Two cases of intravenous injection of elemental mercury are described in this report. One patient succumbed and the other remains asymptomatic two years after the surgical removal of all the injected mercury. Management of intravenous injection of elemental mercury (intended to be an aphrodisiac in these two cases) is discussed here and the need for surgical removal of all accessible mercury ha...

Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapan and Fernandes is an important medicinal Plant in Ayurveda and it is used mainly for its aphrodisiac activity. It is very closely related to other species also. The present work attempts to identify the Chlorophytum borivilianum from other allied species in general by pharmacognostical, preliminary phytochemical and fluorescence analysis methods.

Ancient Egyptian and Greek pharmacopoeias reveal frequent use of different drugs, somniferous or narcotic, which contain poisonous elements. Among the toxic plants enumerated by Dioscorides, we find poppy and others. Egyptians were fond of taking these narcotic or euphoric substances attributed to nepenthes, but it is difficult to prove whether ancient people were aware of modern aspects of add...

The importance of natural products in therapeutics has been generally recognized from immemorial time. The Amerindians' knowledge of hallucinogenic plants used for their religious rituals, as well as the aphrodisiac properties of several potions prepared from several plant species, have accompanied man for millennia. Throughout the ages, the search for the well-being and for the pleasure has al...

Validated modified lycopodium spore method has been developed for simple and rapid quantification of herbal powdered drugs. Lycopodium spore method was performed on ingredients of Shatavaryadi churna, an ayurvedic formulation used as immunomodulator, galactagogue, aphrodisiac and rejuvenator. Estimation of diagnostic characters of each ingredient of Shatavaryadi churna individually was carried ...

We report a case of methaemoglobinaemia in a 2 year old girl after ingestion of an 'aphrodisiac' containing nitrite. The availability of these products, their poor labelling, and their intended presence in domestic bedrooms all serve to increase the hazard they pose to young children.

Spices are considered as sexual invigorators in the Unani System of Medicine. In order to explore the sexual function improving effect of Semecarpus anacardium an experimental study was conducted in normal male mice. The chloroform extract of Semecarpus anacardium was administered (150 mg/kg & 300 mg/kg; p.o.) to different groups of male Mice. Mounting behavior & mating performance were determi...