If you've read a few articles about keeping the heat in the bedroom, you'll have read about eating more chocolate, oysters, Spanish fly, and various other substances to heat up the libido.

The aphrodisiac is one of humanity's favourite ideas - a sensual food or drink that makes everybody in the mood for love - but just how effective are the ones we all know about?

Here's RESCU's guide to just what aphrodisiacs might work - and what ones don't.

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate's aphrodisiac qualities are largely due to how it was marketed when the Conquistadors brought it back from the Aztecs to Europe.

The cacao bean's power to inflame desire was whispered about all through France and Spain - but, alas, it looks like it might be almost entirely a myth.

The Aztecs gave chocolate to concubines to raise libido and pleasure, and there are indeed chemicals in chocolate which have a positive affect on those areas of the brain - serotonin and another stimulant.

However, studies have shown that these chemicals are in such small quantities they can't really have any affect on how you react in bed. The most chocolate can do is give you a 'happy' feeling, to relax you and make you more open to intimacy.

Sorry, ladies, but stick to dark chocolate for its antioxidant properties instead.

Oysters

Oysters are only regarded as lust-boosters because they look naughty. It is, however, a bit of psychological trivia that imitating intimate acts on food in front of a partner might get you both in the mood, if you're sufficiently open to the idea.

We're a very suggestible species. Food is very sensual, but oysters don't possess any innate qualities to raise your heart-rate; it's all in the eating.

Other foods associated with desire because of their shape or texture include avocado, figs and mangoes.

They do have a lot of zinc, which increases potency in men, but there's not enough of it to make a marked difference on performance.

So if you don't like the taste, congratulations - your libido doesn't need them after all.

Spanish Fly

Spanish Fly, the powder from an insect with legendary ravishing qualities, has been around for most of human history, from ancient Greece onwards.

The mistress of Louis XV, Madame du Barry, apparently used it to increase her allure and her lovers' desires.

There are real physical attributes that made Spanish Fly earn its reputation - it causes genital swelling. Must mean lust, right? Wrong.

Spanish Fly isn't actually an aphrodisiac at all, and the swelling has nothing to do with desire. It's actually a minor poison. It's toxic if you eat a sizeable quantity, and never, ever put it directly on your skin.

Unfortunately Louis XV's mistress was wrong - so put it away.

Arugula

Raw foodies and vegans love to claim that arugula, a salad green, is one of nature's most potent aphrodisiacs. However, beyond simply being good for you and providing nutrients, it's not been discovered to have any effect on the libido or desire.

In fact, scientific investigation has shown that arugula isn't all that different from many other salad greens, and certainly has no special claim to inflaming your senses.

Unfortunately this is a case where myth has gotten the better of reality.

Ginseng

Ginseng is one of those aphrodisiacs where there does appear to be a scientific basis - but, alas, only for men.

It helps men maintain erections, but doesn't appear to make any other significant difference in bed.

It's not very well-studied, though, so perhaps it's not all in our heads and ginseng stimulates nervous systems in such a way that bedroom romps are more fun. Watch this space.

Ginger

Ginger is touted as a natural aphrodisiac because it stimulates circulation and the nervous system.

It does apparently increase sensitivity in erogenous zones, and pumps up the heart rate and your responsiveness.

It's touted as a 'wonder food' because of its many good effects on the human body, and the scent is meant to help sensual qualities too. This is one spice which actually may help in the bedroom - but, like most foods, it needs to be consumed properly, and the evidence for its use is mostly anecdotal.

However, if you're a big fan of how it tastes and smells, use it liberally - and get back to us on how your love life is affected...

Lady Friday xx

Taking the pillow talk out of the bedroom, every Friday....