A distant relative of sea urchin, sea cucumber is not a vegetable at all. It’s a strange little echinoderm with a phallic shape. And it is found around the world. But it’s most popular in Asia where the Chinese, Malaysians, Koreans and Indonesians consider its flesh a delicacy.
Is sea cucumber an aphrodisiac?
The Chinese are among the world’s biggest consumers of sea cucumber and use it to treat high blood pressure and joint pain as well as low libido. (The Chinese name for sea cucumber is hai shen, translating roughly into “sea ginseng.”)
Throughout Indonesia, sea cucumber is considered to have many healing uses, including some sexy ones. And thanks to some recent, scientific investigation, we can understand why.
Some surprising sea slug health benefits
Because it is one of the earth’s oldest living creatures (it has existed for over 500 million years), the slug of the sea has developed an extraordinary immune system–one that, surprisingly, resembles that of humans.
Early studies in the 1980s and 1990s examined the potential for sea cucumber extracts to speed the healing of wounds and even reduce scarring. At one point it was considered as a potential aid in the treatment of HIV. It also showed promise in slowing the growth of cancer.
As a homeopathic treatment, this sea slug is often dried and sold in capsule form. In many parts of the world, these pills are marketed as a natural alternative to the drug Viagra.
Sea cucumber nutrition
Looking at sea cucumber from a nutritional perspective, it is easy to see how it got a Viagra-like reputation. (Of course, that’s also pretty obvious from the visual perspective.)
Rich in vitamin C, sea cucumber promotes prostate health by fighting free radicals. And it contains niacin, magnesium and zinc, which help reduce muscle tension, increase blood flow, build sex hormones and maintain a healthy sperm count.
Discover more of the world’s greatest aphrodisiacs
This article was written in 2010 and most recently updated in 2021
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