Dr.Joe's Data Base

Looking for a Libido Lift?
The Facts About Aphrodisiacs

by Tamar Nordenberg

The moon is nothing
But a circumambulating aphrodisiac
Divinely subsidized to provoke the world
Into a rising birth-rate
--from A Sleep of Prisoners by Christopher Fry

[reputed aphrodisiacs] In the pursuit of sexual success and fertility,
the moon, and everything under it, has been
touted as an aphrodisiac by some person or culture. Love potion peddlers
stop at nothing to sell their sexual wares. "I'll make you the same promise
that my wife made to me," says Theodore Maximillian in the provocative
brochure for his "Maxim" product. "I'm going to cure your impotence
immediately!" Maxim "acts as a potent aphrodisiac," according to the
advertisement.

An aphrodisiac is a food, drink, drug, scent, or device that, promoters
claim, can arouse or increase sexual desire, or libido. A broader
definition includes products that improve sexual performance. Named after
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty, the list of
supposed sexual stimulants includes anchovies and adrenaline, licorice and
lard, scallops and Spanish fly, and hundreds of other items.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the reputed sexual effects
of so-called aphrodisiacs are based in folklore, not fact. In 1989, the
agency declared that there is no scientific proof that any over-the-counter
aphrodisiacs work to treat sexual dysfunction.

Countering Cultural Views

FDA's findings clash with a 5,000-year tradition of pursuing sexual
betterment through use of plants, drugs and magic. Despite FDA's
determination that OTC aphrodisiacs are ineffective--and sometimes even
dangerous--people continue the optimistic quest for drug-induced sexual
success.

Several principles help demystify some cultural views about aphrodisiacs.
Sometimes the reason for an item's legendary reputation is obvious. It's
easy to imagine how the sex organs of animals such as goats and rabbits,
known for their procreativeness, have achieved their esteemed status as
love aids in some cultures.

Chilies, curries, and other spicy foods have been viewed as aphrodisiacs
because their physiological effects--a raised heart rate and sometimes
sweating--are similar to the physical reactions experienced during sex. And
some foods were glorified as aphrodisiacs based on their rarity and
mystery. While chocolate was once considered the ultimate aphrodisiac, the
reputation wore off as it became commonly available.

Many ancient peoples believed in the so-called "law of similarity,"
reasoning that an object resembling genitalia may possess sexual powers.
Ginseng, rhinoceros horn, and oysters are three classical examples.

The word ginseng means "man root," and the plant's reputation as an
aphrodisiac probably arises from its marked similarity to the human body.
Ginseng has been looked on as an invigorating and rejuvenating agent for
centuries in China, Tibet, Korea, Indochina, and India. The root may have a
mild stimulant action, like coffee. There have been some experiments
reporting a sexual response in animals treated with ginseng, but there is
no evidence that ginseng has an effect on human sexuality.

The similarity of the shape of the rhinoceros horn to the penis is credited
for its worldwide reputation as a libido enhancer. The horn contains
significant amounts of calcium and phosphorus. The addition of the food to
a deficient diet could improve general physical vigor and possibly lead to
an increased sexual interest. But in most Americans' diets, which are
usually not lacking calcium or phosphorus, the small quantities usually
consumed would not affect physical performance.

Because Aphrodite was said to be born from the sea, many types of seafood
have reputations as aphrodisiacs. Oysters are particularly esteemed as sex
aids, possibly gaining their reputation at a time when their contribution
of zinc to the nutritionally deficient diets of the day could improve
overall health and so lead to an increased sex drive.

Shortage of Studies

There is no proof that ginseng, rhinoceros horn, or oysters have an effect
on human sexual reaction. But might some foods and OTC drugs eventually be
proven to affect sexual appetite? Some big obstacles exist to answering
this question. The placebo effect is one scientific stumbling block.

"The mind is the most potent aphrodisiac there is," says John Renner,
founder of the Consumer Health Information Research Institute (CHIRI).
"It's very difficult to evaluate something someone is taking because if you
tell them it's an aphrodisiac, the hope of a certain response might
actually lead to an additional sexual reaction."

Because the psychological complications are absent in animals, some studies
have been done on the effect of certain drugs on animals' sexual activity.
One substance that was tested extensively in animals is yohimbine. Obtained
from the bark of an African tree, yohimbine has been used for centuries in
Africa and West India for its supposed aphrodisiac properties. It
supposedly works by stimulating the nerve centers in the spine that control
erection. FDA called the results of preliminary animal studies
"encouraging," but animal studies cannot be relied on to show the
effectiveness of the drug in humans.

In people, the only available evidence is anecdotal and subjective. To
scientifically measure sexual stimulation, a valid human study would have
to be performed in the laboratory, comparing a placebo (an inert pill with
no active ingredients) to the test aphrodisiac. Preferably, neither the
researchers nor the patients would know who was getting the test substance.
Because of cultural taboos, few such studies have been undertaken.

