Men don’t want to be impotent, especially in the presence of a hot date. That’s why they often turn to the lucrative love potion industry for a wide selection of magical mixtures and aphrodisiacs that will supposedly cure a sagging libido. But before investing your hard-earned cash in the next sex enhancer you find, read this first. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said aphrodisiacs don’t work and some can even be dangerous to your health.

“Aphrodisiac experimentation isn't just a rip-off - it can be deadly. Spanish fly or cantharides is probably the most legendary aphrodisiac and the most dangerous. Made from dried beetle remains, the reported sexual excitement from Spanish fly comes from the irritation to the urogenital tract and a resultant rush of blood to the sex organs. But Spanish fly is a poison that burns the mouth and throat and can lead to genitourinary infections, scarring of the urethra, and even death,” warned Tamar Nordenberg, a lawyer with the Office of the Director in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

An aphrodisiac is a food, drink, scent or device that supposedly increases sexual desire or improves sexual performance. Its name was taken from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Throughout history, man’s quest for sexual satisfaction has led him to consume all kinds of substances that promise to lift his libido. These include tiger penis, bear paws, and snake bile among others. These are often hawked by glib-tongued peddlers, “doctors” with questionable degrees, and snake oil salesmen who can sell you the moon if they wanted to.

“Most of these (street) hawkers are college drop-outs, who apparently sacrificed their education in order to trudge through the Himalayas and remote forests in a disinterested quest for knowledge meant for the sexual betterment of those they left behind. There is a moral in all this: if you don't study, you can always make money selling junk to those who did,” observed Rajiv M. in the online edition of India’s national newspaper The Hindu.

Some aphrodisiacs are based on the ancient law of similarities which maintains that an object resembling the genitals may have sexual powers. This is true for rhinoceros horn, ginseng, and oysters for example.

Sadly, while rhinoceros horn resembles the penis, all it can offer are calcium and phosphorous that can help correct deficient diets. In healthy individuals, its sexual effects are doubtful. Ginseng or “man root” which also looks like the penis was believed to cure impotence and sterility, and was valued as gold by the ancients. Unfortunately, the most you can get from this plant is a mild stimulant effect like the one produced by a cup of coffee. Large doses may cause hypertension, depression, nervousness, insomnia, swollen and painful breasts, menstrual irregularities and decreased libido - the very thing ginseng is supposed to correct.

Oysters are considered sex aids because Aphrodite was born from the sea and they resemble the vagina. Venetian adventurer and womanizer Giacomo Casanova supposedly ate 50 raw oysters a day that supposedly made him a good lover. Of course, oysters are a good source of zinc that can help deficient individuals. But if you don’t lack zinc – which is true for most Americans – don’t expect miracles. Megadosing on zinc can lead to copper deficiency, anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, and death.

To avoid being victimized by quacks, discuss your impotence problem with a good doctor. In most cases, the problem is only temporary and can be cured by rest, a healthy diet, and exercise. A good mental state is also important to enjoy sex. If none of these work, there are several available options. None are as exotic as goat’s eyes, deer sperm or frog’s legs perhaps but they do work. One of them is Erectasil, a lotion that can give men an “instant lift” so they can be where the action is.