In case any reader does not know what an aphrodisiacs is, it is a substance which is used as a result of a belief that it increases the sexual desire of the consumer. The name 'Aphrodisiac' actually comes from Aphrodite who is the Greek goddess of 'sensuality and love'. I have always been a little intrigued by aphrodisiacs, and have even tried some before as a result of that curiosity. If I am honest, they didn't work on me at all, probably because I don't have any trouble 'getting in the mood' anyway - well either that or it is just a load of bullshit. But I do have some friends that swear by the things and this hub will talk you through herbal aphrodisiacs and food aphrodisiacs, these are actually themselves split into two categories - one for each gender; therefore you will see that I have added a section for male aphrodisiacs and female aphrodisiacs. Only natural aphrodisiacs are covered in this article, as I personally believe that people should seek natural solutions to any problem before risking damage to their bodies. I hope that you enjoy!

There are a number of Aphrodisiacs that are believed by many to enhance the sexual desire of men but not women. So if your a man looking to boost his sex drive for an important dinner date, or just generally, then this section will give you a quick run through the most famous male Aphrodisiacs. If you are a woman who wishes to seduce a certain special man, then your best best is to peruse my article 'The Best Food Aphrodisiacs'.

• Horny Goat Weed: I just had to get this one out of the way quickly! Yes believe it or not, the wise Chinese men that found this weed hundreds or thousands of years ago actually did call it 'Horny Goat Weed' - at least the Chinese language equivalent. The story goes like this.... a Chinese goat herder took his goats to a field full of this weed, they ate lots of it, and his goats starting bonking like mad! In fact, an extract from this plant is actually being used in the medical profession for erectile dysfunction treatments.... I guess that this one may actually work!
• Ginseng: Ginseng is another Chinese discovery and has been used in China for a number of purposes for thousands of years, although there is no hilarious story to be told about this one; they clearly got lost in time. Ginseng has become one of the best selling herbs in North America and Asia, and is also to be found throughout Europe. Ginseng is one of the few herbal Aphrodisiacs to have been backed by a credible scientific study, with the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine finding that Ginseng enhanced the libido of all sorts of animals. I have used this one, it did absolutely nothing for me whatsoever, but I am no scientist......
• Tongkat Ali:Yet another Asian male Aphrodisiac, this time a tree which is native to Indonesia, Malaysia and in some parts of Thailand. Such is its reputation that it has been nicknamed by westerners as 'The Asian Viagra'. Tongkat Ali has long been used in erectile dysfunction treatments as it is believed to possess properties that enhance testosterone; as a result it is also a popular natural supplement for sports people such as bodybuilders. When buying Tongkat Ali you should be looking for an extract ratio of between 20:1 and 100:1, anything claiming an extract ratio of up to 200:1 may have been produced using chemicals; this may be fine with some people, but that is against the ethos of this particular hub!
• Muira Puama: Muira Puama is a flowering plant native to South America, particularly the Rio Negro area. Indigenous people in this area of South America are believed to have used this plant for thousands of years for various ailments; but it is becoming popular in the developed world as a herbal treatment for male sexual dysfunction. Scientific research on the plant has not been too conclusive, although early scientific belief is that the plant could well induce stimulation.
• Yohimbine: The Yohimbine is an evergreen tree which is native to several countries in Western Africa and its bark extracts are widely promoted throughout the world, and online, as a natural aphrodisiac and an effective treatment of erectile dysfunction. Various scientific tests have shown some improved sexual performance in animals, and has been shown to improve the likely hood of an orgasm for men with, well, men with problems having an orgasm.

Much is made of men losing their sex drives through a number of different reasons, but we forget that many women have very stressful lives and sex can be the last things on their mind for long periods of time. Herbal Aphrodisiacs for Women perhaps haven't had the same prominence and publicity of the male alternatives, but they are very much out there. Here is a short list of the best female aphrodisiacs.

• Ginseng: You may notice that I had already listed Ginseng as a Male Aphrodisiac, and that is because the substance is believed to have benefits for both males and females; making it handy for any couples that wish to try natural Aphrodisiacs together. Although the web is full of people trying to sell you Ginseng, I will tell you what the ancient Chinese believed... which is that Ginseng aids the mental clarity and relaxing you emotionally, giving your brain and body the chance to experience sexual thoughts and emotions and igniting sexual vitality.
• Rehmannia: Rehmannia is another Chinese herb (anybody would think that Ancient China was sex mad) which is considered an effective Aphrodisiac for women. It is believed to fix the functions of your organs and stimulate your sex glands and reproductive organs, thus not only boosting your libido but also helping to enhance your fertility. Today it is used more in China as an aid to constipation!
• Mucuna: Macuna is also known as 'Velvet Bean' because, well it is a velvety bean! It is scientifically proven to induce dopamine, which in turn is scientifically proven to significantly improve the sexual function of both males and females. Traditionally the dose would be about 15 grams of ground seed mixed with everyday cows milk, but the substance is available in various forms including a coffee like mixture or in a pill form.
• Wild Yam: Wild Yam is believed to balance the hormone level of females and result in a healthier sex drive. Wild Yam is actually the only Aphrodisiac in this entire article which is natural to North America. The qualities of this plant are used in the production of contraceptives, medical grade treatments for morning sickness, used to treat infertility and to assist with menstrual distress. It is simply a woman's super drug!