A second obstacle to obtaining proof of aphrodisiac effects is that some
drugs may not actually have specific sexual effects, but may change a
person's mood and therefore seem to be an aphrodisiac. For example, alcohol
has been called a "social lubricant." People drink for many reasons,
including to relax, reduce anxiety, gain self-confidence, and overcome
depression. Because sexual problems can be caused or worsened by
psychological stress, moderate drinking might seem like a sexual enhancer.
In fact, it merely lessens inhibitions.

Alcohol is actually a depressant, and so, as the porter in Shakespeare's
Macbeth observed, it "provokes the desire, but it takes away the
performance." And drinking too much actually decreases desire.

No Quick Fix

Despite the lack of scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness, the
fraudulent OTC love potion industry thrives to this day. Marketers use a
"blatant snake-oil approach," according to CHIRI's Renner. He estimates
that the aphrodisiac sellers, who do much of their business by mail-order,
take in revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

FDA sends warning letters to companies that make aphrodisiac claims,
stating that the agency may take further regulatory action if the
violations continue. "In the health fraud area, when they get a warning
letter, most people take their profits and run," says Joel Aronson,
director of FDA's division of nontraditional drugs. "They don't want to get
into a legal battle with the agency because it could involve protracted,
expensive litigation."

Aphrodisiac experimentation isn't just a rip-off--it can be deadly. Spanish
fly, or cantharides, is probably the most legendary aphrodisiac--and the
most dangerous. Made from dried beetle remains, the reported sexual
excitement from Spanish fly comes from the irritation to the urogenital
tract and a resultant rush of blood to the sex organs. But Spanish fly is a
poison that burns the mouth and throat and can lead to genitourinary
infections, scarring of the urethra, and even death.

To avoid being taken for their money or their lives, individuals with
sexual problems should seek a physician's advice. A lack of sexual energy
or ability in men or women could be caused by something as simple as stress
or a medication one is taking, or as serious as an underlying condition
like diabetes or high blood pressure.

A doctor can diagnose a sexual problem and recommend treatment. If
necessary, a doctor can prescribe a drug to treat sexual dysfunction.
Testosterone replacement therapy is one prescription option for men whose
natural testosterone level is not within the normal range, but its serious
potential side effects call for a physician's supervision. For those with
an impotence problem that isn't caused by low testosterone levels, the new
"Caverject" injection may be the answer.

"People will continue to have false hopes of finding easy ways of resolving
their problems," says Aronson. And so the hunt for the elusive love drug
persists. A universal aphrodisiac may never be found, but experts agree
that what's good for your overall health is probably good for your sex life
too.

A good diet and a regular exercise program are a more dependable path to
better sex than are goats' eyes, deer sperm, and frogs' legs. A good mental
state is equally important.

Maybe the wishful search for a cure-all drug should be abandoned in favor
of an easier, more reliable mechanism: the erotic stimulation of one's own
imagination. To quote renowned sex expert "Dr. Ruth" Westheimer, Ed.D.:
"The most important sex organ lies between the ears."

Tamar Nordenberg is a lawyer with the Office of the Director in FDA's
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

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First Impotence Drug

For the 10 million to 20 million American men who suffer from impotence,
the Food and Drug Administration's July 6, 1995, approval of Upjohn
Company's prescription drug Caverject (alprostadil) may prove to be
life-altering. Caverject is the first prescription drug approved for
impotence, and is expected to successfully treat 70 to 80 percent of
patients.

The drug provides an alternative to devices previously approved by FDA. A
vacuum device involves placing a cylinder-like device and attached pump
over the penis. By using the pump, blood is drawn into the penis, creating
an erection. A constriction band is then placed at the base of the penis to
maintain erection. A second treatment option, the penile implant, involves
the surgical placement of cylinders in the penis and is available in a
variety of designs. (See "Inflatable Penile Implants Under Scrutiny" in the
January-February 1994 FDA Consumer.)

FDA approved Caverject to treat impotence caused by neurological, vascular
or psychological dysfunction. While psychological factors such as anxiety
and depression can lead to sexual dysfunction, more than 85 percent of
impotence cases have a physical cause, according to the Impotence Institute
of America. A complete physical examination is important so that any
underlying condition can be diagnosed and treated. Some common causes of
impotence are diabetes, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and
high blood pressure. Also, impotence has reportedly been caused by 16 of
the 200 most commonly prescribed drugs, including drugs for high blood
pressure, heart disease, and depression.

Caverject is self-injected into the penis shortly before sexual
intercourse. The drug creates an erection by relaxing the smooth muscle
tissue and dilating the major artery in the penis, which enhances the blood
flow to the penis.

The drug's most common side effect is penile pain. Other side effects
include bleeding at the injection site and an unhealthy, prolonged erection
of four to six hours.
--T.N.

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FDA Consumer magazine (January-February 1996)