Tuesday, September 20, 2011

An Aprhodisiac, Enhancer or Weapon?

"The myth of Spanish fly's aprodisiac powers comes from the defensive chemical it secretes, cantharidin.  When ingested, it inflames the urinary tract so much that it can cause a painful and long-lasting erection known as priapism.  In sufficient quantities it leads to inflammation of the digestive tract, kidney damage, and even death.  Marquis de Sade - and countless others - had confused this condition with sexual arousal and mistakenly believed that it would have a similar effect in women."

What did I learn from Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart?

Spanish fly is most definitely not an aphrodisiac like chocolate, unless - I think - sadism and masachism are what gets you off.

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