Compiled off the web for informational purpose only ...
Herbs - what can they really do for you? Here's a list detailing the benefits many herbs claim to provide.
AGRIMONY: Used for all digestive disorders.
ALFALFA: Good source of carotene; useful in reducing fevers; acts as a blood purifier.
ALOE: Helps heal any kind of sore on the outside of the body. Used as a remedy for hemorrhoids.
ANGELICA ROOT: Strengthens the heart. Regular users of Angelica Root supposedly develop a distaste for alcoholic beverages.
ASTRAGALUS: An energizer, useful for keeping the body warm.
BARBERRY BARK: Promotes the secretion of bile. Has been used for bad breath, digestion, and sore throat.
BEE POLLEN: Known as a "100% Nutritionally Balanced Food." Aids in general good health.
BILBERRY LEAF: Said to strengthen capillaries that feed eye muscles and nerves. Increases night vision, reduces eye fatigue.
BLACK COHOSH: Helps to regulate menstrual flow and reduce menstrual cramps.
BLUE VIOLET: Relieves severe headaches and congestion.
BROMELAIN: Said to flush fat from the body by naturally stimulating your metabolism and ridding your body of excess fluids.
BUCHU LEAF: A diuretic. Used for acute and chronic bladder and kidney disorders.
BUCKTHORN BARK: Keeps the bowels regular.
CASCARA SAGRADA BARK: Remedy for chronic constipation.
CORNSILK: Useful for trouble with the prostate gland.
CRANBERRY: Keeps your kidneys clean.
DAMIANA LEAF: Helps with sexual impotency and fertility for both male and female.
DANDELION LEAF & ROOT: Detoxifies any poisons in the liver.
ECHINACEA ROOT: Works especially well in glandular infections and ailments. Used to treat strep throat.
FENNEL SEED: Remedy for gas, acid stomach, gout, cramps and spasms.
FEVERFEW HERB: Said to work wonders in fighting migraines.
GARLIC: Garlic is called "Nature's Antibiotic."
GINGER ROOT: Everyone is familiar with this spice, but few realize it can make us healthier. Stimulates the circulatory system; a remedy for a sore throat; has a cleansing effect on the kidneys and bowels.
GINGKO BILOBA: Research studies indicate that the use of Ginkgo Biloba can help improve blood circulation to the brain. This can help memory and reaction time. Good for Alzheimers and senility, chronic ringing in the ears, arthritis, and rheumatism.
GINSENG ROOT: Chinese call Ginseng a cure-all. Said to build resistance against stress, both mental and physical. Has been considered by many to slow the aging process.
GOLDENSEAL: Remedy for scores of ailments. Bladder infections, bronchitis, cankers, coughs, colds, earaches, inflammations , mouth sores, mucous membranes, nasal passages, ulcers, and more.
GOTA KOLA: Known as a "memory herb." Stimulates circulation to the brain.
HAWTHORN: Used to strengthen and regulate the heart. Good for people under stress.
HOPS FLOWER: Valuable for those with insomnia.
HORSETAIL: Rich in minerals, especially silica. Helps strengthen fingernails and hair, good for split ends.
KAVA KAVA ROOT: Will induce sleep and help calm nervousness.
KELP: Has a high content of natural plant iodine for proper function of the thyroid. Iodine also helps fight infection.
LECITHIN: Known to break up cholesterol, allowing it to pass through arterial walls. Lecithin promotes a healthy nervous system.
LICORICE ROOT: This herb works as a mild laxative.
MULLEIN LEAF: High in iron, magnesium and potassium. Good for the entire respiratory system.
MYRRH GUM: Cleans the colon and digestive system. Has been called the herbal breath freshener.
NETTLE LEAF: This herb, in combination with seawrack, is said to bring results in weight loss. Also enhances the natural color of hair.
PASSION FLOWER: Pure and natural mild sedative. Calms nerves and blood pressure.
RED CLOVER: Purifies the blood.
SARSAPARILLA ROOT: Acts as a diuretic. Helps to balance both male and female hormones.
SASSAFRAS LEAF & ROOT: Helps skin disorders, especially ailments such as acne.
SAW PALMETTO BERRY: Improve prostate health.
SCULLCAP: A nerve sedative. Said to be a great hangover remedy.
SEAWRACK: Supposed to be one of the best herbs to combat obesity.
SLIPPERY ELM BARK: Used to normalize bowel movement, and has been used beneficially to treat hemorrhoids and constipation.
SPIKENARD: Herb for skin ailments such as acne and rashes.
