ABC of aphrodisiac plants
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As going green is all the rage and getting back to nature are all the rage, it’s time to boost your sexuality with a selection of these little aphrodisiac-filled plants in infusions, decoctions and salads.
Here’s a small A-Z of the best aphrodisiac plants with advice from Dr Jacques Labescat.
Angelica: Thanks to its antioxidant substances like flavonoids and coumarins (valuable natural substances which protect cells), angelica will improve or kick-start your libido. It gives you back that dynamism and sexual energy.
The key to pleasure: In infusion. Put 40g of fresh angelica leaves and flowers in 1 litre of boiling water and leave the mixture to infuse off the heat for 10 minutes. Dosage: 2 to 3 cups a day. In capsules: take 1 to 2 capsules a day.
Ginger: This strong spice, which literally means ‘virility’, has a remarkable effect on the genitals. The root of this plant, which originates from India and China, is eaten. It stimulates a strong rush of blood and expansion in the penis, guaranteeing an erection.
The key to pleasure: Soak 200g of chopped ginger root in 1 litre of champagne for 12 hours in an airtight jar. Drink one glass per day.
Hops: This powerful natural hormone remedy is an oestrogenic stimulant. The richness of these substances in the hop plant means it has a considerable stimulating effect on ovarian function. On the other hand, for a man, its virtues are anaphrodisiac. While the hop plant makes bread rise, it has a rather deflating effect on male sexual functions.
The key to pleasure: To stimulate ovaries, take a hop plant capsule morning and night for 7 days. Be careful not to take more than this.
Nasturtium: Its fiery, sulphurous qualities are widely reputed to improve sexual performance. Its richness in certain substances, like vitamins and sulphur, gives nasturtium its stimulating, aphrodisiac properties. This plant is recommended for those who want to stay looking younger longer.
The key to pleasure: In a salad. Nasturtium flowers and young leaves go perfectly with chicory and lettuce, picking out the flavour of romaine lettuce in particular. For a burst of aphrodisiac nutrients chew the leaves of this plant, which will leave a peppery taste in your mouth.
Pomegranate: While no main active aphrodisiac substance has been identified in pomegranate, it still has a reputation for being full of fire. In Tibet, it is used in making a pill for desire and pleasure. It is however a proven strong anthelmintic, so getting the right dosage is important.
The key to pleasure: Soak 50g of pomegranate skin along with the root in ½ litre of water for 24 hours, and then boil the mixture. Drink a small glass both morning and evening for 7 days.
Saffron: This valued spice possesses proven aphrodisiac qualities. Its reputation dates from old Egyptian medical papyruses. The Greeks were already using saffron in massage oil while the Romans were plunging into saffron baths. Equally valued by women, saffron acts on the uterus, aiding contractions.
The key to pleasure: In infusion. Leave 7g of saffron strands in a litre of boiling water for 15 minutes. Drink a cup every day for around 10 days.
Sage: In Egypt, lazy husbands were dosed up with sage. Originating in the eastern Mediterranean, sage is very rich in certain hormones and strongly stimulates the glands, especially the suprarenal glands. Its oestrogenic action is equally good for women with low libido.
The key to pleasure: In infusion. Plunge 20g of sage flowers and leaves into 1 litre of boiled water and leave it to infuse for 10 minutes. Have three cups a day. Capsules: take one at midday and one in the evening.
Savory: Mostly commonly called ‘summer savory’, this is a small plant known also as the ‘satyr of the mountains’ (Satureia Montana) in Latin. Ovid spoke of this herb in his work The Art of Love and it was even forbidden in the gardens of monasteries long ago. Its properties as a drug essentially surround the plant’s stimulating effect on the suprarenal glands…
The key to pleasure: In infusion. Put 1 tablespoon of savory into a cup of boiling water. Drink a cup 2 or 3 times a day.
Tribulus terrestris: This plant originally comes from India and has gradually spread throughout the Mediterranean. A natural remedy version of Viagra, it stimulates the production of the hormone responsible for libido: and is excellent for erection problems. It can also be very effective for menopausal women. Its secret has been kept for a long time, but it can now be found all over sports locker rooms, where it is favoured for its boosting effect.
The key to pleasure: In a tea infusion or decoction. Leave one tablespoon of Tribulus to boil for 5 minutes. Then leave it to infuse for 10 minutes. Have 2 to 3 cups a day.
Catherine Maillard
More information:
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