*The Arctic
*The Central Asian mountains
*The Rocky Mountains in the US
*Iceland and Scandinavia
*Mountainous parts of Europe (e.g. the Alps, Carpathians, Pyrenees, etc

The plant is typically found at elevations of up to 2,200 metres (7,218 feet) and is classified as a dioecious plant, meaning that it has separate male and female plants.  Golden Root is also known as Aaron’s Rod and Roseroot.

The plant has numerous applications, but it is primarily known as an herbal treatment for alleviating the effects of depression as well as being used for elevating a person’s mood.  Several studies have also revealed that it can improve mental and physical performance as well as reducing fatigue.

It is included in that classification of plants which are technically referred to as “adaptogens” which are different in nature from other chemically manufactured stimulants such as nicotine, and it does not have the same physiological consequences.  Recently, it was discovered that Golden Root or Golden Root complex is a stress reliever and can prevent premature aging based on stress related consequences.

Of any herbal or natural medicine, adaptogens have the broadest healing property spectrum of any of these medicines.  However, their inherent value stems from the fact that they are an excellent stress reliever and are now being consumed to elevate a person’s mood in order to relieve that stress.

Golden root works by having an impact on the production of certain neurotransmitters that impact mood and mental acuity.  The two main neurotransmitters affected by this herb are dopamine and serotonin.  Imbalances of these two can cause mild to severe depression.  Like many antidepressants, golden root complex helps to restore a proper balance and thus enhance mood.  Unlike prescription antidepressants, golden root is available over the counter and has considerably fewer side effects.

It is possible to ingest gold root in capsule form, or dry the plant for use in a tea or tincture.  The dried root can also be mixed with other herbs and smoked using a bong or water pipe.  Because of the stimulating effect, it is generally recommended that the herb be taken earlier in the day, so as to not interfere with sleep.  When used in responsible doses, the herb provides a sense of well being without impairing judgement or causing any type of crash later in the day.

Does this mean we are not satisfied as a nation, so we need to inject our sex lives with a bit more enthusiasm? Or simply that we can experiment, so we might as well? It is said that the fall of the Roman Empire was due to its having too much of everything. The affluent indulged themselves way beyond moderation. From feasting to sex orgies and then to human sacrifice in the form of sports such as the gladiators, they had so much that they didn’t know what to do next. They eventually became so twisted that they could no longer retain their rule and the whole empire collapsed. (OK, so maybe not quite as simple as that, but you know what I’m getting at.)

Are we heading for the same downfall? Here in the West, we indulge in recreational drugs, pornography, promiscuous sex and viewing sports such as “Big Brother” to entertain ourselves. Is this all too much and are we losing sight of what’s important? Let’s talk about the sex thing: Sex was revolutionised in the 60s with the invention of the contraceptive pill. Suddenly, there were far fewer consequences to worry about if you practiced promiscuous sex. So there were a lot of women out there making the most of this and establishing their sexual freedom. “Free love” was warped from a hippy philosophy into an excuse for sluttish behaviour. You disagree? OK, it can be said that women were just redressing the balance and that men had had this privilege for far too long. Sure, that’s true. And nature will find ways to balance things in the end. But can we not say that now’s the time to take a bit more responsibility?

Sexually transmitted diseases are becoming scarily prevalent in our society. And with international travel being so much easier, diseases are spreading faster than ever before.

I feel I might be veering off the subject a little and I apologise. I began talking about sex drugs or aphrodisiacs, so let’s get back to that. My point was, I think we are becoming bored. We have experimented with so many things just to keep ourselves stimulated, that it’s difficult to know where to go from here. So now there are people who have perfectly good sex lives, men with no erection or premature ejaculation problems and women who just want to feel more, buying aphrodisiacs to boost their bedtime activities. What happens when they get to a point when they don’t work anymore? Will they be able to go back to the sex lives they had before? Or will they be seeking the next thrill somewhere else?

I don’t know. Perhaps I’m being a real stick-in-the-mud on this issue. Aphrodisiacs are an age-old indulgence and there are plenty of herbal sex drugs out there. But I wonder if the attitude towards them has become a bit too careless.

Related Articles:

Psychoactives and Sex – Read first hand experiences and opinions.

Aphrodisiacs of past and present.

Aphrodisiacs – Wikipedia definition.

Top 10 Aphrodisiacs

BBC Guide to Aphrodisiacs