Aphrodisiacs

APHRODISIACS (from Greek Aphrodite - goddess of love), substances to which properties are attributed of awakening, restoring, and intensifying sexual desire and sexual capabilities. Already in Indian medicine, in its Brahmanic period writings, in the book Ayur-Veda (Ayur-Veda - the science of life), Sushruta indicated numerous aphrodisiacs, to which he includes dietary substances, animal food, wine, betel nuts (Areca catechu), powder of Vidara (Flacourtia cataphracta), powder of Amalaka (Phyllanthus emblica) mixed with sugar, honey, milk, and seeds of Atmagupta (Carpopogon pruriens), as well as love songs, bright and moonlit nights, beautiful gardens, pleasant landscapes, substances that pleasantly tickle the sense of smell, garlands of flowers around the neck, and the presence of young women. Among the peoples of classical antiquity, love potions - philtra - were used as aphrodisiacs, which in their composition were either completely harmless or were distinguished by great toxicity. Among our folk remedies, those that deserve attention for their prevalence, but not for their effect, are the following plants that have become known as aphrodisiacs: Levisticum officinale, a plant widely used in Ukraine: "girls brew this to make boys love them". Plantanthera bifolia - love root, used in the Tatar Republic; Ambrosia maritime - immortal grass, Sedum telephium - living water, zabruha (a decoction of this plant is given to women for infertility and to men for stimulation). In Germany, as a stimulant for the sexual organs, deer truffle - Boletus cerinus, or Lycoperdon cerinum, is used, which actually has no effect. To stimulate sexual feeling, eating oysters, eggs, caviar, taking Castoreum, and drinks and powders from plants of the orchid family - Orchis mascula, Orchis latifolia, Orchis monorchis, Listera ovata, etc. are recommended. The so-called sympathetic remedies also include the very famous root ginseng, or ginseng - Panax ginseng, growing in Northern China and having the reputation of a perfect aphrodisiac. Nux vomica, Cannabis indica, Lyriosma ovata (Muira-puama), and many other plants can be mentioned as aphrodisiacs used in different places and by different peoples, with mystical and erroneous ideas often being the reason for the use of one or another remedy. Hashish, Indian hemp, cocaine, opium often cause erotic hallucinations in those who abuse these substances, which usually leads to an increase in libido coeundi, but on the other hand to a weakening and even complete loss of sexual capability. Alcohol also cannot be considered a true aphrodisiac, since the increase in sexual desire is rather explained by the elimination of the regulatory activity of higher psychic centers, and not by irritation of the sacral sexual centers. Strychnine and preparations from the vomiting nut, by toning the nervous system and thereby raising the strength of the patient, can as a result give an increase in libido and an improvement in sexual capability. From this same point of view, preparations can be considered to a certain extent advisable: extract of testicles according to Brown-Séquard, pelletin, spermine, spermol, and spermacrin from the Moscow Endocrine Institute, and various ovarinums. These preparations contain a large amount of phosphates, the intake of which can significantly improve nutrition and improve the general condition of the body, which will have a favorable effect on the sexual activity of the patient. But neither strychnine nor any preparations of testicles or ovaries can be classified as true specific aphrodisiacs. The awakening and appearance of sexual desire can be influenced by various fragrant substances, causing corresponding associations with familiar sexual smells; here conditioned reflexes play a role, which is why substances like musk, castoreum, the scents of lily of the valley, lavender, rose, lilac, and other flowers can cause libido, but of course not enhance sexual capability. Without enhancing sexual capability, but causing inflammation of the urinary tract, leading to frequent and persistent erections, cantharidin and Spanish flies containing it do. This remedy has long enjoyed the reputation of an aphrodisiac, but the internal administration of cantharidin and Spanish flies should be warned against, indicating that cantharidin, causing dangerous for life inflammation of the kidneys, in no way increases sexual capability. Taken internally, spices - red pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, etc. can contribute to the appearance of erotic feeling by irritating their essential oil constituents the mucous membranes of the urinary tract, through which essential oils are usually excreted. Consequently, in these cases too there seems to be an exciting effect, but it is expressed in the fact that erection occurs as a reflex from the mucous membranes, while the sexual activity of the glands and the sexual capability of the body remain unaffected. Among the more recent substances, yohimbine, an alkaloid from the bark of the Jambehou tree, was attributed to have a special influence on the sexual system. As an aphrodisiac, the natives of South America used a decoction of Jambehou bark, and Oberwarth showed that under the influence of yohimbine, persistent erection of the penis occurs in mice and dogs. A number of researchers confirmed the significance of yohimbine as an enhancer of sexual function. However, Krakov, on the basis of his research on animals and humans, stated that yohimbine is not a true aphrodisiac, since it does not act on the sexual center located in the sacral part of the spinal cord; therefore yohimbine is unsuitable for the treatment of sexual impotence, and the favorable effects of yohimbine can be considered as a result of the psychological impact on the patient. And indeed, often in cases of temporary impotence, psychotherapy gives brilliant results, erroneously attributed to the medications taken simultaneously. In almost the same way, muiracitin, obtained from the Brazilian tree Muira-puama, has gained recognition as a reliable aphrodisiac (although scientifically this alkaloid remains almost uninvestigated). In conclusion, it should be noted that medicine does not have any special aphrodisiac that, while causing or enhancing erection, at the same time restores or increases sexual capability. To achieve such results, resort is made to general strengthening treatment of the body, to raising its nutrition, restoring all its forces and, what is very important, to bringing its nervous-psychic activity to normal.