OVERVIEW:
Now leh we take this opportunity to go back in time on a different topic; leh we just drop all myths or if yuh story work share the ole talk. Allyuh eh think ah Trini should have invented Viagra? ah mean look at all the type of enhancement 'herbs', stimulants we had in the past? I am inviting the readers to share some of the local stories. Funny thing how different cultures had versions of various alleged potency stimulants. Yuh see to me( this is not from personal experience), Viagra is a North American stimulant in as much as we had various beliefs from our society somebody invented this wonder pill and now it fully marketed. Now why was never of our local potency beliefs ever marketed? ah mean man use to boast about the power of its magic.
My Initial story:
As a young boy ah remember the first story ah heard of was the potency affiliated with drinking ah Guinness. That was the first drink ah ever ordered from a rum shop. Next ah heard of was potency associated with Oysters. Yes ah use to take meh oysters after school. Funny ah never ever really tested the theory to see if better potency ever resulted from the taking of those substances? what allyuh think?
The TASK:
Later on in life ah heard about turtle soup; and using 'blue stone'. But ehehe it funny eh ah never heard of women having to use these stimulants?
BELIEFS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES:
"Traditionally, tongkat ali has been a plant found throughout Southeast Asia. In Vietnam it is regarded a cure-all. In sex-crazy Thailand, men have used it as a virility tonic for centuries. And in Malaysia, it has been harvested heavily to be sold in the US."
"Yohimbe is the name of the bark of a tall evergreen tree in western Africa known as Pausinystalia yohimbe or Corynanthe yohimbe. Yohimbe bark has been used for centuries in some western African nations for sexual enhancement. "
Now it have some more but now ah go let allyuh reveal allyuh stories. TAKE IT AWAY.
To support my thinking, here is an article about the alleged beliefs around certain food products:
IS FOOD SEXY? BY Caroline Coombs
Henry Kissinger once said "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac," but he could have saved himself some trouble if only he had helped himself to a bowl of celery soup and a Hershey bar.
Throughout history the quest for the ultimate libido lifter has never ceased. Aphrodisiacs, defined as any "food, drink, drug, scent, or device that can arouse or increase sexual desire or libido" are appropriately named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love, beauty, and desire (1). The faith in aphrodisiacs has been so staunch that in the 17th century it was forbidden for monks in France to drink chocolate on account of its supposed amatory properties (2).
Documented sexual stimulants range from fish to artichokes, but you don't need a meal of caviar and champagne to whet your lover's amatory appetite; some aphrodisiac recipes as simple as celery soup could invigorate your sex life.
The reasoning behind the supposed sexually stimulating powers of different foods varies between cultures. In some countries aphrodisiacs gained their reputation through mistranslations over time.
For example, originally named "apple of the moors," the French translation of the common tomato was pomme d'amour, which in English means "love apple." At the time this rare delicacy was a sought-after love stimulant due to its red color, which indicates passion and excitement. However, once the tomato became plentiful and cheap in the 19th century, it was no longer considered an esteemed sex aid.
Additionally, vanilla attained its aphrodisiacal popularity from a linguistic origin. Once considered a powerful passion stimulant, vanilla is the diminutive of the Latin term vagina (2).
The appearance, rather than the name has attributed aphrodisiacal properties to some foods. In Britain, the Saxons believed in the Doctrine of Signatures which states "every plant that is of use to man has been marked by God in a way which reveals its intended use." Thus, phallic plants such as cucumbers, carrots, and ginseng are turned to for sexual success (3).
One such phallic food is the mandrake. Growing in the form of human limbs, the mandrake has been an esteemed aphrodisiac since Biblical times; its erotic effectiveness is even alluded to in Genesis 30 v. 15: "…Rachel said, He shall sleep with thee this night, for thy son's mandrakes…" (2).
This yellow fruit, which is the size of a plum, can be found in the Mediterranean area. Fable asserts that the magic mandrake is a root that grows in the form of male genitalia, glows in the dark, and lets out a mysterious shriek when pulled from the ground. It was used by witches in various so-called love potions during the Medieval era (3). Coincidentally or not, Aphrodite is also known as Madragoritis, She of the Mandrake (2).
Ancient Chinese culture claims that ginseng increases sexual potency. Its name is loosely translated as "man-like" and therefore by a belief similar to the Doctrine of Signatures, ginseng is thought to be a love stimulant.
Modern thought may dismiss ginseng's aphrodisiacal powers on these grounds, but research has actually shown an increased rate of ejaculation in male lab rats when fed ginseng. Furthermore, female rats that ingested ginseng were more responsive to the advances of the male rats. The root has also produced increased ovarian growth in frogs and enhanced egg laying in hens. More importantly, when tested in 133 humans, 22 reported a raise in blood pressure, facilitating the erectile process; 9 reported enhancement of sexual performance; and 93 experienced feelings of well-being (3).
