Natural Sex

Did you know that certain foods, like sunflower seeds and celery, can stimulate the sex organs? Or that simple yoga exercises can lead to more intense orgasms? What are the benefits of the Taoist exercises "The Male Deer" and "Fire Belly"?

"Natural Sex" reveals the facts behind these sexual enigmas, as it explores the ways that traditional Eastern and natural Western philosophies can help enhance performance in the bedroom. This comprehensive volume shows how to awaken sexual vitality with food, herbal supplements, natural aphrodisiacs, and ancient Tantric and Taoist techniques.

A detailed sex guide described as educational can suggest something academic and impersonal, a nightstand book too intimidating to read and too clinical to incorporate into one's own intimate life. Natural Sex, however, is both informative and engaging, a comprehensive primer on the connections between sexual satisfaction and health.

The book consists of 12 substantial chapters that range from stimulating herbal tonic recipes to the intricate movements involved in the "Valley Orgasm," an ancient Tantric exercise; they examine the chemical factors that make certain vitamins and minerals essential for sexual health; how to remain deeply satisfied by sex after 50; and myriad Eastern exercises that tone and sensitize the pubococcygeus, or PC, muscle, which intensifies sexual pleasure. Of particular note are the "egg" exercises, which have been practiced for centuries by Chinese courtesans to achieve vaginal strength, agility, and control. Most important, the chapters all relate to holistically attaining physical and sexual health.

The exhaustive research done by Elena Oumano, who teaches at the City University of New York and specializes in the field of healing arts, is impressive. The only criticism would be that the book lacks visual appeal--graphics would have been useful. But it is rare to see learning, experience, and sensuality so seamlessly combined. The result is that the book offers an enlightening and fascinating sense of how the interaction between body and mind can create amazing sex. --Sheila Bricker