Romance is in the Food

It is true!  Romance can be enhanced by adding a pinch of this or a fistful of that to a bottle of wine or a tasty dessert - even as part of a romantic bath.  The key lay in understanding which herbs might be the most helpful for the person taking them.  Some herbs heat, others cool, some herbs dry, some bring moisture.  These differences are a part of the key to understanding which herbs are more likely to help.  Below are three possible choices.

So ask, "Am I the first person to turn on the air conditioning the summer, or the person most likely to turn up the heat in the winter?"  "Do I need lotion for dry skin frequently, or is my skin a little damp compared to others?"  Use questions like these to get a picture of which herbs might help most.  

If colds hands and feet are a frequent complaint, then perhaps our first herb may have a big impact:

Damiana, or Turnera diffusa, is a great herb for anyone wanting to relax into a fun evening.  Traditionally a warming herb, it brings blood to smaller vessels on the body and contains "phytotestosterone" - a naturally occurring chemical that the body responds to as though it were testosterone.  Since testosterone plays an important role in passion and drive, Damiana is a terrific herb for a cold romantic night.  It acts on the body with about an hour and the effects last for one to three hours, generally, but the effects do build over time and daily usage is often a good idea.  It is possible to make tea with a teaspoon of Damiana in a mug of boiling hot water, and it has a pleasant peppery taste, but t can be included as a cooking spice in this tasty carrot soup:

Carrot Soup

2 Tablespoons butter or oil for frying

4 good sized carrots, sliced in one inch slices (once considered an aphrodisiac because of the shape)

1 good sized onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced or crushed

¼ cup almonds

4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

2 teaspoons Damiana

1 teaspoon thyme

½ teaspoon basil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup milk or ½ cup sour cream, or ½ cup heavy cream, if desired.

Fry the onions, garlic, and almonds in a soup pot for three to four minutes, until the onions are softened.  Toss in the carrots and fry a few minutes more.  Add the stock, bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 – 20 minutes, or until the carrots are done.  Add the spices and herbs and toss in a blender to puree.  Stir in the milk or sour cream, if desired, and serve.

For extra romance, add a few drops of cream to the top of the bowl of soup being served and run a knife through the middle of the drops to create a heart where each drop of cream fell.

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Famous for making goats horny, this little beauty works on many people too.  Studies show it works in 60% of men with erectile dysfunction.  Why only 60%…they need to have to right imbalance to work - in this case, coldness.  Does it work in women?  Anecdotal evidence says yes, but probably at the same rate as for men. This is often thought of as a yang herb, bringing more fire and energy to the bedroom.  Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium grandiflorum) warms the body, opening blood vessels from the largest to the small capillaries of the body.  It helps bring blood into the brain as well as the…”little brain”, and the hands and feet.  It calms physical tension and helps bring excess fluids out of the body.  People who are a little damp, inclined to sweat first in a warm room, are going to be the most helped by this herb.  It may also improve sperm production and delay premature ejaculation.  So, sex drive increases, arousal becomes easier and staying power increases with this herb, as long as it is addressing the right imbalances in the body.  Steeped in brandy or vodka, this is nice early evening beverage and an ingredient in a traditional “Spring Wine” developed by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Asia. Taking inspiration from this idea, I have developed an easy infused wine that is easy to try at home:

Horny Goat Weed Wine

½ Cup Horny Goat Weed

            1 bottle Gewurtztraminer, Riesling, or other sweet, light wine

Open wine and pour off ½ cup.  Put the Horny Goat Weed into the wine bottle.  Re-cork, or vacuum seal wine.  Shake once a day for 14 days.  Let the Horny Goat Weed settle to the bottom of the bottle and pour off the wine from the top to drink, or strain, then enjoy.

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Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides), a man’s drink in traditional terms, comes from South America.  Used for dampness as well as arousal, this is another herb about excess fluids, like Horny Goat Weed.  It is also not as heating as the herbs mentioned above and can be more useful for those who are already turn up the air conditioner first in the summer.  Muira puama also increases the appetite, so this is a good herb to use early in an evening just for people in love…or at least in lust.  It will increase hunger and digestion, so if using this herb, plan on a light meal after or while this herb is being used.  Why not a heavy meal?  Heavy meals make people tired and reduce the odds of a successful romantic night.  This herb has the advantage of being useful not only as a drink, but in the bath as well.  One alternative would be to have a little champagne and a light meal in a hot tub filled with warm water and a handful or two of muira puama in a thin cloth bag hung over the bathtub faucet so the hot water filling the tub can run through the herbs.  Here's a romantic bath recipe to try:

Romantic Muira Puama Bath

1 – 2 oz. Muira Puma

1 ounce Red Rose Buds

1 - 5 drops Ylang Ylang III essential oil

Combine herbs and Ylang Ylang essential oil.  If possible, let the herbs and Ylang Ylang essential oil sit together for a day to allow the scents to blend.  Put blend into a muslin bag and hang over water faucet as the tub fills, letting the warm water run over and through the bag as the tub fills.  Hop in and for an extra boost, squeeze herbs or use the bag as a scrub, rubbing it all over the body.

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There are plenty of good books on herbs and how they can effect the body.  Where can you find the wonderful books, herbs, and the essential oil? www.MagusBooks.com!

Who can't take these herbs?  Damiana may effect blood sugar levels and should be avoided by diabetics unless they are under the supervision of an expert qualified in the uses of this herb. Avoid for a couple of weeks before any surgery too.  With horny goat weed, it is more about the potential for lowering blood pressure and slowing blood clotting that matter, so avoid this one if taking a medication that alters blood pressure or lows blood clotting - and don't take any for a few weeks before any surgery.