What is an aphrodisiac?

Substances or methods with aphrodisiac effects mainly include five categories: natural food, plant extracts, sensory stimulation, psychological suggestion and moderate exercise. These methods work by regulating endocrine, promoting blood circulation or stimulating psychological desires, but the effects vary from person to person and safety needs to be paid attention to.

1. Natural food:

Oysters are rich in zinc, which can promote testosterone secretion, phenylethylamine in chocolate can stimulate a sense of pleasure, and capsaicin in peppers can accelerate blood circulation. This type of food indirectly affects sexual desire through nutritional supplements, but it needs to be taken in moderate amounts over a long period of time. Excessive consumption may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

2. Plant extracts:

Ginsenosides can improve sexual dysfunction, the alkaloids in maca regulate endocrine balance, and icariin has a hormone-like effect. Traditional Chinese medicinal materials need to be used according to syndrome differentiation. Wrong combination may cause heart palpitations or blood pressure fluctuations. It is recommended to take them under the guidance of a doctor.

3. Sensory stimulation:

Specific fragrances such as ylang ylang essential oil affect the limbic system through the olfactory nerve, soothing music can reduce cortisol levels, and tactile massage can promote oxytocin secretion. This type of non-invasive stimulation is more suitable as a foreplay aid, and individual differences in sensitivity need to be noted.

4. Psychological suggestion:

Sexual fantasies activate the brain's reward circuitry, intimate conversations enhance emotional connections, and situation creation lowers psychological defenses. Psychological factors account for more than 40% of the impact on sexual desire, but over-reliance may cause imbalance in real-life intimate relationships.

5. Moderate exercise:

Kegel exercises enhance pelvic floor muscle control, yoga promotes physical and mental coordination, and aerobic exercise increases blood oxygen concentration. Regular exercise can increase sex hormone levels by 15%-20%, but adequate rest time must be ensured after exercise.

To improve sexual desire, you need to establish a healthy lifestyle. It is recommended to consume 30 grams of nuts every day to supplement unsaturated fatty acids and perform 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. Avoid using multiple aphrodisiacs at the same time. Mixing alcohol and drugs may depress the central nervous system. Maintaining open communication between partners is more important than physical stimulation. Long-term loss of sexual desire needs to be investigated for pathological factors such as thyroid dysfunction or depression. You should consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner before using plant extracts. People with allergies should use aromatherapy with caution. Diabetics should pay attention to choosing sugar-free chocolate formulas.