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The belief that chocolate stokes passion goes back as far as the pyramids of Mexico. As legend has it, the Aztec emperor Montezuma drank 50 chalices of unsweetened chocolate mixture to prepare himself before a visit to his harem.

Today, we're more likely to get our chocolate from heart-shaped boxes than from chalices, but the basic idea hasn't changed much: Many people still believe that chocolate is similar to an aphrodisiac -- that is, something that will increase sexual desire. Over the centuries, inventive humans have attributed this power to everything from plants, herbs, and spices to powders made from tigers and other exotic species.

Aphrodisiacs -- named for Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love -- are still a big business. Many pills, potions, and ointments promise to boost sex drive. There's little or no scientific evidence to support any of these claims, and some of the substances are downright lethal. Still, people across the world continue to search for the secret of passion.

People have long looked to other animals as ingredients for concoctions to boost sexual success. One of the oldest and best-known of these legendary love potions is Spanish fly, a powder made from ground-up beetles. Contrary to popular myth, Spanish fly doesn't increase desire, although it contains a toxic substance called cantharidin that can trigger persistent, abnormal erections in men by irritating the urethra. Larger doses can scar the urethra and even cause death. Although it is still sold in some parts of the world, Spanish fly -- along with other supplements purporting to be aphrodisiacs -- has been banned in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration since 1990.

Throughout human history, people have tried to capture the sexual energy of certain animals. Some have cooked and dined on the genitals of prolific procreators like rabbits and goats, hoping that would make them equally frisky. By similar logic, soup made from the penis of a powerful creature like the tiger has traditionally been thought to bestow masterly sexual prowess.

If aphrodisiacs are inspired by animal features, it's hard to understand who got the idea that turtle eggs would provide sexual oomph. Maybe the plodding turtle is seen to inspire duration rather than power or frequency. In any case, tens of thousands of turtle eggs have been stolen from nests on Florida beaches and elsewhere around the world -- one of the reasons marine turtles have become endangered.

The sad fact is that all the animals that have been sacrificed in the name of love have died for nothing. No known animal potion has the power to punch up your sex drive. Whatever it is that makes one rabbit irresistible to another works only for rabbits -- not people.

People have also combed the plant kingdom for the secret to increased desire. Among the substances investigated:

Chocolate

It's easy to see why some people think that chocolate can help enhance desire. Chocolate contains caffeine, which gets you buzzing; L-arginine, an amino acid involved in sexual responsiveness; and phenylethylamine, the body's natural mood-lifter.

Unfortunately, a chocolate bar alone probably won't be enough to get the sparks flying, even if you have some mood lighting. Caffeine's effect on desire is unclear (see below), and the tiny amounts of L-arginine and phenylethylamine found in chocolate aren't likely to affect libido. Even in romantic Italy, researchers who studied chocolate's impact on the sexual habits of more than 150 women couldn't find anything to suggest that chocolate has aphrodisiac properties. A box of fancy chocolates might put your sweetie in the mood, but it's the thought that counts, not the ingredients.

Coffee

Is it possible that the drink that gets you going in the morning can rev you up in the bedroom as well? One study of older men and women by University of Michigan researchers found that at least one cup of coffee per day was associated with increased sexual activity. Still, there's no proof that coffee actually fuels sexual desire. It could be that a caffeine jolt provides more energy for any activity, including sex. But before you load up on coffee, be aware that many over-the-counter medicines -- as well as commonly consumed items like chocolate, tea, nuts, and some soft drinks -- also contain caffeine, so you may already be getting more than you think. The American Heart Association says the equivalent of a cup or two of coffee per day is okay, but to be on the safe side don't overdo it.

Damiana

If you're a rat -- the four-legged kind, not the Don Juan kind -- you might get a boost from damiana, an herb found in the lower United States and Mexico as well as many parts of Central and South America. One laboratory study found that damiana put the zing back into the sex lives of impotent or "sexually sluggish" rodents.

In Mexico, damiana is widely sold as an aphrodisiac in capsules, liquid extract, and tea. It is a mild stimulant that can cause a tingling sensation in the genitals, which may explain why it feels to some like a sexual stimulant. But in people, there's no real evidence that damiana increases desire.

Ginkgo

You've probably heard that ginkgo might help improve memory by improving blood flow to the brain; in fact, it improves circulation throughout the body, which means it may help with sexual arousal, too. A small study of men and women suffering sexual side effects from antidepressants found that ginkgo increased sexual desire, excitement, and orgasm, and according to the Alternative Medicine Review, some scientific evidence suggests that gingko may be helpful for erectile dysfunction (impotence). However, more investigation is needed. Besides causing headaches, dizziness, and intestinal problems in some people, it can combine in harmful ways with certain drugs to increase the risk of internal bleeding. For all these reasons, it's important to talk with your doctor before adding ginkgo to your arsenal.

Oysters

Some say oysters got their folkloric reputation as an aphrodisiac because of their resemblance to female genitalia. Others say there may be an iota of truth behind the myth. Oysters are high in zinc, and some studies suggest a link between zinc deficiency and low libido. However, beef and chicken are also high in zinc, and they aren't touted as aphrodisiacs. It's probably safe to chalk this one up to imagination.

Yohimbe

The bark of the West African yohimbe tree has been used for hundreds of years as a folk remedy for flagging erections. A chemical in the bark called yohimbine causes increased blood flow to the penis. Yohimbine hydrochloride, a standardized form of yohimbine, is available in the prescription medications Yocon and Aphrodyne, used to treat erection difficulties and the sexual dysfunction associated with some antidepressants.

Yohimbe is also available over the counter, but it's a risky investment. As with other over-the-counter supplements, you don't always know what you're getting. And yohimbe can have considerable side effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, agitation, dizziness, tremors, and insomnia. Some people have experienced breathing difficulty, vomiting, and even kidney failure, according to the peer-reviewed Natural Standard Research Collaboration. Pregnant women should avoid yohimbe because it may prove toxic to unborn babies. All in all, an "aphrodisiac" to avoid.

The bottom line: If your desire is fading, exotic foods and supplements probably aren't the answer. The best thing you can do for a listless libido is to see your doctor for a complete checkup. The better your overall health, the more vigorous you're likely to be in the bedroom.

If all else fails, you can always fall back on chocolate. It may not put you in the mood, but it tastes much better than ground-up beetles.

-- Nancy Montgomery is a senior editor at Consumer Health Interactive.

References

First published February 13, 2007
Last updated July 22, 2008
Copyright © 2007 Consumer Health Interactive

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