No. 06 - Ginseng
Ginseng is an oft-used aphrodisiac in Asian cultures, but American researchers remain skeptical of its powers. Sure, ginseng means "man root," which certainly brings particular images to mind, and it has been shown to get animals aroused, but these results haven't been duplicated in studies with human subjects. If ginseng does have any aphrodisiac oomph, it might be due to the mild stimulation in energy that it can cause. After all, maybe the reason for your rut is a lack of lusty liveliness.
And just for fun, here's something you can pair your ginseng with: sparrow brains. Because Europeans considered sparrows to be exceptionally lustful birds, they made a point of eating their brains. If sparrows aren't your style, though, there are plenty of other products on this list to try.
No. 07 - Hot Peppers
Your heart is racing. Beads of sweat are starting to form. Blood is rushing through your body and you feel lightheaded.
Is it a response to a pretty girl or dreamboat guy walking into the room, or is it that Mexican food you just ate? The fact that spicy foods such as hot peppers mimic the sexual response has earned them a reputation as an aphrodisiac. As long as you're acting like you just had sex, you might as well have some, right? Sometimes extracts of cayenne and chilies are sold as an aphrodisiac, but the natural form is acceptable too.
Try a date at a restaurant with a hot and spicy menu, but try to refrain from jokes about "spicing things up." So far, no scientific studies have found bad jokes to be an aphrodisiac.
Here's an aphrodisiac NOT to try: Spanish fly, or the dried remains of beetles, has a long reputation as an aphrodisiac. Legend has it that Spanish fly draws blood to the sexual organs once it's excreted, but in actuality, it can burn the mouth, scar the urethra and kill a person (any of which may also kill the passion).
No. 08 - Yohimbe
Viagra is not an aphrodisiac by strict definition; presumably, your desire is already aroused if you're seeking out the little blue pill, and it's your performance that could use a little boost. However, many are interested in the properties of an herb called yohimbe, which has sometimes been marketed as an herbal Viagra.
The herb comes from the bark of a West African tree and has been shown to cause erections in men unable to achieve them. Yohimbe is thought to work by stimulating certain nerve centers in the spine that control erection and was approved for use in some prescription drugs.
However, if you receive a spam e-mail promising that an herbal supplement will do the job, be wary. In some instances, doctors say that the amount in over-the-counter products is not enough to do the job, and doubling up on doses won't help either -- too much yohimbe could result in death.
No. 09 - Pumpkin Pie
If you find yourself particularly amorous around Thanksgiving, it might be due to the dessert table. In studies conducted by the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, the scent of the Thanksgiving staple was found to increase penile blood flow by 40 percent. The scent was also found to increase sexual desire in women.
While the smell of pumpkin pie may conjure happy memories and a feeling of comfort and safety, it doesn't hurt that a few individual ingredients in the recipe help the process along. Cinnamon and vanilla have also been touted for their abilities as aphrodisiacs.
No. 10 - A Breast-feeding Woman
If what we see in romantic comedies is true, then there's nothing more arousing to a single woman than attending a wedding alone. As the movies would have it, every available man from that point might as well be wearing a gigantic bull's-eye.
But according to a 2004 study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago, the real aphrodisiac for women is the smell of a new mother and her baby. Women were given pads used by women while breastfeeding to smell. When smelling the pads used by lactating women, women who already had partners reported a dramatic increase in sexual desire, while single women experienced an increase in sexual fantasies. Smelling a fresh pad, untouched by mom or baby, did nothing for the women's sex drives
