Great Sex, Naturally (30 page)

You can apply essential oils to your skin in the morning to set the mood for the day, or apply them before sex by adding them to a massage lotion or oil. You may also want to let their fragrances fill your bedroom or living space by using them in spray bottles or herbal diffusers. (Essential oils and aromatherapy diffusers are available at many specialty stores and online.) If you use them on your skin, you can apply them to intimate areas such as your inner thighs or between your breasts, but avoid your clitoris, vulva, or other mucous membranes. You can also apply essential oils to acupressure points, allowing them to penetrate your meridians and further stimulate your sexual chi. The following points are recommended: Kidney 27, Kidney 1, and San Jiao 4. (To locate these points, see
Appendix A
.)

Sex-Messaging: The Aphrodisiac Potential of Your Secret Scents

Your nose serves as a kind of sexual sextant—a finely tuned instrument for navigating your erotic environment—and gathers far more information than scientists once believed possible. The study of human pheromones is still in its infancy; there’s much we don’t know, and much to discover. The current state of research can perhaps be summed up by saying
no one knows what your nose knows
. But there’s been some fascinating research in recent years. Whether you emit pheromones in the same sense as some animals do, and precisely what sexual signals you send and detect, isn’t yet entirely clear. However, it would be difficult to imagine a more fantastic (and potentially romantic) picture than the one that seems to be emerging from the world of biological research on human pheromones. The following is an interpretive overview.

You have an invisible “scent cloud” emanating from your body at all times, released from your breath and perspiration on your skin, drifting through the air around you like an aura. These scents are believed to be produced mainly in special glands concentrated in your underarms, genitals, anus, chest, abdomen, breasts, and naval. Your scents contain important chemical signals—personal information about you that’s instantly detected by anyone you meet, allowing that person to “perceive” your scent-essence. At the same time, it’s a two-way exchange; you’re picking up on similar personal information about the other individual.

But there’s a delightful catch: neither of you is conscious of all the information you detect; much of it is perceived subliminally rather than through your normal sense of smell. In a sense, you’re using a subtle form of communication hidden from both of you (which is why we use the term
secret scents
), yet it can affect your individual moods and behaviors. It may cause each of you to have intuitions about the other—you may feel attracted, repelled, or indifferent—without any conscious awareness of what’s passing between you. This may go a long way toward explaining the proverbial “woman’s intuition,” or the “sixth sense.” And what we call love at first sight may often be a matter of love at first scent.

Further complicating this marvelous picture, your secret scents are uniquely blended with your body’s other natural scents—the ones you
are
conscious of—because the two are released in unison. For example, a man’s secret scents are typically released in conjunction with a consciously recognizable, musky “male” scent. Thus, you and the other person each have a distinct “scent print” or “scent identity” that announces who you are to the world.

Your secret scents may affect the men in your life in more ways than are currently known. During your teenage years, your body begins sending secret
sexual
scents into your environment. The ones you release as a woman are distinct from those emitted by men, and each gender reacts differently to the secret sexual signals from the opposite sex. Research indicates that your secret sexual scents can cause a rise in the production of a man’s hormones, which may have direct effects on his body, such as increased rate of facial-hair growth. And when you ovulate, you emit secret scents that are especially attractive to men.

By the same token, over the course of your life you’re affected in countless ways by men’s secret sexual scents. Research suggests that girls consistently in the presence of male sexual scents may enter puberty sooner than other girls. Not only can a man’s secret scents attract you and enhance your sexual arousal, but they have the greatest effects when you’re ovulating; if you’re exposed to a man’s secret scents combined with a musky scent, it can cause you to do so sooner than you might otherwise. If you’re in the presence of a man’s secret sexual scents on a regular basis, the length of your menstrual cycles may be shorter and more consistent.

Research shows that your secret sexual scents also affect other women. It appears that they can cause a phenomenon you may have experienced—the synchronization of menstrual cycles in women who spend lots of time together. Surprisingly, if you’re in the presence of other women’s secret scents for a period of three to four months, it may significantly increase your likelihood of sexual activity with men (more than a sixfold increase, according to one study).

