Aphrodisiacs
and Anaphrodisiacs
More than generic foods or drinks, aphrodisiacs are considered "substances that increase or are believed to increase sexual desire or capability." This definition covers a rather broad range of stimuli, but thankfully the list can be divided into two basic categories: psycho-physiological and internal. The two categories distinguish the aphrodisiacs by the means in which they work, or are thought to work. The psycho-physiological aphrodisiacs depend on the appeal of the substance to the five senses. The look, the smell, or the feeling of the substance can contribute to the power of the stimuli. For example, the avocado may serve as an aphrodisiac because it visually resembles a testicle. Eatables that resemble genitalia supposedly possess related sexual potency. Digestion or tactile interaction with the substance is thought to transfer sexual potency from the substance to the individual. At the other end of the spectrum, internal aphrodisiacs draw their potency from their physical and chemical effects on the body. These components once ingested, simulate sexual arousal. Eating a spicy chili makes us sweat, a characteristic of a sexual encounter, and the body may interpret this as sexual arousal. While the internal aphrodisiacs have a chemical effect on the body, they do not stimulate the reproductive mechanisms directly. So, just how reliable are these enhancers?
Only a handful of aphrodisiacs has been scientifically proven to increase sex drive and lower erectile dysfunction. The small number of confirmed aphrodisiacs may be attributed to the scarcity of research on the subject and the unavoidable variability in the results. Researchers often cannot differentiate between the physical effect of the aphrodisiac and the power of suggestion: Is the test subject aroused because the asparagus affects internal body chemistry or because the idea that asparagus might be a powerful sexual enhancer results in sexual arousal? Many of the studies in aphrodisiacs have inconclusive results. While the FDA confirms only a couple of chemically proven reactants, legends have suggested the sexual powers of aphrodisiacs throughout the centuries. As long as people are interested in sex, the search for a way to instigate, prolong, and enhance sexual relations will continue.
Oysters, cantharides (or "Spanish fly"), alcohol, marijuana, and many other drugs have the reputation of being aphrodisiacs. There is no scientific proof that any of these substances increase sexual capacity, and some of them are very dangerous. Alcohol is often mistaken as an aphrodisiac because it reduces inhibitions, making it easier for people to approach and initiate sexual activities. However, alcohol actually makes it more difficult for men and women to become physiologically aroused, and it makes orgasm harder to achieve. In these ways, alcohol actually acts as an anaphrodisiac. Nicotine is another substance that can inhibit sexual function and desire.
Birth control pills cause some women to report a reduction of sexual desire. However, other women enjoy sex more when using birth control, since they have less fear of pregnancy.
Aphrodisiacs: What Truly Works?