What is an Aphrodisiac?

Aphrodisiacs are a class of compounds either natural or synthetic that increase both the desire and ability for sexual activity.

In this article we’ll highlight over 30 (and counting) herbal aphrodisiacs, including how they work, and where they originate.

Classifying Herbal Aphrodisiacs

There are six main classes of herbal aphrodisiacs — organized by their general mechanism of action.

1. Aromatic Aphrodisiacs — work through volatile oils of plants to activate the limbic system of the brain

2. Adaptogenic Aphrodisiacs — work by promoting optimal health to promote our natural desire to procreate

3. Nutritional Aphrodisiacs — work by providing the raw materials to build sex hormones and other compounds related to procreation

4. Sexual stimulants — work by directly stimulating one or more processes involved with sexual desire or function

5. Nervine aphrodisiacs — work through the nervous system, usually via the vagus nerve which controls our reproductive organs

6. Energetic aphrodisiacs — these are the traditional aphrodisiacs that are explained through energetic medical systems