Agents of Intimacy

The main topic of this short book is a detailed survey of aphrodisiac plants and substances used in India; there are also a few notes on some non-Indian aphrodisiac substances and formulas. The use of aphrodisiacs in traditional Ayurveda (Indian medicine) is explored, and a list of the main plants used is provided. The longest section of the book is a detailed list of the ingredients of around thirty multi-plant aphrodisiac formulas currently available in India. In another section, plants containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are surveyed. In this book a comparison is drawn between the effects of psychedelics, in general, and aphrodisiacs: the author believes that these two broad classes of substances share the potential to be agents of intimacy. The author also provides some personal observations on the use of substances generally, and how we might evaluate their use.