The use of sexual stimulants has a long and fascinating history the chapters of which are still being written. Maintaining sexual potency and interest in sex itself has always been a major concern for both men and women, given the many potentially deleterious effects of age, stress, and health problems on this facet of our lives. Indeed, all the attention we give this area points to the possibility that by using sexual stimulants we are not merely trying to enhance our sex drives. Instead, perhaps, we are really trying to recapture or strengthen the forces that make us feel young, vital, and alive. Most medical experts agree, though, that good nutrition and regular exercise are the best aphrodisiacs of all.

Sexual stimulants are still often called "aphrodisiacs" (after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love). However, the name tends to carry connotations of homemade, arcane recipes involving...