Walter Lewis, professor emeritus of biology at Washington University, received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and has been teaching at the University since 1964. Lewis has taught courses in medicinal plants and conducts research in the field of medical botany, or plants that affect human health. A new edition of his 1977 book “Medical Botany” is now available in the bookstore.

The book, which clarifies and classifies the role that plants and herbs play in human health, includes a section on the existence of substances believed to have an aphrodisiac effect on the body. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Student Life asked Lewis for some insight into the power of those amorous forces.

Student Life: How do aphrodisiacs affect behavior and mood?
Walter Lewis: If they have any action at all, it’s to relax…and so with relaxation, the body can do what it wants to do, whereas if there’s a high degree of stress it’s more difficult to act naturally. So some of these compounds, like the aromatic oils that you can get, are simply pleasurable. Whether or not there’s any great physiological effect on the body is something that remains to be seen. It’s mostly subjective.

SL: What plants or other substances would you classify as being medical aphrodisiacs?
WL: I wouldn’t classify any plant as an aphrodisiac. We just don’t know. But there are some [substances] that people do use, like the aromatic oils. One of the big ones used in traditional medicine coming out of West Africa is yohimbine, and it’s available commercially. It’s reputed to have aphrodisiac effects. There are also several from South America. Two recent drugs or drug combinations reportedly produce similar effects: methaqualone [Quaaludes] and the depressants that enhance sex drive. Testesterone replacement products such as AndroGel are used by men to boost sexual drive and muscle mass. Niagara is a beverage reputed to be an aphrodisiac for women; another one is called Nexcite. These are beverages that contain a lot of caffeine-that’s chiefly what it is. There are other ingredients such as ginseng, and the phytosterols found in ginseng increase blood pressure and are used as a tonic [a drug that increases body tone] and work specifically as an aphrodisiac. Certainly we all drink caffeine, or at least most people do in some form or another, such as coffee and tea. These are stimulants, and most stimulants have that effect-if you’re feeling drowsy and “not up to things” then any stimulant will help. And then of course there is the famous Viagra.

SL: So is Viagra simply an aphrodisiac?
WL: Yes and no. It depends on the definition of the aphrodisiac. Viagra, of course, is a synthetic compound, it isn’t a plant. It simply relaxes the smooth muscle of the erectile tissue. If you relax the smooth muscle it allows an increase in blood flow and you are able to sustain erection. Again, there are side effects. When I wrote this book there were 522 deaths reported from the use of Viagra. So these products are not, as I said, without their risks.

SL: Why is it that the effect of the aphrodisiac depends on the individual, as you have written?
WL: It depends a lot on your mood. For whatever the reason it is that you’re taking an aphrodisiac, you’d need not to if you’re relaxed and the desire is there. By definition, an aphrodisiac inspires sexual drive, which is libido, and sexual performance, which is erection and orgasm. These are mainly psychic factors. Sure, hormones have influence, but if your normal hormones are functioning, this will just happen. If you have dysfunction, like, for instance, many diabetics, then some of these medications that I have mentioned, such as yohimbine or the use of caffeine, may be helpful because [the diabetics] have metabolic problems. But in the normal person, the only problem is that they’re not relaxed.

SL: Popular expert opinion is that exercise is really the best “sexual medicine.” Do you agree with this theory?
WL: Yes. I would say that good eating habits, good health, getting exercise-in other words, keeping fit-are most influential. It just makes sense.

SL: How are you planning to spend your Valentine’s Day?
WL: [laughs] Well, I don’t know. I haven’t any plans. My wife and I thought we’d go out for dinner and that’s about it. [more laughter] When you’re in your seventies, you know, you’ve just had too many Valentine’s Days.

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