Historically, lots of foods were identified as aphrodisiacs because something about them was reminiscent of the male or female genitals. It sounds superstitious, and in some ways, it was—but there’s also a little bit more to the story. The Doctrine of Signatures is an old-time idea that similar shapes, smells, colors, and structures from one organism to the next were clues of a kind of resonance or harmony between those two things. Some of this has turned out to be scientifically unsupported, but in other cases science has found that some of these “signatures” really do make sense. For example, walnuts resemble the shape of the human brain—and they also have healthy fats that are particularly helpful for keeping the brain healthy and free from depression & dementia.
If you feel turned on after eating asparagus or figs—great! But I prefer to think about aphrodisiac herbs in a different way. I look at herbs that help the body relax into a parasympathetic (“feed and breed”) state—-and herbs that stimulate the senses and the circulation.
Try Relaxing Aphrodisiacs First
Here are the ones I mention in the episode:
Lobelia inflata
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Kava (Piper mephisticum)
A few Stimulating Aphrodisiacs:
Cardamom and Ginger
Chocolate
Damiana
Epimedium (Horny goat weed!)
Supporting a Woman’s Sexual Response:
The most common challenges that come up for the women I work with around their sexuality and pleasure include trauma (sometimes rape, abuse, or incest, but often the cumulative effects of street harassment, media messaging, or bad sexual experiences), difficulty relaxing and being present, and not having enough natural lubrication to enjoy intercourse.
Some things that can help (that I describe in the episode) include:
Yin tonics
Yoni balm
Adequate sleep and rest
Herbs that promote relaxation
Foreplay
Supporting a Man’s Sexual Response:
Erectile dysfunction (and anxiety about it) is one of the biggest obstacles that can get in the way of men’s sexual enjoyment. I’m not a men’s health expert, but I can talk about the basics that you need to know if you or someone you love is dealing with ED. The first place to look is to make sure that a relaxation response is present. If a man is in “fight or flight” mode, his body will divert bloodflow away from the genitals and back toward the muscles. This is where the mind/body connection comes into play in a big way. If he’s feeling stressed and anxious about whether or not he can get an erection, it’s all-the-more likely that it will be difficult for his body to relax and for arousal to happen. It’s a catch-22. The good news is that the relaxation-promoting herbs can really help with this. So can sensual contact that’s not “goal oriented” (take the pressure off for him to need to perform sexually.)
The second thing to do is to check on his cholesterol levels. The blood vessels that lead to the genitals can be affected by artery-clogging atherosclerosis and arterial plaques—just like the heart can be. Often, erectile dysfunction is the first sign that a man may have atherosclerosis and narrowing of the arteries. Switching to a plant-based diet, dramatically increasing consumption of fruits, green veggies, and foods rich in soluble fiber like oatmeal & apples can help to actually reverse this damage and not only restore erectile function but also protect his heart. Garlic is a wonderful herb to help with this, too!