The British Law of Similarity reasoned that if love and desire evoke feelings such as burning, sweating, fainting, and distraction, then any food that arouses the same feelings must produce love and desire (3). Examples may include chilies, curries, and other spicy foods.
Through this reasoning, Spanish Fly has become a well-known aphrodisiac. These "blister beetles" are found in the Mediterranean, Near East, and Britain. The active ingredient is cantharidin (hexahydro-3,7-dimethyl-4,4-epoxyisobenofuran-1,3-dione) which at a 3 mg dose is toxic and at a 32 mg dose can be lethal. When dried and crushed to a powder, Spanish Fly causes inflammation of the stomach and bowls, difficult and bloody urine, severe cramps, burning in the mouth and throat, vomiting, and convulsions. However, relief from the irritation in the urinogenital tract can be attained through sex. To the disappointment of many, cantharidin is now most effectively used as a topical wart remover (3).
Despite this most recent use, history shows that Spanish Fly has served an actual sexual purpose. According to the Annals of Imperial Rome, Spanish Fly was used by Livia, Emperor Tiberius' mother, to make members of the imperial family commit sexual indiscretions that could be used against them. Also, Madame de Pompadour used Spanish Fly as a way to regain and maintain the sexual attention of King Luis XV (3).
More savory alternatives to Spanish Fly are nutmeg or cinnamon, whose aphrodisiacal properties are attributed to their exotic flavors. Both come from East Indian trees and are used as flavorings in sweets and puddings. However, in excess of two tablespoons, nutmeg can cause headache and dizziness for an hour followed by hallucinations for several days. The active ingredient causes psychedelic effects similar to LSD. Therefore nutmeg is a favorite desert flavoring among prisoners in both the UK and US for this reason (3).
Some love potions are considered aphrodisiacs on the grounds that they invigorate and augment sexual performance. This most likely can be attributed to a surge of needed sustenance, which may be lacking in a lethargic lover.
Vatsyayana's The Kama Sutra cites many recipes including milk, honey, eggs, and ghee (butter) to increase sexual vigor. For example, one concoction demands boiling the testicle of a goat or ram in milk and sugar, resulting in a liquor that increases sexual appetite. A more straightforward potion demands equal quantities of ghee, honey, sugar, and liquorice mixed with milk and the juice of fennel to lift libido. However, scientific research contends that this mixture is only effective in providing proteins and vitamins to a deficient diet. Therefore, its effects may only be felt by an undernourished person (3).
Another aid used in the pursuit of sexual betterment is Rhino horn, which is popular in Chinese and Korean culture. Apart from resembling an erect penis, it contains high quantities of calcium and phosphorus, which can revive a listless lover. Like those recipes found in The Kama Sutra, the aphrodisiac effects of Rhino Horn are only psychological to those who have a bad diet (3).
Egyptians, Romans and Greeks hounded the erotic properties of mushrooms. They believed mushrooms should never be cut when added to dishes in order to maintain their carnal powers. Mushrooms are high in albumen and glycogen, which is thought to increase sexual vigor. However, since many varieties of mushrooms are poisonous, great care should be taken in choosing them (4).
Fish is another food thought to be a powerful aphrodisiac for several reasons. First, the association that Aphrodite was born from the sea lends credence to this theory. Fish is also very rich in phosphorus which is a powerful stimulant causing violent and spontaneous erections. French doctors studied the effects of phosphorus in the 19th century and concluded that it increases venereal wants and acts as an energetic stimulant of the genital organs (4).
Though not effective in increasing sexual vigor, alcohol is used widely today because it is thought to increase amorous inclinations. As early as 800 BC ancient cultures were distilling beverages to create alcohol. Associated with loose sexual morals, alcohol is known to reduce anxiety, boost self-confidence, and promote desire (3).
Champagne is thought to be the most effective aphrodisiac of all alcohol because the carbon dioxide bubbles stimulate the palate. Additionally, it does not have the same sedative effects as other alcoholic drinks. Yet studies show that alcohol can actually delay orgasm in males but in females it produces relaxation and facilitates intercourse by its muscle-relaxant properties (3).
Although for thousands of years cultures of the world have developed recipes to increase venereal desire, according to the FDA, "The reputed sexual effects of so-called aphrodisiacs are based on folklore, not fact" (1). Harry E. Wedek's Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs even asserts "the efficacy of aphrodisiacs is often a matter of long-standing tradition, untested for validity, but wishfully handed down in oral legend and folktales, in magic rituals and old wives' lore, through the succession of the centuries" (2). Despite these assertions, many sexual optimists still believe that the best way to a person's heart is through his/her stomach.
However, before you count on the potency of aphrodisiacs, take into account the words of the Roman Seneca:
I will show you a philtre without potions
without herbs, without any witch's
incantation--if you wish to be loved, love.
