Via - Agra: Aphrodisiacs from India

Before the world knew Viagra, there were quite some homemade or natural aphrodisiacs doing the rounds in India and all over the world. This information about the aphrodisiacs have been passed from generation to generation, and yes, there are some chances that some of the 'so-called' Indian aphrodisiacs were just common hearsay and nothing much.

Here is a list of Indian aphrodisiacs that have been known to increase the libido of human beings:

Carom Seeds/Bishop's Weed (Ajwain): Ajwain seeds are rich in thymol. It is believed to have aphrodisiac qualities. Ajwain is used in quite a few recipes in India. Ajwain is almost never consumed raw, but is fried in oil or ghee before implementing it in the various recipes. Ajwain is also known to help flatulence and is also generally used as a digestive. Ajwain is also used as an anti-emetic.

Honey: Another important concoction that is used, as an aphrodisiac is honey mixed with ginger and even a little pepper.

Indian Liquorice: The seeds of Abrus precatorius known as jequirity are also believed to be an aphrodisiac. However, five of these seeds are known to be a lethal dose, which may cause serious problems in people who take them, and may also result in death of the individual.

Kuthimithi: Kuthimiti are parts of the shrub of Withania somnifera, it is also known as Winter Cherry. Kuthimithi may be more popular in its Sankrit name, Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is used as one of the ingredients in many Indian as well as foreign aphrodisiacs.

Indian Aloe: The Aloe Barbedensis of the liliaceae family is a plant that is around sixty centimeter high. It has long and fleshy leaves, and usually has small yellow or orange flowers. The leaves of Indian Aloe are supposed to be an aphrodisiac. However the skin of the leaves should be removed before using it.

Cardamom: Cardamom is an important ingredient of sexual health. It has been known to be a good aphrodisiac as well as a medicine for various sexual health problems like impotence and premature ejaculation. Cardamom is usually mixed with honey. However, if used more, Cardamom can even cause sexual impotency.

These are just some of the aphrodisiacs that have been known to humankind since a long time. It is a pity that when such ingredients are freely available from the fruit and flower kingdom, we kill animals for their tusks and teeth, just due to hearsay that they have aphrodisiac qualities. Why, there are some breeds of the tiger that is near extinction due to rampant hunting and killing for their nail. Also, the rhinoceros has been hunted for a long while for its horn.