The Aphrodisiac effect
Looking for a way to increase your chances with the ladies and/or gentlemen? Here’s a look at some alleged aphrodisiacs that have been tried in the past.
Melissa Hiebert Staff
Spanish Fly
The Spanish fly (which, despite its name, is actually a beetle) has been noted as an aphrodisiac for centuries. It is often crushed up, made into a powder and then ingested. It is considered an aphrodisiac because it causes blood to rush to the genitals, but this is due to the irritation of the urogenital tract, and swelling and itching may occur. In large enough doses it may cause nausea, vomiting and even death.
Verdict: Eating squished beetles? Not hot. Neither is swelling or vomiting.
Potatoes
When potatoes were first introduced to Europe they were considered a special delicacy. Since only the rich had access to them, they were considered to be rare aphrodisiacs. This is probably today’s equivalent to caviar and expensive dinners. The more exquisite and expensive, the better.
Verdict: The real aphrodisiac at play here seems to be money. While this ploy may work on some, I don’t recommend it. Go for the original; get a big box of french fries instead.
Pheromones
The most basic aphrodisiacs are actually human pheromones. Pheromones are chemicals that are emitted by humans (and other animals) to relay messages. In humans, this chemical is produced by armpit sweat, and some pheromones are meant to attract mates. There is a story in which Napoleon Bonaparte allegedly wrote to his love, Josephine, telling her that he was coming home soon, and that she shouldn’t bathe until then. There are many ‘miracle products’ that include pheromones that claim to increase one’s attractiveness to the opposite sex, however these have not been proven to be effective.
Verdict: I’m not sure whether or not natural pheromones actually do have an aphrodisiacal effect, but the distinct scent of a loved one can be the ultimate factor in sex appeal.
Sparrows
The Ancient Greeks believed that sparrows were an erotic bird. They believed
that the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, was particularly fond of sparrows
and therefore they were considered aphrodisiacs. Many ancient Greeks would
mash up sparrows’ brains in order to achieve the desired effects.
Verdict: Taking your date for bird smoothies will probably make him or her
run away from you, screaming in horror; demonstrating your knowledge of Greek
love mythology will probably score you some points.
Chocolate
In addition to being one of the most common ‘gifts of love,’ chocolate is an alleged aphrodisiac as well. It contains the chemical phenylethylamine, and there is much debate as to whether or not this chemical is an aphrodisiac, or if it can even reach the brain fast enough in large enough quantities to produce a reaction. One myth says that an Aztec king named Montezuma drank 50 cups of cocoa a day in order to perform well for his many lady admirers.
Verdict: It may not cause physical arousal, but a gift of chocolate can still work for you. Try chocolate body paint.
Bananas
Bananas, asparagus and other phallic foods are often considered aphrodisiacs due to their shape alone. (Bananas also contain B vitamins, which help produce sex hormones). Same with oysters, which are said to resemble female genetalia, (in addition to containing zinc, which is an important chemical for the production of testosterone). Strawberries and raspberries have been referred to as ‘fruit nipples’ and are said to be arousing fruits. This is possibly also because they are often eaten out of a loved one’s fingers.
Verdict: It might not be due to the sexual shape of these foods, but the fact that they help produce vitamins and minerals that are needed for the production of various hormones makes them good candidates. Someone that is healthy will definitely be more sexually inclined.
Okay, so none of these alleged aphrodisiacs are really proven to work for any physical reason, but some of them do have the potential to be used in sexual contexts. Be creative. One recommendation, though: leave the bird brains and bug guts out of it. (Unless that’s what you’re into.)
