Unlikely Garden Aphrodisiacs - 2

You’d be surprised which of your average garden plants have been used throughout history for erotic purposes. But be warned, many of the plants that were once considered aphrodisiac are now known to be toxic – attempting to make home sex-potions could turn out to be fatal!

• Hops This herb was used to induce sleep when imbibed and to soothe VD in ointment form. and in modern times has been shown to stimulate estrogen levels in clinical research.
• Jasmine The flowers of this plant are fragrant, and are used in potpourri, tea and in relaxing massage oils.
• Juniper The berries of this evergreen are rich in vitamin C, and were also used as breath freshener, aromatic, and anti-flatulent.
• Lady's Mantle This was used to tighten and firm up sagging breasts and to help conception.
• Onion Was used to ‘increase the male seed‘.
• Orchids These very phallic flowers ‘provoke venury, strengthen the genital parts, and help conception‘ – yeah, right!
• Poppy The opium poppy, from which we get morphine and heroine, is powerfully narcotic. It was known to ‘induce immoderate mirth, stupidity, and sleep‘.
• Sage There are many varieties of this plant. Blue sage was used to treat VD, and is currently used as a main ingredient in turkey stuffing and pork sausage. Red sage has been shown to ‘produce a significant increase in episodes of penile erection and to enhance the orientation of male rats towards the female by increased anogenital investigatory behaviour, enhanced licking and grooming of the genitals, and increased mounting frequency. Ejaculation latency was also increased. The aphrodisiac and anxiolytic properties of this and various other compounds have been attributed to decreased brain serotonin synthesis and reduced turnover. Avicenna used to drink red sage tea every night as a ‘nerve tonic’.

Aphrodisiac 2 photograph by liberalmind1012, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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