Love Potions & Aphrodisiacs
 

The idea that many people have is that aphrodisiacs and love potions are mysterious and weird concoctions which contain bizarre ingredients such as the inner scrapings of a raccoon's second fingernail! Of course, there are some weird concoctions, but many are as simple and close as the kitchen or back garden of the average family home.

So many people are embarrassed by talk of love or love and sexual desire and many lose their composure if seen reading articles on these subjects. Some people believe these topics are very personal, and should not be discussed, while others yearn to be free of socially learnt inhibitions which encourage the masking and hiding of true feelings and desires.

"Is love just an intense emotion?" This is a question often asked in the 90's. The New Webster's Dictionary describes love as a "feeling of attraction resulting from sexual desires". Lust is described as "strong sexual desire; passionate desire" or even "strong or excessive sexual desire". Whatever description you would like to give, I have a potion for all!

Many people do not believe in love potions or aphrodisiacs, but countless numbers of men and women have used them down through the centuries, and there is clear proof they are still in use today. This is evidenced in a book written by William H. Lee and Lynn Lee - "Herbal Love Potion", in which they describe a study done in 1968 in the United States by a Phoenix (US) physician Dr. W. Miller.

The study was carried out on a drug called Afrodex, which has as its base the bark from an evergreen tree native to Cameroon in Africa, and traditionally used as an anesthetic and potent aphrodisiac, with results too astounding to pass as feeble fallacy. The authors discuss a double blind test that was done on a group of twenty-one men. For four weeks the group were given a placebo that had no active ingredient, but tasted just like the Afrodex, then they were given the true Afrodex for four weeks. Another group of men were put on the same programme, but in the reverse. Neither the patients nor the supervisors of the test knew who was taking either the placebo or the real thing.

Before the study commenced the patients reported an average of three erections and three orgasms a week, then after four weeks of being on the placebo, they reported back to having had eleven erections and eight orgasms weekly - this suggests that the power of the mind can play a role. However, when these same patients were placed on the true Afrodex, they reported an average of forty-nine erections and twenty-three orgasms weekly. As incredible as it may seem, it is irrefutable evidence that aphrodisiacs do work.

The idea that many people have is that aphrodisiacs and love potions are mysterious and weird concoctions which contain bizarre ingredients such as the inner scrapings of a raccoon's second fingernail! Of course, there are some weird concoctions, but many are as simple and close as the kitchen or back garden of the average family home.

Stories abound of the effect of oysters and champagne, however, I am going to tell you a little about some of the more unusual aphrodisiacs, beginning with Okra. The fruit pod of a plant native to tropical Africa, Okra is rich in Magnesium, is a natural relaxant and contains Iron, Folates, Zinc and Vitamin B, all food for the sexual glands - and is well known in many countries for its use as an aphrodisiac. To prepare Okra, cut off the stem end and carefully peel the thick skin, so that the whole pod is edible (caution that you don't puncture the pod). Then to every 500g of Okra, put in a bowl: 1 cup of vinegar, leave to soak for 30 minutes, then drain and rinse well. Eat raw or you can fry in olive oil, but you must dry the Okra first. Fry with the lid on, to steam and cook at the same time, regularly turning the Okra till lightly brown. Serve with a little lemon juice - delicious. (They taste like asparagus.) You can buy Okra at any gourmet fruit and vegetable shop.

Truffles are also well known as an aphrodisiac. They are considered a delicacy, and are quite difficult to obtain. The fruit of a fungus that is found at the base of Oak and Beech groves, are found in France, Italy and throughout Europe. In Australia they can only be found in cans, and fresh Truffles are rare indeed. However, if you are fortunate enough to obtain a supply of fresh Truffles, choose them firm, undamaged and medium sized. They can be refrigerated, but should be eaten as soon as possible. Truffles whether tinned or fresh can be used in homemade pate and sauces, or can be sliced thinly or grated and served with meat.

Other aphrodisiacs include Eggplant, Cinnamon Sticks (chewed like tobacco), Cloves, Wild Lettuce and Wild Asparagus Root - with the latter, the raw root is soft and has a jelly bean consistency that is sweet tasting.

Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang Essential Oils are considered to be love aromas. It is said that when a male human being is aroused, a body hormone is released that has an aroma similar to Sandalwood.

In response to the aroma emitted from a male, the female human being, at a subconscious level, will usually respond. In the animal world a male dog aroused by the scent of a female bitch "on heat" will quite often travel extremely long distances to find her and in return, the bitch "in heat" will be quite receptive to the male dog's advances. Sandalwood essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils purchased by women.

An old "Gypsy" love potion is made by soaking 100 grams of shaved Alder Bark, 1 teaspoon Anise, 2 Dessertspoons of wild oats and 1 cup of Pennywort herb in 600ml of Vodka. You can add seven naturally dried apricots to sweeten. Let stand for two months, then strain. Place in the freezer. It must be cold when you drink it as alcohol does not freeze to a solid.

Another "Gypsy" recipe is to soak together for three months a small handful of crushed leaves of the Tas Alder tree together with three teaspoons of crushed Saw Palmetto Berries and Elderflowers. Have a small port glass of the liquid before retiring to the bedroom.

The Chinese culture have always regarded sexual activities as very sacred. Fo-ti-tieng, Goto Kolo and Ginseng are three well known Chinese herbs said to be great in helping sustain stamina in the bedroom. Deer Antler is another ancient Chinese remedy for male impotence.

Damiana - a plant from Mexico is an important herb used as a stimulant to the sexual apparatus and is also used as a tonic for the nervous or for sexual debility. The leaves and tops are used with small amounts of Plantain and Pennywort - take fifteen drops to one teaspoon of the fluid extract, three times daily before meals.

For feelings of romance, the herb Gypsy weed - best taken in a triple distilled herbal essence - ten drops taken three times a day is recommended.

An all time favorite for lovers all over the world is a relaxing bath. These special ingredients will help to make your bath one to remember. Firstly, place together in a saucepan of water equal parts of Rose Petals, Bay Leaves, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Orris Root and Cloves. Bring the combined herbs to the boil, cover the pot and simmer for ten minutes. Turn off the heat and let the herbs steep for ten minutes. Strain and pour the liquid into your bath water. Finally, add a teaspoon of Musk Essential Oil to the bathwater. Soak and allow yourself to relax for a while, and then invite your partner in.

Lastly, a very old and special potion for massage, that contact of hands and bodies that so well relates the feelings of the mind to the body - take some English Ivy and soak in oil for a few days, then strain and add a dash of Patchouli Essential Oil.

The good thing about the above recipes is that the ingredients are all reasonably inexpensive, readily available (most good herbal stores carry the herbs, and some herbs you can even grow in your own garden), and can easily be made at home in your kitchen.

Love potions or aphrodisiacs are not just substances that one ingests - we should not forget that the most important aphrodisiacs of all are the ones we make ourselves, with our own body language.

A gentle caress, a warm embrace, a sensual look of desire - all are important to set the mood. I once heard someone say that "the brain is the biggest sex organ in the body" - so with a little imagination, there is more magic than that found in a bottle - a lot is up to you!