Aphrodisiacs: between fantasies, risks and rare promises

Cocoa, oysters, rhinoceros horn, "miracle honeys" sold online... Aphrodisiacs fuel a tenacious imagination, but science paints a much more nuanced picture, where ineffectiveness sometimes rivals danger.

Faced with a flagging libido or performance anxiety, many people turn to quick fixes designed to "reawaken" desire. From cocoa to oysters to exotic animal powders, these products promise to boost libido, prolong lovemaking or resolve complex sexual problems. But a closer look at the scientific literature cracks the narrative: most of these traditional remedies don't stand up to the test of controlled studies.

The iconic foods of sensuality, chocolate and oysters, illustrate this discrepancy between myth and data. While cocoa does contain molecules involved in pleasure, such as phenylethylamine, research has not shown any increase in libido between chocolate and non-chocolate eaters. As for oysters, often presented as a fertility-enhancing zinc concentrate, no solid experiment has shown any specific effect on sexual desire or function. The symbolic prestige of these foods therefore seems to weigh more heavily on sexuality than their measurable impact.

Other products, however, cross a more worrying line. Rhinoceros horn powder, for example, is not only entirely ineffective, but also contributes to the poaching of an endangered species, without the slightest scientific data to back up the claims made for its virtues. On a different note, some "aphrodisiac honeys" or preparations purchased online are worryingly laced with pharmaceutical molecules such as sildenafil or tadalafil, the active ingredients in drugs designed to treat erectile dysfunction. The problem is that these substances are added without the consumer's knowledge or control, with a very real cardiovascular risk for people unaware of their contraindications.

Even cocktails of "natural aphrodisiacs" touted as harmless are not exempt from undesirable effects, particularly when they act on the bloodstream or interact with treatments already prescribed. Health authorities point out that the overall efficacy of these products has never been robustly demonstrated, while their potential risks have been documented. The vagueness of the actual composition, sales via non-transparent sites and the logic of sexual performance at all costs make for a worrying cocktail.

But not everything can be thrown away. Some plants, such as maca (Peruvian ginseng) or ginseng, have been the subject of clinical studies suggesting a modest effect on the perception of libido or pleasure, both in healthy men and those suffering from erectile dysfunction. But these results remain measured, far from the spectacular advertising promises, and must be seen in the context of a more global medical approach.

In the final analysis, science suggests a form of sobriety: no magic potion can replace taking charge of the psychological, relational or medical causes of reduced desire. Vigilance is essential in the face of miracle products found on the Internet, particularly when they play on intimate distress and performance pressure. Before turning to an "aphrodisiac", the recommendation remains the same: talk to a health professional, question promises, and be wary of anything that claims to bring back desire... instead of the person themselves.