Click here to return to the main site
This article courtesy of www.extatica.com--Enjoy!
By Hilda Hutcherson, MD
Are you looking for a magic potion that will put a spark between the sheets? Well, you are not alone. Many people would like to increase their sexual desire, performance, and pleasure. And for good reason-satisfying sex has been shown to decrease blood pressure, strengthen your heart, decrease stress and depression, and will almost certainly give you a good night's sleep.
For centuries people have tried everything from oysters to goat's testicles to create a sexy mood and change so-so sex into a mind-blowing experience. (READ MORE) Split where you feel it's best One infamous aphrodisiac, Spanish Fly, made from a dried beetle, may have improved sexual experience by increasing blood flow to the genitals, but it has also caused death. Some ancient cultures felt that food shaped like the male or female genitals had aphrodisiac qualities. So cucumbers, asparagus, peaches and clams were consumed in large quantities to light sexual fires.
Though there are no foods with magic sexual powers, what you eat before sex can make the difference between good sex and great sex. Fatty foods will decrease your testosterone levels and decrease your desire for sex, while sugar, carbohydrates, cheese and milk may make you drowsy and put a quick end to a romantic evening. And alcohol, once thought to ignite passion, may interfere with your ability to become aroused and reach orgasm.
Herbs have been used for thousands of years to increase sexual prowess. Herbs like ginseng, garlic, sarsaparilla, and black cohosh increase energy, blood flow and, perhaps, sexual desire. Approved by the FDA to treat impotence and only available by prescription, yohimbine increases your desire for sex by increasing amounts of a neurotransmitter in your brain and the flow of blood to your clitoris and vagina. (Please see FDA information regarding yohimbe and yohimbine at the end of this article.)
In studies done by scientists at Stanford University, Arginmax, a new herbal preparation that contains several herbs including ginseng, damiana, and ginko, has been shown to increase sexual desire, frequency of sex and satisfaction. Though herbs are considered safe and natural, they are strong medicine and should be used with the assistance of a health-care provider or herbalist.
If the thought of raw oysters and herbs does not turn you on, there are a multitude of creams with names like "Dream Cream" and "Viacreme" that claim to guarantee greater orgasmic pleasure. All of these topical sexual stimulants contain ingredients that cause blood vessels to dilate and allow more blood to flow to the clitoris.
The newest medical treatments for flagging desire are Viagra and testosterone hormone. Viagra has not been shown to increase desire directly, but may increase arousal and vaginal lubrication in some women, making sex more enjoyable. Testosterone hormone is the hormone of desire, and women that have had their ovaries removed or are approaching the menopausal years, may get a significant boost in desire. The FDA has put a new testosterone patch for women, called Intrinsa, on the fast track to approval. It may even be available for Valentine's Day. Women that used the Intrinsa patch had an increase in desire as well as orgasms that were more intense.
So, the search goes on for the perfect aphrodisiac. Meanwhile, the best libido boosters of all are imagination, willingness to try new things, and an interesting and interested partner.
Note regarding yohimbe:
For those interested in yohimbe, the widely-promoted ingredient in some sexual enhancement products, Dr. Hilda Hutcherson kindly identified the following information, which she copied and pasted from the FDA government website:
C. Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)
Yohimbe is a tree bark containing a variety of pharmacologically active chemicals. It is marketed in a number of products for body building and "enchanced male performance." Serious adverse effects, including renal failure, seizures and death, have been reported to FDA with products containing yohimbe and are currently under investigation.
The major identified alkaloid in yohimbe is yohimbine, a chemical that causes vasodilation, thereby lowering blood pressure. Yohimbine is also a prescription drug in the United States. Side effects are well recognized and may include central nervous system stimulation that causes anxiety attacks. At high doses, yohimbine is a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. MAO inhibitors can cause serious adverse effects when taken concomitantly with tyramine-containing foods (e.g., liver, cheeses, red wine) or with over-the-counter (OTC) products containing phenylpropanolamine, such as nasal decongestants and diet aids. Individuals taking yohimbe should be warned to rigorously avoid these foods and OTC products because of the increased likelihood of adverse effects.
Yohimbe should also be avoided by individuals with hypotension (low blood pressure), diabetes, and heart, liver or kidney disease. Symptoms of overdosage include weakness and nervous stimulation followed by paralysis, fatigue, stomach disorders, and ultimately death.