Natural ideas to spice up your Valentine's Day

By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME Greetings all! It is February and one would expect to hear about heart healthy herbs, but since I have never done that, I want to talk about something for the emotional heart, more specifically, love. I realize most women would be thrilled if their man would pick up his socks and put the toilet seat down but hey, let's be a bit more romantic. Mother Nature has provided many plants that have been used as aphrodisiacs for centuries.

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Everyone is aware of chocolate's legendary sensousness, through its smell, taste and texture.

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Everyone knows something about ginseng. Chinese ginseng (Panax) has been used to treat almost every ailment known to man, but its richest history is one of vitality, stamina and sexual performance. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is actually more highly prized by the Chinese than their own. Damiana (Turnera diffusa v. aphrodisiaca) was highly prized by the Aztecs as an aphrodisiac and to treat impotence. It allows nerve messages spread throughout the body, increasing a persons sensitivity. There is also a liquer made from damiana, which is quite interesting. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been used as a tonic for strengthening the adrenals and increasing energy. It also helps to provide the body with the raw materials necessary to produce hormones. Muira puama (Dulacia inopiflora) is known as "potency wood" and is a staple in Brazil and is even sold in pharmacies as an aphrodisiac and nerve stimulant. Saarsaparilla (Smilax officinalis) is rich in phytosterols which provide nourishment for ones hormones. Believe it or not, Savory has had a reputation for regulating sex drive for hundreds of years. It was thought the perennial winter savory diminished it, while annual summer savory increased it. Guess which one became more popular? Essential oils and fragrances can provide that extra spark needed to spice up your evening. Perhaps that is where the phrase originated. In fact, many historic aphrodisiacs are spices. Cinnamon, clove, corriander, and nutmeg are traditional spices both for essential oil and as tea. Other oils for diffusion are, of course, rose, jasmine, clary sage, sandalwood, neroli, patchouli and ylang ylang, and vanilla. One of my favorite combinations is ylang ylang, neroli and amber. It is really nice. Remember these scents actually cause changes in a person's brain chemistry, setting off a chemical cascade throughout the body. Here is a scent that is universal. Chocolate, or more specifically, cocoa. Everyone is aware of chocolate's legendary sensuousness, through its smell, taste and texture. The science behind it is amazing. Chocolate contains some 300 known chemicals, many of which affect neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers in the brain. Chocolate contains tryptophan, the precursor to seratonin, the happy hormone, which affects the body's sensations and emotions. Another neurotransmitter, phenylethyllamine, produces feelings of attraction and excitement. Chocolate and cocoa fats include substances that are chemically related to a brain lipid called anandamide (ananda means "bliss") Anandamide will indeed make you feel blissful. This is just a short list of some of Mother Nature's gifts for romance. These items have been studied and scientifically validated over the years, but just remember one thing. Our ancestors would not have kept using these plants for centuries if they did not work. With centuries of success, why wait for science to catch up? —Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. If you are requesting additional information from Jonathan, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.