A Bunch of Things You Thought Were Aphrodisiacs Aren't

FYI, drinking honey will not make you hard.

A new study published in the International Society for Sexual Medicine analyzed the most popular aphrodisiacs and found that many of them won’t do much other than make you think you’re supposed to act sexy.

An aphrodisiac drug product is defined by the Food and Drug Administration as “any product that bears labeling claims that it will arouse or increase sexual desire, or that it will improve sexual performance.” Today, there are no products approved to treat sexual dysfunction in females, which have led many to seek solutions in natural products—the only issue is that they likely won’t work.

Several studies have shown that ginseng can be helpful in combatting erectile dysfunction, while a special kind called Korean red ginseng has been effective in making menopausal women more aroused. Maca, a Peruvian root vegetable, also might be useful in these two areas. Gingko biloba is another supplement that might treat sexual dysfunction, although studies are far from conclusive. The supplement also resulted in a higher risk of bleeding, so don’t go ham on it.

However, stop eating chocolate, honey, oysters, wild yam, and chasteberry for boners—they definitely aren’t going to help.

“My advice is to get an evaluation,” Dr. Michael Krychman, executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health, said in an interview with Health about people experiencing sexual dysfunction. “There may be an underlying medical issue that is impacting sexuality; some treatable conditions may masquerade as sexual problems.”