It’s no secret that sex can be a powerful motivator. Sex – both the act and the pursuit of it – have played a huge role in human history on the world stage and, of course, it
also changes the lives of people every day. Perhaps one of the most common ways it pushes people’s boundaries is through the use of aphrodisiacs.
Aphrodisiacs are foods or other herbs – usually digestible – which are thought to heighten a person’s sex drive or enhance a sexual act. The most well-known of these are, of course, the simple oyster. Even people who don’t know what an aphrodisiac is usually know that there is a connection between eating oysters and having sex.

The efficacy of aphrodisiacs remains a matter of debate. Some foods do indeed improve various functions associated with sexual activity but most people think aphrodisiacs simply aren’t the Real Deal.

Still, ingesting them remains popular and, for some, they swear the effects are real. We’ve gathered ten of the weirdest aphrodisiacs that people use around the world to illustrate just how extreme it can get.

Rhino Horn – Ground up rhinoceros horn has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries. Many professionals have tried to dispel this one since its high demand has nearly wiped out the rhino population in some areas and everyone knows there’s nothing less sexy than animal extinction.

Cobra – The meat and blood of this notorious and deadly snake is a highly valued aphrodisiac in parts of Asia. The blood is mixed into drinks, while the meat is eaten as a delicacy. The trick, of course, is killing the Cobra before it kills you.

Ambergris – The name of this aphrodisiac may sound like it’s a lovely flower but, in truth, it’s a waxy substance people scrape out from the digestive tract of sperm wales. How sexy am I now?

Bird’s Nest Soup – Before you think this is just a clever nickname for something that might actually be nice, let me stop you right there. Bird’s nest soup is EXACTLY what it sounds like – a soup made from the literal nests of birds. Specifically nests of the cave-dwelling Swift. Hard to find, difficult to make, expensive to buy …. But advocates swear it gets the job done.

Giant Leaf Cutter Ants – In some parts of South America, these ants are the perfect wedding gift. Traditionally, people have givens gifts of these roasted ants to people for their wedding night. It’s meant to heighten sexual performance and pleasure and the practice dates back for generations.

Soup #5 – Well known throughout Southeast Asia, Soup #5 is well-known for being an aphrodisiac. It’s a hearty soup made with simple ingredients like onions, carrots, broth … oh, and the penis and testicles of a bull.  Fans of the soup swear it’ll make you “strong like bull” and it’s been the go to soup for sexual prowess for centuries.

Baboon Urine – According to some people in Zimbabwe, baboon urine cures a host of sexual problems. The urine is usually consumed with plenty of beer which totally makes sense. Also, it’s probably a good idea to brush your teeth before trying to get it on.

Blowfish / Fugu – The Japanese eat Fugu (more commonly known as blowfish) to create a tingling in their face which, once it begins to wear off, heightens sexual arousal. The tingling is caused by a neurotoxin that is naturally present in these fish. As a result, a Fugu which isn’t properly prepared will kill the person who eats it and there’s no way of knowing if it was prepared correctly until you eat it. A sexy catch-22? For some, perhaps – for others, a death wish.

Spanish Fly – This is another well-known aphrodisiac, though few know what it actually is or does. Spanish Fly is a type of beetle which is crushed up and then ingested. It releases a substance called cantharidin which is reported to have aphrodisiac effects. It’s worth noting, however, that even a little too much can lead to causing fever, convulsions, seizures and death.