An ancient tool, believed to have been used by the Romans to increase their fertility, has been found in Cornwall.
The one and a half inch long golden pestle was probably used to prepare Roman Viagra, experts say.
Romans and ancient Britons were known to use aphrodisiacs and love potions. One ancient text, by the Roman poet Ovid, advises readers to: “mix pepper with the seeds of stinging nettles, or crush yellow camomile in well-aged wine,” if they wish to improve their love-making abilities. These are the kinds of ingredients that would perhaps have been chopped and mixed using the newly-discovered antique.
One of the other most prominent cultures in history, the ancient Greeks, were also fans of aphrodisiacs. Hippocrates, who became known as the father of medicine, apparently told men to eat lentils if they wanted to stay virile into their old age. The philosopher Aristotle was said to have followed this advice. Meanwhile, another revered Greek figure, Plutarch thought that fassolatha – a bean soup – could help people to strengthen their libidos.
Centuries later in 1999 the impotence treatment Viagra would become available, changing the lives of many men with erectile dysfunction. Yet even with this drug widely available today, some people still choose to use herbal treatments. One such treatment is a Japanese plant known as horny goat weed. This weed contains an active ingredient that is similar to Viagra. So similar in fact that a patent on Viagra was partly rejected by drug authorities – because it was deemed that Viagra was not an entirely unique substance. Another common aphrodisiac used today is oysters.
For men who experience chronic erection problems, doctors say that – although herbal treatments can work – there is no substitute for Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.
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