The culmination of more than 30 years of cultural, anthropological, and scientific research, this encyclopedia examines the botany, pharmacology, history, preparation, dosage, and practical use of more than 400 aphrodisiac substances from antiquity to the present day.

From plants and animals that enhance fertility and virility, such as celery, lizards, or oysters, to substances that induce arousal, such as ephedra or opium, the encyclopedia is richly illustrated with more than 800 color photographs—many of which come from the authors' extensive fieldwork around the world.

Exploring individual, medical, and ritual use through historical and contemporary artworks, personal narratives, and literature, as well as the practices of Ayurveda, Tantra, shamanic tradition, and European folklore, the authors examine the revolving cycle of acceptance and condemnation of aphrodisiacs, the qualities labeled as "aphrodisiac," the role of the mind and environment, and the different ways aphrodisiacs stimulate desire—whether physically, through the senses and vital organs, or mentally, through heightened awareness and altered consciousness.

This comprehensive guide reveals these "remedies of the goddess of love" as sacred therapies, whose proper use can help restore harmony with oneself, one's partner, and the universe.

Pages: 736, Year of Publication: 0203, Dimensions: 21.6x21.6cm