Share: aphrodisiac foods, natural products that help with libido and essentially…turn up the heat. What does “Aphrodisiac” means? The name comes from the Greek ἀφροδισιακόν, aphrodisiakon, “belonging to Aphrodite,” the Greek goddess of love, to whom men and women used to make offerings to enhance their love life. Ancient civilizations such as the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, and Romans established that certain spices and substances were necessary for reproduction — from performance and desire enhancers to herbs that ensured a healthy pregnancy. According to WebMD, historically, most aphrodisiacs have fallen into five general types: Spicy foods: Foods that create warmth were thought to arouse “heated” passion, while cold foods (like lettuce and purslane leaves) are supposed to “spice” desire.