P
lants in general are a rich source of compounds that can after our physiological and psychological states. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of conventional medications come from plants. And that’s after scientific study of just a relative fraction of the world’s plant population. Realistically, then, many more herbs than the ones presented here may possess potent aphrodisiac powers. They just haven’t been discovered yet.
A number of clients at the Sexual Wellness Center have tried herbs to improve their libidos, with excellent results. Herbs are medicines. Like conventional pharmaceuticals, they can cause serious side effects if they are not used according to directions or if they’re taken with preexisting medical conditions such as hypertension. In addition, the herbal industry, much like the supplement industry, isn’t subject to FDA regulation. This means the quality, safety, and effectiveness of herbal products is not guaranteed. What is on the label is not necessarily what is in the bottle. And DHEA, which is synthesized, is much easier to control than herbal preparations, which are grown. The potency and quality of an herbal preparation depends on the same variables that affect all crops, such as rain, sun, temperature, and soil conditions. As an analogy, consider wine. Some years, the weather cooperates and the grapes grow well, so the wine is full-bodied and robust. Other years, too much rain, or not enough, takes a toll on the grape crop, producing a thin and not especially tasty vintage. Herbs are just as vulnerable to environmental factors, if not more so.
Keep in mind, too, that we do not intend for this section to be an authoritative text on herbal aphrodisiacs. Dozens, if not hundreds, of herbs can claim pro-sexual properties. The Sexual Wellness Center has chosen to recommend only a selected few, as they have been scientifically studied, their side effects are well-known, and they are widely available.
Africa, yohimbe has a centuriesold reputation for its libidoenhancing properties. The herb, which comes from the bark of the corynanthe yohimbe tree, plays a role in tribal fertility celebrations, marriage ceremonies, and mating rituals. Spurred by yohimbe’s effects, some of these ceremonies involve sexual activity that may go on for days, or even weeks.
Yohimbe: A Proven “Love Potion”
Since the late 1930s, researchers have been studying yohimbe to substantiate the prosexual claims for the herb. No less than 30 scientific articles have shown that the active ingredient in yohimbe, the alkaloid yohimbine, increases blood flow to the genitals and stimulates the central nervous system as well as the nerves of the genitals. Together, these physical changes set the stage for sexual arousal.
Manzambi and her husband, Remmy, moved from their native Zaire to the United States 7 years ago. At first, they lived with Remmy’s brother and his family in a cramped, dark Brooklyn apartment. Remmy worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week driving a cab. It certainly was not paradise, but it was a much safer place to raise their daughter than in their war-torn country. Like generations of immigrants before them, Manzambi and Remmy stayed in New York for a few years to get acclimated to the wonders and fast-paced life of their new country. Then they moved to Cleveland, where another relative had settled some years before. There Manzambi made many friends, who openly admired the relationship between Manzambi and her husband. While their husbands often went out to bars after work, Remmy headed straight home and showered affection on his wife. Her new friends wanted the same type of relationship with their husbands that Manzambi had with Remmy. So they asked her advice. “The secret,” she told them, “is to keep your man happy in bed.” She continued. “Every night we drink a tea that we have sent from back home in Africa. The tea causes a pleasant fire in my vagina, and Remmy can make love like a man 15 years younger. Good sex keeps my husband home.” A traditional herbal remedy in West
Researchers at Valparaiso University in Indiana confirmed that yohimbine increases the frequency of sexual activity and heightens sexual arousal. In fact, the FDA already has approved the compound as a treatment for erectile dysfunction in men. Further studies have shown that yohimbine can counteract the negative sexual side effects of the widely prescribed SSRI antidepressants. As yohimbine works to stimulate the nervous system, it can enhance blood flow, metabolism, and alertness. On the downside, it can raise blood pressure and heart rate and cause heart palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia. For these reasons, we do not recommend yohimbe or yohimbine for anyone with a history of coronary artery disease, www.urbanette.com
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