Natural aphrodisiacs are plant-based substances used to stimulate sexual desire. In the 19th century, the dictionary of the Académie française defined aphrodisiacs as “substances capable of arousing the pleasures of love”.
They can be plants, fruits, vegetables, or spices, such as ginger, for example, which Madame du Barry is said to have served to all her lovers…
These foods facilitate erection, often through a vasodilatory effect. Vasodilation stimulates the blood supply to the corpora cavernosa, the blood-filled spongy tissues located in the penis, which create and maintain the erection.
Some foods have been considered sexual stimulants for centuries, even millennia in certain cultures: let’s rediscover these natural aphrodisiacs regarded as the most powerful.
1. Ginger
The ginger rhizome, a perennial plant, has been consumed for more than 4,000 years. In India and China, it is used in traditional medicine as a natural aphrodisiac.
Its aphrodisiac effects are thought to come from gingerol, which stimulates blood flow to the genitals. It is also believed to increase sperm production in men.
Ginger can be eaten chopped, grated, or sliced to enhance dishes, or in powdered form (2 to 5 grams per day).
2. Ginseng
Ginseng (ginseng panax) is the natural aphrodisiac par excellence in traditional Chinese medicine, which uses it for its vasodilatory properties. It is its improvement of nitric oxide synthesis that is believed to give ginseng its benefits against sexual disorders.
It can be consumed in powder form, mixed in the morning with yogurt or orange juice for example, or as a decoction in hot water, after the aromas have diffused throughout the night.
3 grams of ginseng per day are recommended by certain studies.
See also All our tips before buying ginseng
3. Maca
The “ Peruvian Viagra ” would increase the number and mobility of sperm in men, and several studies show an increase in sexual desire following its consumption.
Two rare alkaloids, macaenes and macamides, are believed to be responsible for these effects in both men and women. This study highlighted these effects.
Maca is generally consumed in powder form, to be added to smoothies, juices, pancakes… It is also available as an extract, in capsules, or in liquid form.
See also Our tips for buying the best maca
4. Bois bandé
Bois bandé is a substance traditionally used in the French West Indies, which comes from the bark of richeria grandis, a local tree.
Its aphrodisiac effects are thought to come from its vasodilating action on the arteries leading to the penis.
Traditionally, bois bandé is consumed in a punch, so with rum. But the most effective way would be to drink it as a decoction, after letting it macerate for 8 hours, then boiling it for 20 minutes.
Bois bandé can also be enjoyed as a herbal tea. Ideally, it will be combined in our recipes with cinnamon and clove, two other aphrodisiac spices.
5. Ginkgo biloba
The leaves of ginkgo biloba have been consumed since the 1950s, following German medical research, but this anti-fatigue plant has been used for several thousand years by the Chinese. It is notably used to treat anxiety, memory loss, and lack of attention.
Its beneficial effects on libido come, like many aphrodisiacs, from its positive action on blood circulation.
It is consumed in the form of extracts, herbal teas, or decoctions (20 to 40 grams of fresh flowers or 2 to 3 spoonfuls of dried flowers).
6. Clove
This natural anesthetic and antibacterial is one of the foundations of Chinese medicine. But clove is a spice that also stimulates blood circulation in the genitals, and therefore helps with erection in men.
Today it is produced mainly in Indonesia.
Clove is consumed as essential oils or infusions (2 to 3 cloves per cup, steep for 30 minutes). But of course cloves also integrate very well as a spice in many recipes.
7. Raw cacao
Raw cocoa is dried and fermented cocoa that has been neither cooked nor roasted. Its benefits are numerous, from energy to its positive effects on our mood.
Its action against decreased libido comes from the phenylethylamines it contains. These compounds trigger endorphins that stimulate the sexual organs.
Raw cocoa is consumed in the form of raw chocolate, as a powder to sprinkle into drinks or sweet preparations. It can also be eaten directly in the form of cocoa beans.
8. Saffron
Saffron is considered the aphrodisiac spice par excellence. Its stimulating effect on our libido comes from its phytosterol content, a plant hormone whose action is thought to be comparable to that of human hormones.
Saffron is a natural aphrodisiac for women, as shown by this study, and for men, as studied here.
It is a spice that deliciously enhances many recipes. It can also be drunk as an infusion.
