When you want to give your sexual wellness a little boost, you might be tempted by aphrodisiacs like chocolate or oysters, but, according to sexual health expert Rajan Bhonsle, MD, ‘There are other more prized and deadly aphrodisiacs. For instance, the rhinoceros horns that bears a phallic symbol, is used in many cultures to perk up sexual performance. Zebra tongue and tiger penis are also believed to boost masochism.’ Let’s take a look at some of the wackier aphrodisiacs out there, and why Bhonsle believes that getting in the mood is much more simple.
1. Spanish fly: Bhonsle details, ‘The most famous and potent aphrodisiac of all is considered to be the spanish fly, a powder made of ground-up beetle. It makes the blood vessels around a woman’s genitals dilate and throb, giving her the false sensation of sexual arousal. If a woman takes it internally, it causes inflammation and irritation of the urinary tract, which could result in permanent damage to her urinary system. Luckily, it is not available [in most countries]. What is available in the name of spanish fly is a fake remedy.’
2. Yohimbine: ‘Yohimbine chloride – a standardised form of Yohimbine – one of the few drugs approved in the US for treatment of impotency, is found to be useful only in some cases of erectile dysfunction,’ says Bhonsle. ‘Controlled studies in USA suggest it is not always an effective treatment for impotence, and evidence of so-called increased sex drive is purely anecdotal.’
3. Viagra: ‘Drugs like Sildenafil citrate [viagra] and Tadalafil [forzest]…only help to “sustain” the existing normal erection longer,’ Bhonsle points out. ‘These drugs are useless in those who have difficulty in getting an erection. They absolutely do not enhance libido or induce sexual desire. They help only those who get an erection “on their own” but cannot sustain it long enough to perform satisfactory sexual intercourse. It is not advisable to take these drugs without consulting a qualified specialist. There are risks involved in taking them.’
Bhonsle warns, ‘People should not be under the false impression that use of aphrodisiacs can set you on fire sexually or can solve all your sexual inadequacies. Although countless research and studies are being done the world over about aphrodisiacs and their effect, nobody has been able to prove successfully that aphrodisiacs stimulate sexual desire in human beings. No scientific confirmations have been made yet about chemicals permeating the hypothalamic region of the brain, the region that controls sexual desire.’
However, Bhonsle adds, ‘Regardless of whether or not aphrodisiacs work on the body, the power of “suggestion”, psychologically, is the key. If one believes that using any particular substance – alleged aphrodisiac or not – will help enhance his or her sex life, then it can help bring about sexual desire and arousal at least in the short-term. But, this is more psychogenic and a self-suggestion; the substance merely works as a placebo. Of course, a well-rested body, adequate time, privacy, a conducive environment, confidence in your contraception, a relaxed state of mind, and an attraction for the partner may do just the same thing. As I always say, “Love is the greatest aphrodisiac” that never fails, and that has been proven time and time again. What drugs cannot do…. love can do. “True Love” is the most powerful stimulant and aphrodisiac. If the couple does not feel for each other, they could consume the entire world’s oysters, tiger penis or spanish fly but it will all be in vain…Eat the right food and lead a healthy lifestyle, and you will be naturally stimulated when required. Sexual desire or drive cannot be induced with the help of an outside agent; it has to come from within.’
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