You can think of your secret sexual scents as your “personal” aphrodisiacs; their sex-enhancing power is specific to you, because your scent print is as unique as your fingerprint. Since secret scents are so individualistic, human-pheromone products that purport to enhance sexuality seem limited in their potential. There’s no shortage of fragrances and other products on the market—and claims that they’ll make you irresistible—but evidence for their effectiveness is often all too scanty. Some contain pheromone-like chemicals synthesized in laboratories and patented. Manufacturers sometimes don’t disclose ingredients, making it impossible to assess if they’re natural or have the potential to cause side effects or allergies.

The beauty of your secret sexual scents is that you can’t prevent their release or mask them with scents that are consciously recognized by your normal sense of smell. They’re detectable regardless of perfumes and colognes—no matter how pleasant or striking—or any unpleasant body odor. All you can do is be yourself and let their hidden magic happen. You may increase their effects by avoiding unnecessary antiperspirants, or (when possible) wearing garments that don’t cover your underarms or abdomen. And since the consciously recognizable portion of your scents is part of your scent print, you might want to minimize deodorants—an easy way to keep your natural essence readily detectable to your partner’s “extrasensual perception.”

Nutritional Aphrodisiacs: Super-Sex Supplements and Foods

If you consistently take the nutritional supplements and follow the Great Sex Diet outlined in
Chapter 2
, all of the nutrients and foods you consume will bolster your libido. In addition, certain supplements and foods can pack an extra punch of pleasure potential. First, let’s look at two nutritional supplements that merit special mention for their unique ability to stimulate your sexuality:

—
L-arginine.
An amino acid that’s essential for your body to function optimally, L-arginine can also be an effective natural sex-enhancer for both women and men. (We’ll look at its benefits for men later in this book.) It works by increasing nitric oxide and promoting blood flow to your sexual organs. L-arginine is often taken in supplement form, but it can also increase your sexual response if applied topically to your genitals, which is why it’s found in many stimulating arousal creams.

A study published in the
Archives of Sexual Behavior
in 2002 found that 6,000 mg of L-arginine as a dietary supplement (along with 6 mg of yohimbine) notably increased female sexual response. Other research suggests that L-arginine can boost libido by working synergistically with herbal aphrodisiacs and other ingredients. A study at the University of Hawaii, reported in 2001 in the
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy
, showed that over 70 percent of women who took the product ArginMax For Women—which contains L-arginine, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, damiana, vitamins, and minerals—experienced increased sexual desire, higher frequency of sex and orgasm, enhanced clitoral sensation, decreased vaginal dryness, and improved overall sexual satisfaction, with no significant side effects.

L-arginine is found in many foods, including nuts, beans, fish, eggs, chicken, and chocolate, but for full aphrodisiac benefits it’s best taken as a supplement; recommended doses are generally between 2,000 and 6,000 mg daily. One of L-arginine’s added benefits is treating hypertension, so if you have low blood pressure, refrain from taking it as a supplement (although it’s still safe to use topically). Those with herpes shouldn’t take L-arginine, or use it topically. Avoid taking L-arginine if you have a gastric ulcer, liver disease, or kidney disease.

—
PEA.
The acronym for
phenylethylamine
, PEA is sometimes referred to as the “love supplement,” or the “romance chemical.” As a stimulant and mood elevator, it can induce sensations of euphoria—and it’s naturally released by your brain when you’re in love. PEA promotes an increase in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which enhances feelings of well-being, joy, and pleasure, and can assist in treating depression.

If you’d like to elevate your PEA level, you have some attractive options: have an orgasm every day (PEA is released by your brain whenever you reach orgasm); exercise regularly (a study published in the
British Journal of Sports Medicine
in 2001 found that exercise increases PEA—one reason why exercise can improve moods and relieve depression); or eat chocolate, a rich source of PEA (see the following page).

