Ants in Pants, When Ants are Used as Aphrodisiac

Nope it’s not one of those Chinese controversies where millions of investors lost big money to a company that had a plan to produce aphrodisiacs from ants. Actually, there is a tradition of using ants as aphrodisiacs, and some science that suggest how it might actually have a real effect.

Ants have been widely used and very highly regarded in China as a tonic for over 3000 years. Ant has been referred to in a number of famous Chinese medicinal classics, including Li Shi Chen’s Ben Cao Gang Mu, where the great master praised ants as a superior tonic with excellent curative powers. It has been universally touted as a superb Liver and Kidney tonic of the highest order. Its name, which it received in ancient times, means "black horse." Imperial records indicate that numerous emperors and other noblemen have consumed ant tonics to promote sexuality and to increase longevity.

In Amazon, a rare delicacy involves the world’s largest species of ant. Hormigas Culonas are harvested in the Colombian Amazon by the Guane Indians, during the short rainy season between March and June. They are then toasted in a mud pot over an open fire by the Indians. The Guane Indians believe that these Ants have youth giving and aphrodisiac properties and they are often served as fertility giving marriage food during nuptial ceremonies.

During the middle ages, an Arab doctor named Saduck wrote that ants can be used as an aphrodiac. He believed that if you take one hundred large, black ants and macerate them for three weeks in half an ounce of light oil you can then use the solution to anoint the urethra orifice to accelerate erections.

One ant species that has been marketed well as an aphrodisiac is Polyrhachis Vicina Roger, commonly known as "Black Ant". It’s from China and the Chinese believed it has such excellent curative powers that it's various beneficial effects include: increased strength, energy, stamina, strengthens the nervous system, digestive functions, detoxification functions and muscular system, boosts mental and physical energy (one of the probable reason why they were easily scammed with the “Ant Aphrodisiac” controversy).

Tonics made from these black ants were widely consumed to promote strength, sexual vigor and as a powerful antiaging agent. It is considered a premium adaptogenic substance in the same ranks as Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng, Rhodiola, Schizandra, Cordyceps and Gynostemma, the adaptogenic superstars of traditinal Chinese medicine.

In traditional Chinese medicine, black ant tonic is widely believed to prevent common symptoms associated with aging, such as lumbago, memory loss, joint problems, fatigue, climacteric symptoms, cardiovascular disease, etc. Ant strengthens the entire Kidney system, including the sexual functions, skeletal structures and renal system. It also strengthens the nervous system, digestive functions, detoxification functions and muscular system. Therefore ant products have become extremely popular with middle aged and elderly consumers in Asia. Ants are being called the "forever young" nutritional supplement.

Several varieties of ants are used in traditional Chinese medicine, all with virtually the same attributes. These different varieties come from different regions in China. Each region claims that its ants are superior. Both black ants (primarily from southern and central China) and red ants (primarily from northeastern China) are used. Ants from high, pristine mountain ranges such as the Himalayas in southern China and Tibet, or the Changbai Mountains in northeastern China are considered the finest and most potent. Most of the tonic ants are large ants.

Ants are extremely rich in nutrients, including significant amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B12, D and E. An ant contains more than 42% protein and provides 8 essential amino acids. It contains enzymes and other active substances. The ATP in ants can provide energy directly to the human body. Ants are rich in more than 20 trace elements such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, selenium, and especially zinc.

Polyrachis, or this black ant, is particularly rich in zinc. Its zinc content is the highest among all known living organisms. Every gram of dried ants contains 180 mg. of zinc. This undoubtedly explains part of ant’s strong beneficial influence on sexuality, as zinc is a critical element in the human sexual function. Studies have shown that regular use of ant tonics can prevent and treat disorders associated with zinc deficiency, including senile cataract, night blindness, incontinence, and sexual dysfunctions (i.e. impotence, spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation in men and menorrhagia, frigidity and climacteric symptoms in women).

A unique set of aldehyde compounds found in all edible species of Polyrachis has been demonstrated to have a stronger tonic action than ginseng, and it has thus far been impossible to synthesize this chemical. These aldehydes compounds include geranicaldehyde (C10H16O) and formalindehyde (HCHO, C10H14O). It is believed to be a result of these and several similar aldehydes, as well as some other chemicals in ant, that give ants their enormous physical strength---and ultimately give the consumers of ant the well-established increase in strength and vitality.