An article on Medieval Aphrodisiacs:
Written by:  Finley Roisin an Bhein Bhinn


At one time or another, every conceivable object or substance has been
considered to be an aphrodisiac. It would be impossible to list them all, in
fact it would perhaps be easier to list all the non-aphrodisiacs: 1)
halitosis; 2) word problems: 3) Laurel meetings. Some things have, however,
been more popular than others, and I will present some of these trends.

To better understand aphrodisiacs, it would be a good start to consider why
they have been used. There are three major purposes for aphrodisiacs: to
bring about an unlikely seduction, to enhance a romantic interlude, or to
kindle or restore flagging sexual interest or energy. At this point we must
remind ourselves of the conditions common to the middle ages. First, many
marriages were arranged with little regard for the feelings or desires of
the future mates. There was often a difference in ages between the bride and
groom. Deformities and other physical turnoffs were the norm in the age
before oral hygiene, sanitation or good medical care. Second, poor health
and nutrition would contribute to decreased energy, sexual desire, and
performance. Third, with high mortality rates and early death common, there
was pressure to procreate early and often. Finally, there were
paleoreligious fertility rituals and traditions to be considered. These
aspects were multifactorial and any number could be acting at the same time.

HOW THEY WORK

The single most important sexual organ or erogenous zone is the human
brain: - Romance and eroticism are both emotions and mental attitude
together. At least half of all clinical impotence or frigidity is
psychological, even in the presence of desire or interest. Much of human
sexual response is affected by Positive Mental Attitude or its opposite.
Confidence gives one the courage to initiate or accept seduction while a
lack of confidence does the opposite. Any confidence builder, be it a glass
of wine or a "lucky jewel, can work wonders. Any pleasant stimulus can
enhance desire already present, as anyone who has ever had a candlelight
dinner on Valentine's Day can attest. Anything that starts you thinking sexy
is sexy. This effect can be broken down into two categories.

First, there is the placebo effect: anything that you have been told is an
aphrodisiac becomes one by reminding you of sex (don't think of pink lawn
flamingos!). Even today, our culture has silly superstitions about the
aphrodisiac properties of such things as green M&Ms, so that the offering of
such often elicits giggles and lewd glances (thinking of pink flamingos?).
The trouble with a placebo is that they only work on a receptive individual,
and only if that individual knows it is being used (flamingos)

Second, many aphrodisiacs earned their reputation as such based on the
concept of sympathetic magic. In other words, if it walks like a flamingo,
talks like a flamingo,... etc. The most obvious application of this is the
phallic symbol, which would include cucumbers, asparagus, mushrooms,
rhinoceros horn, flamingos, etc. Other, more obvious substitutions can be
made, such as carved phalluses, horse testicles, or symbolic drawings.
Spells may be cast to make a charm or drug, using symbolic ingredients.
Another contributing factor was Astrology. Many objects were associated with
the moon or stars, and these therefor were believed to have properties over
passion or fertility. Many of these could be considered the converse of
phallic as they often related to the female aspect. Pearls, tomatoes, raw
fish, flowers, grain, stones of certain shapes, etc., would be part of this
group. Often objects associated with springtime or the lunar cycle were used
(anything washed ashore at full moon, etc.)

Extravagance can have symbolic or placebo effects or both. It has been said
that money is a powerful aphrodisiac, as are gold, diamonds, pearls, etc.
Anything exotic would also have this effect, such as chocolate, incense or
silk.

One ancient and still extremely popular class of aphrodisiacs is often
overlooked - cosmetics. These would include pigments and such ornamental
objects as jewelry; hygienic products; and actual drugs which would affect
the skin such as astringents, belladonna or arsenic. Scents, in the form of
perfumes or potpourris, would also be a major player in this category.

How many of you have figured out that the Gifts of the Magi were all
aphrodisiacs?

During the Tudor period, modem science was just beginning to look at
medicine and physiology, at the same time physics and engineering were
emerging. The anatomic leaders of that time believed that the blood vessels
actually carried air, and in combination with the new theories of hydraulics
a rather amusing but logical concept was developed: penile tumescence is
caused by air flow, which is defined as wind. And wind comes from ...BEANS!
In short, the scientific minds of Henry's time theorized that flatulence =
potency. Suggested aphrodisiacs included all members of the bean family,
oats, cabbage, sauerkraut, etc. No wonder he couldn't keep a wife! This may
also explain the sudden switch to Queens on the English and Scottish
thrones.

