Aphrodisiacs, Love Potions and their Place in History
Aphrodisiacs have always had their place in history, whether it was to arouse the courtesans of Genghis Khan, an offering to Aphrodite, cultivation of longevity for the Aztecs, or to invoke your wildest erotic desires from the Kama Sutra. Legend has it that cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, pepper, saffron, and vanilla were forbidden during medieval times because they were often used in love potions.
Alison M Downham Moore, Associate Professor in modern European history at Western Sydney University says “Until the advent of modern vaccines, no medical product has been more widely traded throughout world history than aphrodisiacs.”
There is no doubt that food stimulates the body in different ways and invokes sensations of well-being, energy, inspiration and can stir the creative life force within us. Foods that take the shape of our anatomy have also been known to be visually stimulating and evoke sexual arousal.
What makes me curious about aphrodisiacs is a desire to understand how our physiology can use these foods to restore our sense of health and vitality. It’s no surprise that such foods also balance hormones, increase our energy and stamina and improve our mood and mental health. Sexual pleasure, whether with a partner or alone has great health benefits on many levels. Our bodies can also produce their own love potions, or arousal fluids, that have historically been coveted as tonics for longevity, cellular restoration and to restore our natural glow and zest for life.
So what herbs can help bring all this about? The signature Noorish Love Potion that we used to make behind the bar at Noorish was loaded with some of these traditional and modern aphrodisiacs, and is now available for a limited time. Click here for more info!
Schizandra
Traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a tonic to improve vitality. It’s known as the 5-flavour berry. It is loaded with Vitamin C and E and is often recognized for its skin beautifying properties, among many other things.
He Shou Wu
Another coveted herb in Chinese medicine used as a powerful yin tonic to support the liver and kidneys. Rich in antioxidents, it supports anti-aging and improving vitality, virility and sexual potency as well as preventing premature grey hair. It has been known to unlock channels of the heart and spirit and has a calming effect.
Cistanche
Commonly known as desert ginseng, cistanche has been found to have many bioactive compounds that improve neurological function and heal complex nervous system diseases. It is antiviral, anti-oxidative, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor and immune boosting. It’s also known for its aphrodisiac properties as it is said to increase naturally-occurring testosterone levels in the body.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha, also referred to as Indian ginseng, is an Adaptogenic Ayurvedic herb that has been used for centuries in India to manage stress, promote normal sleep patterns, improve memory and cognition, balance blood sugar, increase libido and restore the endocrine and immune systems.
Maca
Maca, a cruciferous root vegetable grown in the high Peruvian Andes, has been recognized as a hormone balancer as well as an energy, stamina and libido enhancer. It has also been known to increase fertility, mood and memory. It is an all-round superfood loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.