The Things We Do For Love ~ Aphrodisiacs

Aphrodisiac—1. An agent (as a food or drug) that arouses or is held to arouse sexual desire. 2. Something that excites.

                                                                                                  Webster’s Dictionary

With such a general description, aphrodisiacs can range from chairs to caviar—dildos to dancing. There’s sure to be something for everyone. Derived from the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, aphrodisiacs have been used by every culture for millennia. Often times an item fell into favor with no scientific evidence.

So why does society need aphrodisiacs? In modern day the saying ‘Variety is the spice of life’ probably rings the truest. With the life span of people growing ever longer, it’s conceivable to be in a relationship with one person for seventy years. Society’s drive for the fountain of youth often finds octogenarians still sexually active. With a little imagination and a few aphrodisiacs, couples can enjoy an active sex life for decades.

Hundreds of years ago the need for aphrodisiacs was quite different. One possible theory is to balance diet. In a time when the rich got fatter from eating too much meat and too many sweets, aphrodisiacs may have been used to bring a sagging libido back into play. The scenario is similar to people of today who frequently fuel their bodies with fast food and chemical laden drinks instead of healthy choices that rev the body with energy and vigor. Let’s face facts; anybody who has stuffed themselves on Thanksgiving knows that lazing on the couch after dinner sounds a lot better than going three rounds in the bedroom. Thus was the daily life of the rich and privileged.

Fertility rituals were also a big hit in ancient times. As heirs to the throne and large families to work the fields were coveted, people employed a wide variety of aphrodisiacs. Plants, herbs, and even animal totems were thought to hold the secret combination to impregnation.

Virility often times sent warriors, kings, and any man wishing to prove his manliness, searching for the magic remedy that could trump the natural limitations of male sexual performance. Hindu scholars have studied these matters for thousands of years and have an extensive research on erotology, or the science of love-making.

Before modern dentistry, tooth decay was prevalent and went hand in hand with halitosis. Nothing quashes desire like a bad case of morning breath. And so the search for remedies to combat bad breath ensued. Many were aromatic, some even astringent and anti-septic. Today, few people with love on their mind forget to brush, floss, and rinse.

Aphrodisiacs can be split into several groups for better identification—analogous, associative, cannibalistic, therapeutic, sensory—and let’s not forget novelty.

Analogous, which means ‘similar to’, are aphrodisiacs that resemble sexual body parts. A sliced fig for example, can resemble a woman’s vagina and therefore be arousing to some when eaten. Cucumbers, a most phallic symbol, have always gotten a good rap as a woman’s best friend in the refrigerator.

Associative aphrodisiacs are those that we associate with sexual activity. Whether from stories we heard as kids, folklore, or our own experience, these aphrodisiacs remind us of the erotic. Many sexual stimulants cross over to other groups. Something that is analogous can also be associative.

If you partake in cannibalistic aphrodisiacs, this does not mean you are Hannibal Lecter. Often times misunderstood, cannibalistic simply refers to the eating of the vital organ of an animal—not your neighbor. Many believed they would absorb the strength and virility of the animal by eating the organ, i.e. bull testicles, or known in finer establishments as Rocky Mountain Oysters. Yum.

Aphrodisiacs that are sexually stimulating are known as therapeutic. These can be drunk, inhaled, snorted, rubbed on to the skin, or eaten.  Mainly therapeutic aphrodisiacs reduce inhibition and let a person’s sexual nature shine through. As many will attest to, there’s nothing sexier than a drunken bridesmaid around one in the morning.

Sensory aphrodisiacs are those which prolong or make sex more intense. Massage, porn movies, or sexual games, and even erotic art just to name a few.

Lastly are the novelty aphrodisiacs. These are things that had fallen into favor and the merchants pushed to sell. At one time the potato was considered a novelty aphrodisiac. Nowadays penis enhancers, Viagra, or any herbal remedy touted to enhance the libido can be lumped in this group.

Some of the most common items and foods have been and are still considered aphrodisiacs.

The apple—from the beginning of theology, the apple has reined as the forbidden fruit. The world may have been a very different place if Eve had not offered Adam the apple.

Alcohol—taken in small quantities, liquor can turn a wallflower into the most sexually confident woman in the room. Alcohol has been known to relax inhibitions and make something that was old and in a rut, a new exciting experience. Nothing says getting laid like dinner and drinks.

The Carrot—we were always told that eating our carrots would make our eyesight better, but the Arabs believed stewed carrots in milk stimulated both sexual appetite and performance. One must wonder. Chocked full of vitamin A, B1, C, E, and carotene, this snack certainly couldn’t do any harm unless you’re lactose intolerant.

Dance—from ancient times dance has enticed, teased and lured the opposite sex. The infamous Dance of the Seven Veils, performed by Salome, so inflamed King Herod he granted her the head of John the Baptist, which is kind of creepy considering he was married to her mother, but a testament to the seductive powers of dance.

Eyes—with a coy glance or a flutter of the eyelashes a single message can be conveyed. More powerful than words, the glance given from one person to another speaks volumes.

           

Leather—whether on an expensive handbag, a riding crop, or a pair of chaps worn by a male stripper, leather is a turn-on. The aroma and texture have many shoppers gliding their hands lovingly across a new sofa as they inhale the expensive odor.

So do aphrodisiacs work? The only answer is if it jazzes up the users sex drive then it works. Not all aphrodisiacs are created equal just as no man is created the same. What might be one man’s aphrodisiac may be another man’s lunch.

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If you enjoyed Aphrodisiacs, please read next months more in-depth look at specific aphrodisiacs, their origins and effects. Also, don’t forget to read part three of The Girl Who Cried Wolf on Friday, May 13.

asJaxon Vailsa

If you missed any of our previous posts and would like to catch up, you can purchase the Everything Erotic Volume I , Everything Erotic Volume II , Everything Erotic Volume III , Everything Erotic Volume IV , Everything Erotic Volume V , Everything Erotic Volume VI and Everything Erotic Volume VII anthologies as ebooks for only $2.99 each! Want it in print? Everything Erotic Volumes I-III is now available in paperback for $12.95.

Copyright © Jaxon Vail

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

*Reference: Aphrodisiacs—An Encyclopedia of Erotic Wisdom