The last category of aphrodisiacs I find the most interesting: DRUGS. [Note
to our exchange newsletters: the author of this article is mundanely a
pathologist.] These can be grouped into five general categories: Nutrients;
Local Stimulants; Antiasthmatics; Psychoactives; and actual Pharmaceutical
Aphrodisiacs. The first group has already been discussed somewhat, but a few
more specific thoughts have popped up. Recent nutritional research has shown
that such nutrients as folio acid, vitamins A and E, and minerals such as
Zinc and Selenium are needed not only for good health and general stamina
but spermatogenesis and maintenance of healthy libido, potency and
fertility. A deficiency in any of these would cause a decrease or absence of
sexual interest and performance, which would be reversed by eating a rich
source of the deficient nutrient. Most aphrodisiacs are rich sources of
these nutrients. The next category, local stimulants, can be easily
understood. Anyone who has ever had a deep-muscle massage will tell you of
its ability not only to bring complete relaxation but to focus attention to
one's body in a most sensuous and pleasurable manner. Local stimulants
(which can be found in such modern products as Ben-Gay) not only reduce
muscular tension and discomfort but increase blood supply to the skin,
making nerves more sensitive. This local stimulation of the relaxation
system, the parasympathetic, causes positive feedback throughout the body
and stimulates all related functions, causing an overall pleasant feeling -
and increased arousability. Incidentally, this is part of the mechanism for
a great many other aphrodisiac effects, such as pleasant scents, tastes and
other stimuli. This increased arousability may be enough to overcome some
barrier, either emotional or physical.

The third group include antiasthmatics, etc., and were effective simply
because respiratory problems were rampant in a society living inside rooms
where all light and heat were supplied by wood fires - without chimneys.
Improved breathing decreased physical discomfort and allowed more strenuous
physical activity indoors.

The fourth group of aphrodisiacs has received the most attention: the
Psychoactives. Although most of these drugs act upon the parasympathetic
nervous system, they have additional action by affecting behavior. Many act
through disinhibition, overcoming minor apprehension or inhibitions,
releasing social restraints, and building confidence and bravado. Anyone
familiar with the antics of a fraternity party can attest to the behavior of
drunken adolescents as compared to those same individuals while sober.
Included in this group would be alcohol (of course) in all its forms, but
also such hallucinogens as hemp, morphine, belladonna, thomapple, mushrooms,
rye smut, etc.

The fifth group, which, albeit the smallest, is the most interesting: the
true pharmaceutical aphrodisiacs. These act by specific stimulation of
neuroreceptors within the parasympathetic system which effect arousal and
copulatory behavior.

The following is an extremely truncated list of aphrodisiacs arranged
according to action:

ANTIFLATULENTS: (Let's face it, we can't all be Tudors, although many of
these have both effects) angelica, basil, bay laurel, burnet, caraway,
carrot, catnip, chervil, dill, dropwort, elder, fennel, hemp, juniper,
lavender, lovage, marjoram, mayweed, meliot, mint, oats, pennyroyal,
parsley, pepper, rosemary, saffron, sage, savory, sloeberry, tarragon,
thyme, wormwood.

ANTIANEMICS: (good sources of iron) chervil, nettle, spinach, strawberry,
ivy.

ANTIVENERIALS: (these were used to prevent or treat venereal disease)
amaranthus, bistort, carduus benedictus, fir, goldenrod, hops, houndstongue,
laurel, mint, sage, sarsaparilla, soapwort, spikenard, staves-acre, walnut.

ANTI-IMPOTENCE & FRIGIDITY: herb true-love, hops, jasmine, lettuce, lily,
orchids, rhubarb, staves-acre.

TRADITIONAL APHRODISIACS: belladonna, hemp, opium poppy, saffron, sage,
savory, southernwood, thornapple, toadstools, quince, wine (usually
drugged).

ANTIASTHMATICS: balm, coltsfoot, elecampine, flax, white horehound,
knapwort, maidenhair, deadly nightshade, sheep's rampion, rocket cress,
winter savory, squill, thornapple, valerian, wormseed.

AROMATICS: anise, caraway, chamomile, coriander, fennel, lavender,
liquorice, rose, rosemary, sage.

ASTRINGENTS: (for cosmetic and local stimulant purposes) agrimony, bilberry,
blackberry, burdock, burnet, comfrey, daisy, hyssop, lady's mantle,
lungwort, marjoram, oak, sage, St. John's wort, silverweed, strawberry,
walnut, willow.

The following are excerpts from Culpeppers book concerning individual herbs.
No claim is made of the effectiveness of the period uses unless specified.

(WARNING! MANY OF THESE HERBS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED POISONOUS! EFFECT IS
OFTEN ONLY SEEN IN THE EARLY STAGES OF TOXICITY AND COULD BE LETHAL! DO NOT
ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME!)

