Aphrodisiacs have been used throughout various cultures and societies for thousands of years. Whether taken to increase fertility or libido, aphrodisiacs can take various shapes and sizes.

Aphrodisiacs are commonly used by individuals who suffer from a declining libido. A decreased Libido can be caused by various factors such as stress, poor lifestyle habits, and age. Libido tends to decrease in individuals over the age of 30 with 40 per cent of women and 30 per cent of men affected. Specific foods and supplements can be used as aphrodisiacs as they contain ingredients that can encourage hormone production, in turn leading to a spike in libido.

Two of the most popular forms of libido supplements for men are horny goat weed and Tribulus. Horny goat weed has been used in eastern medicine for over 2000 years, with horny goat weed being linked to increases in natural testosterone levels. Tribulus similar to horny goat weed has also been used for thousands of years by various cultures. The Greeks first used Tribulus as a form of mood enhancement, later moving onto using it as a treatment for infertility. Similar to the Greeks the Bulgarians not only used Tribulus to treat infertility, but as a sports supplement to increase muscle size and to reduce muscle fatigue whilst engaging in physical activity.

Female libido enhancements are very similar to male libido enhancements, in the sense that they are designed to enhance both fertility and sex drive. Two aphrodisiacs that work well for women are Siberian Ginseng and gingko. Apart from being used as a cold and flu treatment, Siberian Ginseng is primarily used to increase energy levels and increase libido levels. Ginko however is a bit different in comparison to the other three aphrodisiacs described above. The difference being that Ginkgo is designed to encourage circulatory function as well as enhance memory. The success of this aphrodisiac is attributed to the fact that women are different to men, in a sense that mental stimulation is just as or even more important than physical stimulation.

In addition to natural libido supplements there are everyday foods in your local supermarkets that will help increase libido and vitality. Some of these you might have heard of and some of them might take you by surprise. For centuries shell fish (especially oysters) have been regarded as being a potent aphrodisiac with Casanova himself being said to consume 50 oysters for breakfast every day. It is only recently that these claims about oysters being used as aphrodisiacs have be substantiated with a recent study finding that oysters not only contain high levels of zinc but also specific amino acids that lead to spikes in hormone production in both men and women. Another everyday food that has been used as an aphrodisiac for hundreds of years is honey. Containing high levels of vitamin B essential for testosterone production and Boron which aids to metabolise and use Estrogen, honey has been used as an aphrodisiac since medieval times. The ancient Persians believed that consuming honey in its fermented form (mead) would promote sexual desire and stimulate libido.

Chocolate has long been revered for its aphrodisiac properties with the Mayans worshipping the cocoa plant believing it was the "Food of the gods". It is said that the Aztec ruler Montezuma would drink 50 goblets of chocolate before bed in order to enhance his sexual abilities. Recent studies have found that chocolate contains two chemicals phenylethylamine and serotonin which are feel good chemicals that are found naturally within the body and released by the brain. These chemicals are released by the brain in order create a sense of euphoria and happiness.

With the pressures and stress of everyday life it is common for many men and women to experience slumps in their libido. Many avenues are available to treat a low libido, however the various supplements and different foods outlined above can help in increasing energy levels and libido.

There is a wealth of choice when shopping for aphrodisiac supplements today. When looking for an aphrodisiac supplement make sure to look at the products ingredients and specifically examine what ingredients are contained within the product. Men should be looking for products that contain the ingredients tribulus and horny goat weed, and women should be looking for ingredients such as gingko and Siberian ginseng. Make sure to take note of products that contain the ingredient "Proprietary Blend". Proprietary blend is a term used within the supplement market to hide unnecessary fillers in various supplements, thus allowing manufacturers to produce products that appear to contain a lot more product than they truly do.