What is an Aphrodisiac ?

What is an Aphrodisiac ?

An aphrodisiac is an agent which acts on the mind and causes the arousal of the mood of sexual desire. The name comes from the Greek goddess of Sensuality Aphrodite. Desire can be stimulated by a variety of events or situations, but we focus on foods and drugs to which an aphrodisiac effect has been attributed.

Newly introduced exotic fruits or vegetables often acquire such a reputation, at least until they become more familiar.

Eringoes (the Sea holly, Eryngium maritimum) 
Oysters 
Potatoes 
Spanish fly (Cantharidin) 
Tomatoes 
Pine nuts

Some aphrodisiacs appear to gain their reputation from the principles of sympathetic magic, e.g. oysters, due to their shape. This also explains the trade in the phallic-looking rhinoceros horn, which is endangering this animal. (See Carl Hiaasen's 1999 novel Sick Puppy.) Other animal-based aphrodisiacs gain their reputation from the apparent virility or aggressiveness of the animal source - such as tiger penis - also endangering the species. The use of rhino horn and tiger penis to enhance male sexuality is popular among the Chinese (although no scientific basis has been established). Turtle eggs, eaten raw with salt and lime juice, are also said to be an aphrodisiac, leading to the poaching of many turtles, which are cut up to extract their eggs.