bitten--is also for sale. Cobra isn't the only kind of venom reported to increase erections. Stories have it that several kinds of spider bites can do the same trick, provided the person lives.
Watermelons
Some people tout watermelons as an aphrodisiac. They even throw in fancy names of chemicals to make the reports sound more scientific.
The problem is, even if the aphrodisiac qualities were true, you'd have to eat a lot of the stuff to get the reputed results.
[One scientist quoted in the article] said [another scientist's] "research is valid, but with a caveat: One would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level.
Some Helpful Advice
An article in the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun contained a few of the cleverest observations I have ever seen about detecting sexual cheating by a partner. I have no idea whether readers of this blog plan to or are engaged in cheating behind the back of their partners. But if they are, they may not be getting away with as much as they think they are getting away with.
Do your feet smell? Men's feet tend to be a lot stinkier than women's feet. Whether or not a man's feet stink may be a clue to whether he is cheating.
If a man comes home and his feet DO NOT stink, there is a great likelihood he is playing around. Wha? What does one thing have to do with the other? Put on your detective thinking cap and follow my line of thought.
Let's say a man goes to work, does a normal day's work, then comes home dutifully. There is a distinct likelihood his feet will stink. Maybe not a whole lot, but enough for his wife or partner to notice.
OK, the same guy comes home and his feet not only do not stink, they smell clean and freshly washed. Chances are, he has had a meeting with an illicit lover. How can one make that conclusion?
After sex, many men are in the habit of showering. When they shower, their feet are cleaned. When their feet get cleaned the smell disappears.
Therefore, the fact his feet don't smell after a day supposedly at work is a clue that he's had a little action on the side and tried to wash away the most obvious clues--creating a new set of unexpected tip-offs.
To shower or not to shower? That is the question. Put another way, damned if you do, damned if you don't. Of course, a strategically-taken dose of Viagra, Cialis or Levitra might satisfy the curiosity of doubters, if you know what I mean.
Fingers and things
According to the February 22 2008 Times of India:
Yes, yes, yes! The G spot does exist
PARIS: After more than half a century of debate and bedroom exploration, a row about the location of the fabled G spot may be settled at last, the British weekly New Scientist reports.
The G spot, named after a German gynaecologist called Ernst Graefenberg who first mooted its existence in 1950, is said to be a highly sensitive area in the vagina that, when stimulated, gives a woman a powerful orgasm. But where the G spot is located has been clouded by evidence that is subjective or downright contradictory, and some experts have even concluded that it does not exist.
The answer, according to Italian researcher Emmanuele Jannini, is that, yes, the G spot does exist, but only among those women who are lucky enough to possess it, New Scientist reports.
Jannini, of the University of L'Aquila, used ultrasound to scan a key vaginal area among nine women who claimed to experience vaginal orgasms and 11 who said they didn't. The target was an area of tissue on the front vaginal wall located behind the urethra. Tissue was notably thicker in this space among the first group of women compared with the second, the scans revealed.
Jannini, who reports the research in full in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, says the evidence is clear: "Women without any visible evidence of a G spot cannot have a vaginal orgasm." [snip]
The article goes on to report that, in essence, either you have it or you don't. But even if you don't, there's no reason to despair. If the G spot isn't responsive, another spot might be. Never give up hope and don't throw away your Viagra, women and men, seems to be the result of this study.
But you knew that. This article seems to confirm what billions of people have learned in the course of history: women can respond to all kinds of properly introduced, accepted, placed and stimulated objects. You just have to know where and when.