ST. JOHN'S WORT: Used as a blood purifier; recent research suggests it can alleviate depression.
THYME LEAF: Removes mucus from the head, lungs and respiratory passages. Fights infection. Brings pain relief to migraine headaches.
VALERIAN ROOT: Calming, promotes sleep; good for entire circulatory system.
VERVAIN: Remedy for fevers. Said to clear a cold overnight.
WHITE OAK BARK: Strong astringent. One of the best herbs for piles and hemorrhoids.
WILD YAM ROOT: Very relaxing and soothing to the nerves.
YARROW ROOT: Said to be unsurpassed for flu and fever reduction.
YOHIMBE: Acts as a natural aphrodisiac for both men and women.
YUCCA ROOT: Reduces inflammation of the joints.
To learn more about herbal aphrodisiacs and remedies click these links.
1. Aphrodisiacs that look like body parts. There are a variety of foods that look like female or male genitalia. Eating one of these foods is supposed to stimulate the libido, but I would imagine watching someone eat them might be fun as well. Asparagus, bananas, cucumbers and zucchini all look like penises. Grapes and melons also fall on the list of fruits with aphrodisiac qualities, perhaps because they look like breasts. Some edible flowers look like vulvas, and a remarkable fruit called coco-de-mer looks startlingly like female genitalia, right down to the labia majora and minora. Unfortunately, the tree that produces the fruit only flowers once every 100 years. Oh well.
Aphrodisiac that looks like a scrotum or anus, but who knows?
2. Aphrodisiacs that directly stimulate the body. Peppers and chiles are often considered aphrodisiacs because they create a burning sensation on the tongue that many people find erotically stimulating. One of the most infamous aphrodisiacs that works this way is Spanish fly.
Spanish fly is actually dried, pulverized beetle called Lytta vesicatoria. Spanish fly is supposed to entice those who ingest it into sexual activity. Unfortunately, Spanish fly and other preparations with cantharidin, the active ingredient, are highly toxic. The way that Spanish fly works in non-toxic quantities is by producing a burning taste in the mouth much like chiles. It also irritates the urogenital tract, and the burning sensation in the urine after ingestion may feel like sexual stimulation to some. It is probably a good idea to steer clear of Spanish fly, because you will either get ripped off buying something that calls itself "Spanish fly" but is not, or you will do some serious gastrointestinal damage. Neither option sounds very appealing.
Stimulants can cause some of the same physiological reactions as sexual excitement, such as elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Dilation of the blood vessels caused by stimulants can also cause a rush of blood to the genital area, making it more sensitive. Hence, stimulants such as yohimbe (also yohimbine), ginseng or even a cup of joe can put you in the mood for a bit of the mattress mambo.
A lot of people just become jittery under the influence of stimulants, though, and often they are not interested in any sort of sexual activity. With most stimulants, there seems to be a tendency for the body to build up a tolerance to the substance as frequency of use increases. You may have noticed this with caffeine; for veteran coffee-drinkers, one cup just does not have the same effect anymore.
Yohimbe is sometimes recommended to increase the frequency of erections, but has more side effects than the better publicized drug Viagra. Yohimbe can cause nausea and vomiting, and its potency varies with the brand purchased and the method of preparation. According to www.yohimbe.org, yohimbe does not increase blood pressure; on the contrary, yohimbe overdose can lead to dangerously low blood pressure. The yohimbe Web site suggests taking less than half the recommended dosage if you have never tried the supplement before.
3. Aphrodisiacs that alter the mind. Mind-altering substances like alcohol and marijuana tend to lower inhibitions and may therefore promote sexual activity. Alcohol is often called a "social lubricant" for its well known ability to make people engage in activities that they might avoid if they were sober. In large quantities, though, alcohol can impair sexual function.
Aphrodisiac is basically anything that makes you horny, outside of a person or specific sexual activity. There are many substances that qualify as aphrodisiacs but do not fit into the neat categories above. The different textures, tastes and smells of foods, herbs and spices can elicit a sexual response depending on personal experience. The strong odors that emanate from onions and garlic make them classic aphrodisiacs, as does the slimy feel of peeled mangoes and raw oysters. Exotic foods like ripe figs, dates and rich chocolate stimulate the senses in a pleasant way, too.
Do they work? That's up to you to decide. As corny as it sounds, the mind is the most powerful aphrodisiac. The placebo experienced when you use something that you really believe is an aphrodisiac is stronger than most actual effects caused by the substances I have talked about here. Happy exploring!
Compiled off the web for information purpose only.