Amaranthus:  Also known as Love Lies Bleeding, this herb is under the
dominion of Satum, and quiets the unruly passions of Venus. Although used to
inhibit promiscuity it was also used to treat venereal rashes resulting
thereof.

Alehoof:  Also known as Ground Ivy, this herb is under the dominion of
Venus, and was used to wash venereal sores.

Archangel:  Also known as Death Nettle, this herb is under the dominion of
Venus. It was used to treat vaginal discharges, ulcers and scrofula. It
"makes hearts marry, drives away melancholy, and lifts spirits. (Based on
the Four Humor theory of medicine.)

Arrach:  Also known as mountain spinach, this herb "relaxes men and
fortifies expulsive faculty" and has been used to treat both impotence and
premature ejaculation, in either decoction or ointment form. (Finlay's note:
This stuff is actually supposed to work.)

Avens:  Known as Gum Herb, it is an astringent to remove wrinkles and bring
a pink glow to the skin.

Balm: Loved by Avicenna, this herb "drives away sleep and troublesome
cares." This plant also played a major role in Galenic medicine to overcome
an imbalance of melancholy or Black Bile.

French Beans:  This herb was believed to "incite to venery!" and was used
for everything from impotence and fertility to breast enlargement.

Beets:  The dried powder was used as a snuff to treat bad breath.

Birch:  Oil from the buds or sap was used to treat cold sores. It works.

Bistort:  Also known as Snakeweed, this herb helpeth gonorrhea" and was also
used to prevent miscarriage. Also used as an astringent.

Brown Bugle:  Also known as Middle Comfrey, it was widely used in love
potions, as an ointment to treat herpes, and to comfort hangovers. It is a
mild narcotic.

Burdoch:  Interestingly, this plant was believed to "draw the fetus" as a
magnet draws iron. It was placed at the mother-to be's head to stop labor,
or at her feet to bring it on.

Calamint: This was used as an anti-aphrodisiac for women, as it brought
painful bloody urination. Spanish Fly works the same way; when given to a
reluctant bull, he tries the only thing he knows which has a chance to "make
it all better."

Carduus Benedictus:  Known as Holy Thistle, this was used to treat the
French Pox (syphilis).

Carrot:  This nutrient-rich vegetable was used as a carminative (stops
flatulence by bringing it all out at once). Its seeds were boiled in wine to
help conception.

Catnip:  "Takes away barrenness." Used as a calming tea and makes the breath
sweet. Anyone who has seen its effects on cats cannot doubt the
effectiveness of some vegetable drugs.

Cowslip:   Used in making wrinkle-creams.

Crowfoot: Known in America as the Buttercup, the petals were strewn over a
bride's mattress to ease the pain of defloration. Believed to be a powerful
drug in the treatment of impotence, it had a reputation of being able to
"raise the dead." It's poisonous, too.

Herb True-Love:  A mild narcotic similar to opium, this drug was very
popular in making love-potions. It is still used today. Yah, hey!

Hops:  This herb was used to induce sleep when imbibed and to soothe VD in
ointment form. Has been shown to stimulate estrogen levels in clinical
research. So drink your beer!

Jasmine:  The flowers of this plant are fragrant, and are used in potpourri,
tea and in relaxing massage oils.

Juniper:  The berries of this evergreen are rich in vitamin C, and were also
used as breath freshener, aromatic, and antiflatulent.

Lady's Mantle:  This was used to tighten and firm up sagging breasts and to
help conception.

Lettuce:  This was used to "abate bodily lust," and to suppress venereal
dreams when applied to the testicles."  Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yummy!

Onion:  Was used to "increase the male seed."

Orchids: These very phallic flowers "provoke venury, strengthen the genital
parts, and help conception."

Poppy:  The opium poppy, from which we get morphine and heroine, is
powerfully narcotic. It was known to "induce immoderate mirth, stupidity,
and sleep."

Sage:  There are many varieties of this plant. Blue sage was used to treat
VD, and is currently used as a main ingredient in turkey stuffing and pork
sausage. Red sage has been shown to "produce a significant increase in
episodes of penile erection and to enhance the orientation of male rats
towards the female by increased anogenital investigatory behavior, enhanced
licking and grooming of the genitals, and increased mounting frequency.
Ejaculation latency was also increased. The aphrodisiac and anxiolytic
properties of this and various other compounds has been attributed to
decreased brain serotonin synthesis and reduced turnover." Avicenna used to
drink red sage tea every night as a "nerve tonic." Yeah, right!

Saffron:  Ditto.

Spikenard:  "Helps passions of the heart and swooning." Huh?