Herbs To Bring Love
We are social creatures who continuously build relationships through family ties, exchange of resources, passionate pursuits, and common cultures. The pursuit of relationships bound together by romantic love seems often to be of particular interest to our species. Herbalists have been keen on finding green allies that act as aphrodisiacs - bringing out hidden love, stoking the fires of mature love, and helping desire reside fully in the body.
Peters, Hermann.
Pictorial History of Ancient Pharmacy. 3rd ed.
Chicago: G. P. Englehard, 1902, c.1899.
Ebling Library call number RS 61 P48
Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum), also known as Maid's Hair, was said to "provoke conjunction" and French kings Louis XIV and Louis XV were secretly given a tincture derived from a beetle which was a genital irritant and quite poisonous. Not necessarily the direction I would recommend today in the pursuit of aphrodisiacs. One of the more famous aphrodisiacs are Mandrakes (Podophyllum peltatum) or Womandrakes, depending on their shape. Said to bring to you the lover you seek, there were many rules about when and how to pick Mandrake including dancing about it while speaking all you know about love.
More common herbs such as Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), and Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) have also been used to quicken hearts and bring sparkle to the eye. But many of the aphrodisiacs that have held up over time are usually tonics of some sort and support the nervous system which makes a lot of sense when you are dealing with love, sex, and the emotional exercises of a romantic relationship.
The ideal aphrodisiac for me it manifold in its efforts. Most importantly it is nourishing to the nervous system which allows the herbs of passion to effectively do their work. A body that is nourished is more open to others, to true desire, and to expansiveness through love. A blend for love should also be exciting in and of itself that is what I hope you'll find Ambrosia to be.
In Ambrosia you'll find the following herbs to aid you on the path of desire:
GINGER Zingiber officinale: Warming and stimulating, Ginger has been used to attract love and has a wonderfully spicy flavor.
DAMIANA Turnera aphrodisiaca: Stimulating to sexual energies, Damiana also promotes physical endurance while invigorating the brain and nerves. Also useful for treating infertility, erectile dysfunction, headaches, and “performance anxiety.”
LICORICE Glycyrrhiza glabra: Harmonzing for the mind, body, and spirit, Licorice helps us feel balanced.
LEMON BALM Melissa officinalis: Calms the nerves, relieves anxiety, and gives the body space to find and feel love.
CINNAMON Cinnamomum cassia: Stimulating to the senses, Cinnamon increases vitality.
CACAO Theobroma cacao: Cacao (chocolate in raw form) contains phenylethylamine, the same compond that naturally occurs in the brain when we are in love and also when experiencing orgasm. Boosting levels of seratonin and endorphins, Cacao also contains naturally occurring caffeine.