Aphrodisiacs - Do they really Work?

Scientists are actually getting closer to pinning down the chemical in the "body chemistry" that may attract the opposite sex _ pheromones.

Pheromones, those naturally produced chemicals emitted by all organisms, have been the topic of animal and insect studies for decades. Now, human pheromones are under the microscope and the science community has high hopes that they may hold the key to what really turns us on.
Years ago, research proved that female moths emit the pheromones that ace as aphrodisiacs to attract the opposite sex. Additionally, it was discovered that male moths use their antennae to hone in on female pheromone emissions … and can do so even when exposed to a variety of other scents.

(This knowledge has actually been put to practical use. Scientists have developed a means to protect crops through the controlled release of pheromones that lure insects away from fields that they would otherwise eat.)

In the last decade, researcher Martha McClintock of the University of Chicago conducted a study that confirms that 68 percent of women participating in the study were affected by exposure to pheromones. That information has sparked an interest in the scientific community.

Can human pheromones be collected … then released … to attract the opposite sex?
There are those who resoundingly say "yes" to that question

They claim that some perfumes and oils containing animal and/or human pheromones do attract the opposite sex. The concept of scents and other substances being used as aphrodisiacs is not new. In fact, aphrodisiacs can be traced back thousands of years.

And, although the Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve or recommend age-old aphrodisiacs or the use of bottled pheromones, the organization will recognize that because no official clinical studies have been completed on humans, claims that aphrodisiacs attract the opposite sex cannot be determined as fraudulent either.

In fact, the FDA has described studies involving the response of animals to the ancient aphrodisiac yohimbine as "encouraging."

Yohimbine is extracted from the bark of a tree in Africa. Generations of natives used yohimbine to stimulate a man's sexual appetite. The natural substance is said to affect the spinal nerve enters that control erections.

The herb is also known to increase blood flow throughout the body, including the penis. Some people claim that drinking small amounts powdered yohimbine in tea increases sexual drive in humans.

Ginseng is known to act as a stimulant when ingested and some claim it actually increases their sexual desire.

Long relied on as a central ingredient in many Oriental love potions, ginseng is thousands of years old.

The aromatic cardamom is another ancient herb attributed to increased sexual excitement. Arabs have long considered cardamom an aphrodisiac and ingest it in a potion made by breaking down the plant seeds in hot water.

Cardamom is known to not only stimulate more than a sexual appetite. The spice is heavily used in recipes that range from stew to desserts. Native to India, the spice that is derived from
the cardamom plant is very expensive.

Historically, some aphrodisiacs developed a reputation for sexual stimulation because of the real impact that natural materials have on certain individuals. For example, a rhinoceros horn is loaded with calcium and phosphorus. Should someone be deficient in either substance, ingesting horn powder might well produce an overall invigorating affect.

Another well-known alleged aphrodisiac is the oyster. High in zinc, oysters may also reasonably have a positive impact on someone whose body is lacking the substance.

Spanish Fly

If there is a term that could be considered synonymous with "aphrodisiac" it is likely "Spanish Fly." The substance _ derived from a dried, poisonous beetle _ has an infamous reputation for good reason. Its active ingredient is catharidin, a highly toxic material that works much like an acid. Catharidin's caustic affect is the reason that the beetle is also known as the "blister bug."

Just touching the creature can result in the skin absorbing enough poison to cause blistering.
Catharidin has been known to sometimes produce sensations of sexual desire resulting from increased blood flow in the urinary tract and other areas affected by the poison.

However, take heed that ingesting catharidin can result in a variety of ailments including vomiting, severe stomach pain _ and even death.

Viewing pornographic materials is enough to turn some men on _ yet only the real thing gets other men's sexual juices flowing.

The world of aphrodisiacs is similar in that what may be a turn-on for one person may have little
or no affect on someone else.

The bottom line is that feeling good physically and mentally goes hand in hand with a healthy sexual interest. That is why MyHealthyPenis.com supports the importance of maintaining general good health through diet and exercise.