Another way to increase your PEA level is to take it in the form of supplements derived from blue-green algae. This is more efficient than eating chocolate, and free of fat and sugar. In addition to boosting feelings of pleasure, intimacy, and well-being, PEA can also help you cope with the mood changes of PMS and menopause. The recommended daily dose is 30 to 100 mg. (Avoid larger amounts, which could cause overstimulation, insomnia, or anxiety.) PEA shouldn’t be taken by nursing or pregnant women, or anyone taking MAOI medications.

Along with these supplements, some foods have gained special status as sexual victuals, with the potential to give you an added dose of libido nourishment. All of the “super-libido foods” you explored in
Chapter 2
provide extra support for your sexual health in a general way, but those in this category are known, or reputed, to provide nutrients that specifically stimulate your sexuality.

Although people have searched for foods with sex-enhancing powers since the dawn of history, some long assumed to be aphrodisiacs may owe their reputations to placebo effects—which might make them interesting food for thought, or food for fantasy, but not true aphrodisiacs in the biochemical sense. (On the other hand, it may be that their active constituents haven’t yet been discovered.) Let’s take a look at some foods believed to have aphrodisiac powers, and how each qualifies as erotic fodder:

—
Sweet potatoes.
Including sweet potatoes in your diet can support your sexuality because they’re especially high in vitamin B
₅
—important for your adrenal-gland health, which promotes production of your sex hormones. As a source of carbohydrates, low-glycemic sweet potatoes are also preferable to white potatoes, which have a higher glycemic index. (As you saw in
Chapter 2
, low-glycemic carbohydrates are healthier than ones higher on the glycemic index.) Sweet potatoes are a perfect complement to meals, and they also make great snacks for great sex.

—
Chocolate.
The flagship food aphrodisiac, chocolate is chock-full of love-conducive, pro-pleasure ingredients. (No wonder so many people choose chocolate for Valentine’s Day gifts.) Not only does it contain both PEA and L-arginine, but also the compound theobromine, which according to some sources has aphrodisiac potential and stimulates the central nervous system. Eating chocolate can be a sensual experience, and it’s also high in antioxidants that support your immune system and help fight free radicals. Dark chocolate is best—as pure and unsweetened as possible. The extra fat and calories in some chocolate products can have long-term unhealthy consequences and anti-aphrodisiac effects.

—
Oysters.
The reputed aphrodisiac prowess of the sexy mollusk may be largely a credit to its suggestive shape, although oysters also provide a wealth of minerals that can indirectly support your sexuality by boosting your overall health. They’re extremely high in zinc (helpful for both female and male sex-hormone production, and particularly important for male sexuality, as you’ll discover later in this book), and a rich source of vitamins and beneficial omega-3 fats.

—
Pomegranates.
Historically, pomegranates have been associated with love, eroticism, and fertility (perhaps because of their copious seeds), and believed by traditional cultures to have aphrodisiac or medicinal properties. Although no specific aphrodisiac ingredients have yet been isolated in these large berries, research shows they’re high in antioxidants and other healthy compounds. Pomegranates offer special support for men’s sexual issues, but they can also promote your general sexual well-being with potential benefits that include improved circulation, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced cardiovascular health.

—
Chili peppers.
Chili peppers can undoubtedly make you feel hot, but they may not necessarily elevate passion to a fever pitch, as some anecdotal reports suggest. It appears that their effects vary widely from one person to the next, so their aphrodisiac potential could be a matter of individual reaction. Your mouth feels like it’s aflame when you eat chili peppers because they contain
capsaicin
, a chemical that stimulates your skin sensitivity, accelerates your metabolism, increases your heart rate, and energizes you. You may have heard claims that kissing your partner shortly after chewing a chili pepper can transfer the stimulating effects to his mouth, but it’s not recommended. The heightened sensitivity that capsaicin causes in skin and mucous membranes is unpredictable, and painful for some people.